GAME NOTES: North Alabama Lions at Delta State Statesmen (11.27.10) - NCAA Playoffs
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CLEVELAND - The No. 18 Statesmen (8-3, co-GSC Champions) of Delta State University are making their sixth appearance all-time in the NCAA Division II Football Championships. After grabbing a share of their third Gulf South Conference title in four years under head coach Ron Roberts, Delta State received the No. 2 seed in Super Regional II. 

The Statesmen are facing the No. 25 Lions (9-3) of the University of North Alabama in the Second Round after receiving a First Round bye last week. UNA defeated Valdosta State, 43-20, last Saturday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Ga.

Delta State and North Alabama are meeting for the 53rd time in series history and the fourth time in NCAA postseason play since the 2006 season. UNA leads the all-time series 30-21-1 and has a 2-1 mark against the Statesmen in the NCAA championships. The Lions upended the Statesmen 31-7 on Oct. 28 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week.

STATESMEN CLAIM THIRD GSC TITLE UNDER ROBERTS
The Delta State University football team has reached heights under coach Ron Roberts never before achieved in the 80-plus year history of Statesman football.  Last week, DSU claimed a share of its fifth Gulf South Conference title and the third since Roberts took over the helm in 2007.   

The Statesmen have enjoyed an up-and-down season, but have pulled out the close games.  DSU finished the year with a 6-2 league mark, including wins over Valdosta State, West Alabama, Henderson State, Arkansas-Monticello, West Georgia and Ouachita Baptist.  The lone league losses came at home to Harding and North Alabama.

Delta State tied with two teams it defeated for the GSC crown - Valdosta State and Henderson State. 

The Statesmen claimed their first ever league crown in 1998 under then-head coach Todd Knight.  Former head coach Steve Campbell led the green-and-white to the 2000 GSC title and the NCAA Division II National Championship.  In just four seasons, Roberts has driven the Statesmen to three crowns, joining some elite company in the GSC coaching ranks.

DSU AND GSC IN THE NCAA PLAYOFFS
Delta State boasts a 9-4 record all-time in NCAA postseason play, including a 2-2 record under coach Ron Roberts.

The Gulf South Conference has a long and successful record in the NCAA Division II Football Championships. Saturday's game will mark the fifth time the Statesmen have met a conference foe in the playoffs, with DSU owning a 2-2 mark in the previous four games.

DELTA STATE ALL-TIME NCAA RESULTS

YEAR	OPPONENT	LOCATION	RESULTS
1998	Fort Valley State	Cleveland	L, 21-14
2000	Valdosta State	Cleveland	W, 49-12
2000	Catawba	Catawba, N.C.	W, 20-14
2000	North Dakota State	Cleveland	W, 34-16
2000	Bloomsburg	Florence, Ala.	W, 63-34
2006	Elizabeth City State	Elizabeth City, N.C.	W, 17-10
2006	North Carolina Central	Durham, N.C.	W, 24-17
2006	North Alabama	Florence, Ala.	W, 27-10
2006	Grand Valley State	Allen, Mich.	L, 49-30
2007	Shaw	Cleveland	W, 45-7
2007	North Alabama	Florence, Ala.	L, 20-17
2008	Tusculum	Cleveland	W, 27-10
2008	North Alabama	Cleveland	L, 55-34

STATESMEN RANK 5TH IN POSTSEASON WIN PERCENTAGE
The Statesmen rank among some of the all-time great programs, placing fifth in postseason winning percentage (9-4/.694) all-time in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Grand Valley State ranks first all-time (27-10/.729) with Northwest Missouri St. (29-11/.725) second, North Dakota St. (30-12/.714) third, North Alabama (26-11/.703) fourth and Delta State (9-4/.692) fifth. Fellow GSC foe Valdosta State (15-8/.652) is sixth.

DSU LOOKING TO REPEAT 2000 FEAT
Coach Ron Roberts and the Statesmen hope to repeat the success the 2000 Statesmen were able to accomplish. DSU reeled off four straight victories to claim the 2000 National title. The Statesmen defeated Bloomsburg 63-34 in the NCAA Championship game at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala.

DSU TRYING TO JOIN ELITE GROUP
The Statesmen are attempting to become the fourth Gulf South Conference school to win multiple national championships in football. North Alabama leads the pack with three, Valdosta State has two, after winning the title in 2007 and former GSC member Troy won two before making the move to Division I.

MULTIPLE DII CHAMPIONSHIPS
North Dakota State (5) 1983,1985,1986,1988, 1990
Grand Valley State (4) 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
NW Missouri St (3) 1998, 1999, 2009
North Alabama (3) 1993, 1994, 1995
Southwest Texas St. (2) 1981, 1982
Troy State (2) 1984, 1987
Northern Colorado (2) 1996, 1997
Valdosta State (2) 2004, 2007

GSC TEAMS IN THE NCAA PLAYOFFS
The Gulf South Conference has enjoyed greater success in NCAA Championships than any other conference in NCAA Division II. The GSC holds an impressive 84-46 record all-time in the NCAA DII football playoffs with nine championships won. The GSC holds the playoff record for most schools having won a championship (5). The GSC also holds playoff records for:
Championships 9
Most Different schools winning title 5
Most Different schools making playoffs 12
Most playoff appearances by members 65
Most NCAA playoff victories 88
Most NCAA playoff games played 138

GSC NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS
The Gulf South Conference has, traditionally, been one of the more dominant conferences in NCAA Division II football. In fact, no other conference boasts more championships or playoff wins than the GSC. Since 1984, the GSC has won nine national titles.

