November 2005 Football

Ledet, Williams Earn All-GSC Honors
November 15, 2005

BIRMINGHAM, AL --- University of Arkansas at Monticello running back John L. Williams (So., Gainesville, Fla.) and defensive back DeMathus Ledet (Sr., Lafayette, La.) have received Second Team All-Gulf South Conference honors for their play during the 2005 season.

The award marks the second time that Ledet has earned all-GSC honors, as the free safety followed up a stellar junior campaign with a senior year that saw him become one of the team’s defensive leaders. He finished the season ranking fourth in the GSC and 22nd in the nation in interceptions (6), first in the GSC and 13th nationally in tackles (116), and second in the GSC and 23rd nationally in tackles per game (10.5).

Williams takes home his first award after shouldering the great majority of the workload at tailback for the Boll Weevils in his sophomore campaign. Williams finished second in the GSC and 45th nationally with 99.5 rushing yards per game and 10th in the GSC in all-purpose yards, averaging 105.4 yards per game. Williams’ 206-yard game against Ouachita and 237-yard game against Arkansas Tech marked the only two times that the 200-yard barrier was broken in the Gulf South Conference this season.

With their selections to the All-Gulf South Conference team, Williams and Ledet will now be eligible for All-Region voting.

Strong Second Half Pushes Statesmen Past Weevils
November 5, 2005

MONTICELLO, AR --- The Delta State University Statesmen broke open a 20-13 halftime lead with 36 unanswered second-half points to take a 56-13 victory over the University of Arkansas at Monticello Boll Weevils (1-10, 1-8 GSC) on Military Appreciation Night at Convoy Leslie-Cotton Boll Stadium.

After the Weevils went three and out on the opening drive, senior Sam Wisener stripped the ball from Radale Pearson and recovered at the UAM 40 yard line. The Weevils marched into Statesmen territory but were unable to get past Delta State’s 41, and punted away.

Pearson redeemed himself on DSU’s next drive by capping off a seven play, 96 yard drive with a 40 yard touchdown run to give the Statesmen an early 7-0 lead. The Statesmen extended their lead to 14-0 on their very next drive as Scott Eyster connected with Mike Wallace on a 66 yard touchdown strike to finish a four play, 61 yard drive.

The Boll Weevils responded on their next drive, as John L. Williams picked up a two-yard touchdown run to cap a nine play, 59 yard drive. After a personal foul penalty, Albert Urbina missed the extra point and the Weevil deficit was 14-6.

The Statesmen opened the second quarter with another scoring drive, marching 50 yards downfield on nine plays, finished off by a 27-yard field goal by Bryan Walker to push DSU’s lead to 17-6. The Weevils answered immediately, as Williams capped a nine play, 61 yard drive with a 23 yard touchdown run to pull the Weevils to within 17-13.

DSU pushed their lead to 20-13 on the very next drive, as Walker kicked his second field goal of the day from 26 yards, and the Statesmen would carry that lead into halftime.

Unfortunately for the Weevils, the second half belonged to the Statesmen, who reeled off 36 unanswered points to seal the victory.

DSU scored early and often in the third quarter, scoring first on the opening drive with a 17-yard touchdown strike from Eyster to Chad Ridley to push the lead to 27-13. After stopping the Weevils on fourth down, the Statesmen surged ahead again as Eyster connected with Ridley on a 35-yard strike to give Delta State a 34-13 lead.

A.J. Davis picked up a three yard touchdown run with nine seconds remaining in the third quarter to extend the Delta State lead to 41-13.

The Statesmen forced a turnover on UAM’s first drive of the fourth quarter and were able to capitalize on both the turnover and a costly holding penalty to push ahead 49-15 after a one yard run by Steven Davis. DSU scored their final touchdown on their next drive, as Jazmond Burks found the end zone after a five yard run to set the DSU lead at 56-13.

Williams eclipsed the 1,000 rushing yard barrier in the first half, ending the day with 23 carried for 116 yards and two scores. Anthony Rodriguez had his best passing game of the season, going 16 of 33 for 212 yards. Von Mixon added seven catches for 80 yards.

DSU’s Eyster was an amazing 22-of-30 for 325 yards and three touchdowns, while Pearson picked up 180 yards on 21 carries. Ridley had seven catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns, while Robert Davis had nine catches for 95 yards.

The loss ends the season for the Boll Weevils, who finish with a record of 1-10 and a 1-8 Gulf South Conference mark.