MONTICELLO – The 13th-ranked Delta State Statesmen broke a 20-all tie with 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to defeat the University of Arkansas at Monticello football team 34-20 on Thursday night. The contest was featured as the Gulf South Conference TV Game of the Week.
The loss drops UAM to 2-4 overall and 1-3 in the Gulf South Conference, while the Statesmen improve their record to 5-1 overall and 4-0 in the GSC.
The Statesmen started the scoring on a 32-yard touchdown pass from Micah Davis to Brandon Lucas on the opening possession of the game. UAM answered on the next possession with a touchdown pass of its own, a 25-yard strike from sophomore Damon Wicker to junior Greg Taylor. That score was set up by a 41-yard kickoff return by junior Blake Prince.
The two squads then exchanged field goals throughout the remainder of the first quarter and 10 minutes into the second quarter to bring the score to an even 13-13 tie at halftime.
Of those field goals, UAM freshman Taylor Pontius nailed a career-high 46-yard attempt, which ties for the sixth longest field goal in UAM history. The Biloxi, Miss. native also connected on a 22-yarder in the first half field goal exchange.
In the second half, Delta State struck first on an eight-yard touchdown run by Brandon Lucas with 9:02 left in the third quarter.
The Boll Weevils answered in the final seconds of the third quarter with a one-yard touchdown run by junior Nakita Myles that capped a seven-play, 60-yard drive to tie the game at 20.
The Statesmen used a three-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Maurice Moore and a 27-yard touchdown run by Lucas to seal their fifth-straight victory and fourth-straight GSC win.
Lucas’ 27-yard touchdown scamper capped a nine-play, 99-yard drive.
Wicker (Baton Rouge, La.) made his first career start at quarterback and played all but the final possession of the game behind center. He finished the contest 3-of-12 through the air for 72 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also recorded 11 carries for a net of 56 yards in the loss.
Defensively, junior Royel Johnson led all players in the contest with 12 total tackles and also tallied a pass deflection. Senior James Jackson picked up his first interception of the season in the loss, increasing his career total to four.
The Boll Weevils conclude their two-game home stand next Saturday, October 16 with a 3 p.m. matchup against West Georgia. UAM is set to celebrate its 78th annual homecoming, with festivities to start on Tuesday, October 12 with the Homecoming Parade. For more information about the homecoming and the schedule of festivities, visit http://www.uamont.edu/news-page/September/Homecoming Schedule.htm
