Delta State Defeats Florida Tech, 58-20
By Florida Tech // October 3, 2014
Florida Tech HOsts delta state at pirate stadium
Delta State 58, Florida Tech 20 (FINAL)
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• FLORIDA TECH – Tyler Bass pass complete to Aaron George for 5 yards to the DSU0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 08:46. (1ST QUARTER)
• DELTA STATE – Tyler Sullivan pass complete to Ricky Hunt for 22 yards to the FIT0, 1ST DOWN DSU, TOUCHDOWN, clock 05:38. (1ST QUARTER)
• FLORIDA TECH – Trevor Sand rush for 20 yards to the DSU0, 1ST DOWN FIT, TOUCHDOWN, clock 03:58. (2ND QUARTER)
• FLORIDA TECH – Cato pass complete to Milton for 44 yard touchdown. (2ND QUARTER)
• DELTA STATE – Tyler Sullivan pass complete to Justin Leavy for 49 yards to the FIT0, 1ST DOWN DSU, TOUCHDOWN, clock 11:33. (3RD QUARTER)
• DELTA STATE – Tyler Sullivan pass complete to Justin Leavy for 41 yards to the FIT0, 1ST DOWN DSU, TOUCHDOWN, clock 09:34.(3RD QUARTER)
• DELTA STATE – Tyler Sullivan pass complete to James Johnson for 4 yards to the FIT0, TOUCHDOWN, clock 07:29. (3RD QUARTER)
• DELTA STATE – D’Juan Bellaire rush for 12 yards to the FIT0, 1ST DOWN DSU, TOUCHDOWN, clock 06:01. (3RD QUARTER)
• DELTA STATE – Eddie McCadney 3 yards rush, V. Sciorrotta kick attempt good (4TH QUARTER)
DSU’s Defense Forces Four Florida Tech Turnover In Second Half Shutout
By: Fred Sington
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Tyler Sullivan threw five touchdown passes and ran for another as Delta State University used a big second half to extend a 23-20 lead into a 58-20 Gulf South Conference win over Florida Tech Thursday at Palm Bay High School’s Pirate Stadium.
Sullivan, who has 14 touchdown passes on the year, had 479 yards of offense, completing 24-of-41 passes for 456 yards while rushing four times for 23 yards.
Justin Leavy caught four passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns while Ricky Hunt lead DSU with 114 yards on four catches and a touchdown and Casey Osborne had five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.
The Statesmen rolled up 577 yards, 483 yards through the air and 94 yards on the ground while the Statesmen defense held Florida Tech to 161 second half yards and no points, 457 total yards.
DSU’s defense forced a punt on Florida Tech’s opening drive then forced three Florida Tech turnovers as the Statesmen scored 28-straight third quarter points and 35-straight points overall.
Sullivan and Leavy joined forces for the first two scores of the third quarter to give DSU a 37-20 lead. Sullivan and Leavy hooked up twice on the opening drive for 31 yards and then for a 49-yard touchdown pass to finish a two-play, 80-yard drive and a 30-20 lead at the 11:33 mark.
Interceptions by Jon Knox and Wilson Curtis set up the next two Statesmen scores. Sullivan found Leavy for a 41-yard touchdown pass and then tossed a four-yard scoring pass to Johnson to extend the lead to 44-20 with 7:29 remaining in the third quarter.
Diego Lubin recovered a Panther fumble at the Florida Tech 29 to set up a D’Juan Bellaire 12-yard rushing touchdown with 6:01 left in the third quarter and Eddie McCadney added a three-yard run for a 58-20 lead with 9:51 to go in the fourth
Florida Tech’s opening drive stalled at the DSU five forcing a 22-yard field goal attempt. Holder Tyler Bass caught the Statesmen off guard tossing a five-yard pass to Aaron George to give Florida Tech a 7-0 lead, and cap an 11-play, 75 yard drive with 8:46 showing on the first quarter clock.
The Statesmen took advantage of three Panther mistakes to tie the game on its second possession. Florida Tech roughed punter Justin Holt on fourth down, then committed pass interference on a third down play and holding on another fourth down play to keep the drive alive. Hunt hauled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Sullivan to tie the game 7-7 with 5:30 left in the first.
