The # 1 ranked DSU Statesmen should be called the “Comeback Kids” after last night’s spectacular fourth quarter victory over GSC rival and #10 ranked Valdosta State. DSU won 36-33.

Delta State got off to an early lead, just 40 seconds into the game off a 62-yard pass from Micah Davis to Brandon Lucas. A failed extra point gave the Statesmen a quick 6-0 lead. A defensive stop later and DSU scored again on a 3-yard run from Davis to take the lead to 13-0.

The Blazers were silent in the first quarter but came out firing in the second, making key defensive plays and punching in two scores.

Quarterback Seantavious Lucas found Cayden Cochran on a 28-yard pass in the first few seconds on the second half. Then, a fumble by DSU’s Davis was recovered by Tevin Davis 21 yards out for a score.

DSU drove the ball down the field and later scored on a 23-yard field goal by Matt Dean. With a minute to go in the first half, the Blazers attempted their own field goal but it was blocked by the Statesmen as DSU entered the locker room up 16-14 at halftime.

The Blazers came out firing in the third quarter and rushed the ball down the field before Cochran kept in on a quaterback option and walked in from 27 yards out for the score. A penalty, then bobbled snap had Valdosta go for two but the pass was incomplete.

DSU rallied back but an interception by Trokon Gaye gave the Blazers the ball near DSU’s 20. Cochran then ran the ball to put Valdosta in a first and goal position and two plays later he snuck it in for the score, putting the Blazers up 27-16.

Late in the third quarter Cochran was intercepted, just as DSU needed to find momentum, and it was returned for a TD 52 yards by Brett Butler. The lead was narrowed down to 27-23.

Then, in the fourth, lineman Mark Vukadinovic caught a tipped pass as the Statesmen were knocking on the door of the endzone and DSU took the lead 29-27 after a second missed point.

Three plays later and Valdosta found themselves on first and goal. And then they punched it in to go up 33-27 after a failed two-point conversion.

After converting a couple fourth downs, including a fake punt, DSU faced a fourth and one on the 14-yard line and Brant Botill converted with less than a minute to go. On first and goal, DSU — with the number one national ranking online — Botill finished what he started and punched it in with 39.7 seconds left in the game. DSU 36-33.

The Statesmen have a bye week coming up and will return to action on Nov. 5 when they host West Alabama. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.