Box Score CLEVELAND, MS (September 3, 2015) - The Wildcats of Fort Valley State University went into Statesmen country looking for an upset of the 14^TH ranked Delta State University Statesmen, but got more than they bargained for with Delta State's 48-7 win. This marked the fifth meeting between the teams since 1998, Delta State's win broke the tie, making them 3-2 series leaders. Before, tonight's game Fort Valley State had beaten Delta State twice in Cleveland and Delta State had won twice in Fort Valley.
 
Fort Valley State drops to 0-1 in non-conference play, while Delta State improves to 1-0.
 
The Statesmen scored four times in the first half, with the first coming at the 10:52 mark. Tyler Sullivan connected with Collins Floyd on a 58-yard touchdown pass, and then completed a two point pass to James Johnson (8-0). Sullivan second score came on a 34-yards run, V. Sciorrotta kick was good (15-0). Then, with 4:48 left, Sciorrotta kicked a 30-yard field goal (18-0). Sullivan scored with :52 seconds remaining for the fourth touchdown on a two yards run, Sciorrotta' s PAT kick good (25-0).
 
The Wildcats scored at the 11:29 mark in the second quarter with sophomore quarterback Otis Brown (Miami, FL) leading the Wildcats on a 10 play, 86-yard drive to score from 4-yards out, Juan Serna PAT kick was good for a 7-25 score. The Wildcats had several scoring chances late in the quarter, but ended up turning the ball over.
 
DSU scored two more times in the second quarter, one in the third quarter and one in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring at 48-7.
 
FVSU gained 21 first downs to DSU's 18, while DSU rushed for 101-yards to FVSU's 94. The Statesmen out passed the Wildcats 374-yards to 259-yards, as the Wildcats put up 353-yards in total offense to DSU's 475-yards.
 
FVSU gained the edge in the time of possession by holding the football 39:54 to DSU's 20:06.
 
Sophomore running back Jalen White (College Park, GA) led the Wildcats on the ground with 34-yards on 8 carries, Brown completed 17-of-27 passes for 218-yards. Sophomore wide receiver Drelon Freeman (Columbus, GA) had 7 catches for 71-yards and senior wide receiver Jevon Bell (Duval County, FL) pulled in 5 passes for 77-yards.
 
Defensively, freshmen middle linebacker Leon McQuarker (Augusta, GA) led the team with 6 tackles, had one sack and one tackle-for-loss. Senior defensive tackle Samuel Goode (Duval County, FL) grabbed 4 solo tackles and senior linebacker Ryan Bowman (Fort Valley, GA) added another 4 tackles and one tackle-for-loss.
 
Next game: The Wildcats will open conference play at home on Saturday, September 12 with the Dragons of Lane College. Kick-off is slated for 6 p.m. at Wildcats Stadium.