By Staff
NEAR CATCH University of West Alabama's Bakari Bryant, left, and Delta State's Rodney Curry both go up for a pass thrown by UWA quarterback Brett Gilliland. The pass would be incomplete. Photo by Kyle Carter/ The Meridian Star
By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Sept. 28, 2003
LIVINGSTON, Ala. When it rains, it pours.
Delta State University (3-1, 1-1 Gulf South Conference) stuffed a one-yard University of West Alabama quarterback sneak two minutes into the second quarter, and the visitors to Tigers Stadium went on to tally 30 points in the quarter, as it began to rain entering halftime.
The adverse weather didn't slow down the Statesmen. DSU racked up 580 yards of total offense in a 47-17 win over the Tigers (2-2, 1-1 GSC).
DSU freshmen quarterback Scott Eyster, who left the game near the end of the second quarter with a bruised knee, completed 16-of-22 passes for 233 yards, with one touchdown.
Statesmen sophomore wide receiver Ellis Debrow caught eight passes for 187 yard, with two touchdowns, and senior running back David Yeats carried the ball 22 times for 168 yards, with one touchdown.
DSU's defense was as stifling as the offense was potent. After giving up a 37-yard field goal and a seven-yard touchdown pass in the game's opening eight-and-half minutes, the Statesmen shut out the Tigers for two quarters, and held the Tigers to 309 yards of total offense.
After finishing the first quarter tied at 10, DSU defensive tackle Anthony Maddox stuffed Gilliland on an attempted fourth-and-1 conversion on the Tigers' 38.
Yates carried the play the rest of the way following the defensive stop breaking off a 21-yard to UWA's one-yard line and punching the ball in two plays later for a 17-10 lead.
The Tigers woes continued on the following series, as a snap sailed over Gilliland's head from his own 21-yard line and into the end zone for a safety.
DSU followed the safety by driving the ball 79 yards on eight plays ending with a 14-yard rushing touchdown by Jason Snell for a 26-10 advantage, with 8:45 left in the half.
Eyster reached the end zone himself on a five-yard run that followed a 31-yard completion to Chris Parks, who had five catches for 96 yards. The quarterback's touchdown run capped a six-play, 68-yard drive that gave DSU a 33-10 lead.
Debrow ended the scoring in the first half with a 43-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Chad Blalack, with two seconds left in the second quarter for a 40-10 lead.
After a scoreless third quarter, Debrow struck again by hauling in a 19-yard touchdown pass from Blalack, who completed 7-of-12 passes for 132 yard, eight seconds into the fourth quarter for a 47-10 lead.
UWA finished the scoring with a 39-yard touchdown reception by Deonte Tanniehill from Josh Crouch.
The Tigers continue their season against Harding at 1 p.m. Saturday at home.