After Florida Tech missed a 27-yard field goal attempt, the Statesmen wasted little time on the ensuing possession to take their first lead of night. Sullivan completed a 64-yard pass to Hunt to the Florida Tech five to set up a Sullivan five-yard run to put DSU in front 14-7 with 6:59 to go in the second.
Trevor Sand provided Florida Tech’s answer on the next drive, scoring on a 20-yard run to finish a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Brion Ashley’s extra-point missed wide left to help the Statesmen maintain a 14-13 lead.
The offensive sparks continued when Sullivan completed a short pass to Osborne, who split the Panther defense and raced 79 yards to the end zone. Florida Tech blocked the PAT to keep the DSU advantage at 20-13 at the 3:00 mark.
A Mark Cato pass to Xavier Milton covered 44-yards followed by a Giancarlo Bennardo extra point to tie the game 20-20 with 1:08 left in the first half.
The Statesmen used the two-minute offense to drive down to Florida Tech four before Vince Sciorotta kicked a 21-yard field to give DSU a 23-20 lead at the half.
GAME PREVIEW: Panthers Host Delta State Tonight
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The No. 11 ranked Statesmen (3-0, 1-0 GSC) of Delta State University will travel 1,726 miles this Thursday, Oct. 2 to face the Panthers (3-1, 0-0 GSC) of the Florida Institute of Technology in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week, presented by Florida’s Space Coast.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Pirates Stadium. Delta State and Florida Tech will be meeting for the second time in series history, as the Statesmen travel to Melbourne, Florida.
In the first matchup between the South Region foes, the Statesmen defeated the Panthers 52-31 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28 in last year’s Pig Pickin’ Classic.
The league’s top two passing quarterbacks statistically face off this week. DSU’s Tyler Sullivan enters the game leading the GSC with 320.0 yards passing per game, while FIT’s Mark Cato averages 244.0 per start.
Sullivan has completed 79-of-114 passes for 960 yards and eight touchdowns, while Cato, who has played in one more game this season than Sullivan, is 62-of-111 for 976 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Thursday’s game will be just the 10th against a team from Florida. The Statesmen are 4-5 all-time against the Sunshine state. DSU has faced Florida Tech (1-0), Florida State (0-1), and Tampa (3-4).
Delta State and Florida Tech will be meeting for the second time in series history, as the Statesmen travel to Melbourne, Florida, Thursday, Oct. 2 for the Gulf South Conference-TV Live Game of the Week.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. EST at Palm Bay High School’s Pirate Stadium. In the first meeting between the South Region foes, the Statesmen defeated the Panthers 52-31 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28 in last year’s Pig Pickin’ Classic.
Both teams enter this year’s clash with high expectations and improved squads. FIT (3-1, 0-0 GSC) will be playing its first contest against a GSC opponent.
The Panthers defeated Stetson (FCS) 54-12 in the season-opener and followed that victory up with back-to-back wins over Ave Maria 42-6 and then-No. 14 Tarleton State 37-31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
FIT suffered its first loss of the season last Saturday, as Bethune-Cookman (FCS) edged the Panthers 34-33 in Daytona Beach, Florida.
FIT’s next three games are all against ranked GSC opponents. Following Thursday’s matchup with the Statesmen, the Panthers visit No. 17 West Alabama before hosting No. 6 North Alabama.
The league’s top two passing quarterbacks statistically face off in the second meeting between the schools. DSU’s Tyler Sullivan enters the game leading the GSC with 320.0 yards passing per game, while FIT’s Mark Cato averages 244.
Sullivan has completed 79-of-114 passes for 960 yards and eight touchdowns, while Cato, who has played in one more game this season than Sullivan, is 62-of-111 for 976 yards and 13 touchdowns.
A live radio broadcast of Thursday’s game will be available on the new Official Radio Partner of the Panthers, WFIT 89.5 FM, with Jerry Durney and Paul Van Scott calling the game. Season and individual game tickets remain for FIT’s four remaining home games. Tickets are available by calling 321-674-6228 or stopping by the Clemente Center Ticket Office Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
