CLINTON, Miss. --- For the first time since 1993, the Mississippi College football team is the owner of the Heritage Bell Trophy after a 37-13 victory over Delta State University on Saturday afternoon at Robinson-Hale Stadium.

With the victory, the Choctaws (5-5, 4-4 GSC) secured their first undefeated season at home since 1988, going 5-0 in game at Robinson-Hale.

The Statesmen (6-4, 5-3 GSC) most likely wrapped up their 2019 season with the loss. The NCAA Division II Football Selection Show is scheduled for Sunday (Nov. 17).
 

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HOW IT HAPPENED
  - Prior to the game, the Choctaws recognized 23 football seniors playing in their final home games at Robinson-Hale Stadium.
  - The Choctaws wasted no time getting on the board as they took their opening drive 64 yards in nine plays and senior Detric Hawthorn rushed in from one yard out to give MC a 6-0 lead.
  - The teams would trade field goals and the Choctaws would hold a 9-6 lead late in the second quarter.
  - MC would break the game open in the final 35 seconds of the half as Hawthorn found senior Moregan Sharp for a 13-yard score to push the advantage out to 16-6.
  - On the next offensive play, senior Turner Rotenberry picked off a pass and ran it back 33 yards for a score and the Choctaws took a 23-6 lead into the half.
  - The Choctaw defense stepped up on the first drive of the second half, stopping the Statesmen on downs and giving the ball to the offense at around midfield.
  - MC then went 55 yards on 11 plays and Hawthorn rushed in from two yards out to extend the MC lead to 30-6 with 5:01 to go in the third quarter.
  - The Choctaws forced another turnover on downs on DSU's next possession, but a fumble gave the ball to the Statesmen at their own 45-yard line.
  - After a long completion by DSU, senior Derric Hawthorn forced a fumble and returned it back 97 yards for his third defensive touchdown of the season, and the Choctaws went ahead 37-6 late in the third quarter.
  - The Statesmen would score a touchdown early in the fourth quarter to cut the score to 37-13, but it was the final score of the game as the Choctaws grabbed the enormous victory.
 

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KEY STATS
  - The Choctaws rushed for 232 yards on 51 carries, averaging 4.5 yards per carry with two touchdowns.
  - Detric Hawthorn led the team with 75 rushing yards and two scores, while senior Jordan Wright rushed for 74 yards.
  - Senior Ja'Mori Mark added 37 rushing yards, while senior Drew Croegaert had 33 rushing yards.
  - Hawthorn completed 3-of-6 passes for 28 yards and the score to Sharp, who had two catches for 23 yards.
  - Derric Hawthorn led MC with 14 tackles, including 12 solo stops with the 2.0 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and the fumble recovery.
  - Senior Branden Pete had a career-high eight tackles, while senior Justin Jackson and Turner Rotenberry had seven tackles.
  - Breck Ruddick completed 25-of-32 passes for 159 yards and the interception, also rushing for 24 yards and a score.
  - Kelon Wilson led DSU with 52 rushing yards on 14 carries.
  - The MC defense held the Statesmen to 312 yards on 68 plays, forcing two turnovers with two turnovers on downs.
  - The Choctaws held the ball for 31:54 and went 5-of-11 on third downs.
 

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GAME NOTES
  - The win for MC was their first since a 13-7 win in Cleveland on November 13, 1993.
  - The last win in Clinton came on November 14, 1992 with a 34-23 win at Robinson-Hale Stadium.
  - The Choctaws are now 16-22-2 all-time against the Statesmen.
  - The last time MC went undefeated at home was in 1988, and that regular season concluded with a 7-3 win over Delta State.
  - The win gave the Choctaws their first record of .500 or better since going 9-3 in 2009, the last year MC won a conference title.
 

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NEXT UP
  - The Choctaws closed out the 2019 season with the victory over Delta State.
  - MC's first home game in 2020 is scheduled for September 26th when West Georgia comes to Clinton.
 

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Mississippi College is a private Christian university located in Clinton, Mississippi with an enrollment of over 5,000 students. MC recently finished their transition process back to NCAA Division II and the Gulf South Conference and began competing for conference and national championships in the 2016-17 academic year.

The athletic department sponsors 17 intercollegiate athletic programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Football, Golf, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Men's and Women's Tennis, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field and Volleyball.

For more information on Mississippi College athletics, please contact David Nichols at 601-925-3234 or nichols@mc.edu.