CLEVELAND — Garrett Williams picked off two Kevin Clancy second half passes to lead the Delta State University Statesmen (11-3) to a 29-17 victory over the Shepherd University Rams (12-2) to advance to next week’s NCAA Division II National Championship in Florence, Ala.

The Statesmen will play Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday at Braly Municipal Stadium. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. and the game will broadcast on ESPN2.

“What a feeling,” DSU head coach Ron Roberts said after the game. “We made the adjustments necessary at the half to come away with the win. This was a game of huge momentum shifts and I thought our guys really did a great job of not getting too high or too low.”

The Shepherd Rams took the opening drive and marched 77 yards on 15 plays in 8:52 to take an early 7-0 lead. Nate Hoyte blasted into the endzone from 4-yards out for the 7-0 lead. Eric Dobratz tacked on the extra point. SU converted 3-of-4 third down attempts, including two by DSU on offsides penalties.

DSU came right back to answer on their first possession, as Bill Franks ran in for the 12-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 1:21 to play in the first. The drive covered 60 yards on 11 plays in 4:33.

After both teams traded turnovers in the second, the Statesmen took a 14-7 lead on Micah Davis’ 29-yard scoring strike to L.J. Castile with 7:15 to go in the half. The drive covered 46 yards on just four plays in 2:22.

The Rams came right back on Clancy’s excellent play. The senior quarterback engineered a six-play, 42-yard drive to tie it at 14-14. The Westminster, Md., native found Dominique Jones on a 10-yard crossing route to the endzone.

The Statesmen made the most of a late second quarter, fourth down stand. After putting the Rams into a 4th-and-3, Hoyte’s rushing effort came up a yard short, as Hollan Fiu knifed through the offensive line to make the play. Nine plays and 57 yards later, Matt Snyder drilled a 33-yard field goal to put the Statesmen back up 17-14.

DSU continued to have trouble hanging onto the football in the third quarter, with two interceptions. On the second, Davis’ pass attempt was tipped at the line and picked off by A.J. Parrish, who returned the ball 51 yards to the DSU 44-yard line.

Severe rain and lightning hit the stadium at 3:07 p.m. with 8:43 to go on the clock in the third.

The Statesmen defense did some game planning in the 39-minute delay, coming up with a package that forced the Rams into a long field goal attempt, a 48-yard kick that Dobratz missed wide left.

Three plays later, Davis found Carlton Ollie wide open over the middle of the field for a 64-yard touchdown. Snyder’s extra point was blocked to put the Statesmen up 23-14 with 5:17 to go in the third.

SU answered again with an 11-play, 56-yard drive in 4:28 capped by Dobratz’ 31-yard field goal to cut the lead to 23-17.

Williams made the most of his two ball-hawking opportunities late in the fourth quarter with the game on the line. The senior from Leland stepped in front of Clancy’s pass intended for Robert Byrd and picked it off, returning it to the SU 32-yard line.

From that point, the Statesmen would not be denied. Behind the running of Deed, DSU rumbled to the SU 6-yard line. On third down, Davis rolled out and threw a perfectly placed fade into the back corner of the endzone for Castile, who hauled it in for the game-clinching score. Once again, Snyder’s point after try would be blocked, putting the Statesmen up 29-17 with less than three minutes to play.

DSU would bristle on defense and seal the win with two Davis knees to the turf, giving the Statesmen a return trip to Florence on the 10th anniversary of Delta State’s 2000 NCAA title.

DSU finished the game with 347 yards of total offense, while SU managed 281 in driving rain and terrible conditions. Davis finished the day with 193 yards passing on 14-of-22 attempts with two touchdowns and uncharacteristically high three picks.

Deed finished with 104 yards rushing on 20 carries to lead all running backs. Castile grabbed five passes for 64 yards to lead the green-and-white with two touchdowns. Ollie’s 64-yard scoring grab was the longest of the game as well.