1984 Troy State
1987 Troy State
1989 Miss. College*
1992 Jacksonville State
1993 North Alabama
1994 North Alabama
1995 North Alabama
2000 Delta State
2004 Valdosta State
2007 Valdosta State
* participation later vacated by NCAA

ROBERTS MAKING THIRD TRIP TO NCAAs IN SHORT CAREER
Some coaches wait a lifetime for the chance to play for a national championship, but for Delta State University head coach Ron Roberts, berths in the NCAA Division II Football Championships are becoming routine.

The Visalia, Calif., native is making his third appearance in the postseason bash in just four years as the head coach at Delta State. The Statesmen finished 2007 in the Second Round, while making it all the way to the Quarterfinals in 2008.

He has guided the green-and-white to a 2-2 mark in postseason play, including wins over Shaw and Tusculum, while dropping a pair of rematches to North Alabama.

STATESMEN PLACE EIGHT ON ALL-GSC TEAMS
After claiming a share of their third Gulf South Conference championship in four years, the Statesmen placed eight players on the All-GSC First or Second Teams.  The eight selections is the second-highest number during coach Ron Roberts' tenure. 

The Statesmen placed three players on the First Team, led by three-time First Team selection Trevar Deed at running back.  Joining Deed on the squad were senior wide receiver L.J. Castile and senior safety Garrett Williams. 

Deed rushed for 832 yards and nine touchdowns during the regular season, while grabbing 31 passes for 266 yards and a pair of scores.  The Phoenix, Ariz., native is the first Statesmen in history to amass over 2,000 yards rushing and 1,750 yards receiving. Deed has scored 41 career touchdowns and needs just one touchdown to become DSU's all-time scoring leader.

Castile leads the Statemen with 51 receptions for 733 yards and nine touchdowns, while Williams led DSU with 112 tackles, ranking second in the GSC, and five interceptions. 

Delta State also place five players on the second team, including Brandon Lucas (RB), Phillip Yandall (OL), Darrell Leopold (C), Xavier Triplett (LB) and Dominique Davenport (DB).  Triplett also became the first linebacker ever chosen GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year.

2010 All-GSC Selections
RB - Trevar Deed (1st Team)
WR - L.J. Castile (1st Team)
S - Garrett Williams (1st Team)
RB - Brandon Lucas (2nd Team)
OL - Phillip Yandall (2nd Team)
C - Darrell Leopold (2nd Team)
LB - Xavier Triplett (2nd Team/Defensive Freshman of the Year)
CB - Dominique Davenport (2nd Team)

DEED BECOMES RUSHING TD LEADER
Senior All-American Trevar Deed closed the regular season at Lambuth with another record in the books for the Phoenix, Ariz., native.  In his three year career, Deed has rushed for 27 career touchdowns, breaking the record of 25 held by former Statesmen Josh Bright (1998-2001) and Londale Bankston (1985-88).

STATESMEN BLISTER TOTAL OFFENSE MARK
In DSU's 41-17 win at Lambuth, the Statesmen offense rolled-up a school record 711 yards of total offense at Trinity Christian Stadium.  DSU got to the number by rushing for 268 yards and passing for 443 more.  The 711 yards snaps the six-year old record of 674 yards set at Valdosta State in 2004 at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. 

OFFENSE FINISHES REGULAR SEASON NO. 1 IN GSC
After posting a school-record 711 yards of total offense in a driving rain storm at Lambuth (11.13), the Statesmen leapt over Henderson State and West Alabama to claim the lead in the final regular season stats for total offense.  DSU finished the regular season averaging 475.0 yards per game, bettering HSU (462.6) and UWA (451.9). 

STATESMEN OFFENSE AMONG NATION'S BEST
First-year offensive coordinator Greg Stevens has built the Statesmen into one of the nation's top offensive units this season.  Through 11 games, DSU ranks eighth in the nation in total offense, averaging 475.0 yards per game.  Delta State averages 305.0 yards passing and 170.0 yards rushing per game.  The Statesmen are also third in the GSC in scoring offense (32.5 ppg).

DEED CLOSING IN ON 2,000/2,000 CLUB
Senior running back Trevar Deed is on the verge of becoming the first player in GSC history to amass 2,000 yards rushing and 2,000 yards receiving in his career.  The Phoenix, Ariz., native has rushed for 2,371 yards and grabbed 1,950 receiving yards in just 31 career games.  He has also scored 41 career touchdowns and needs just one score to become DSU's career scoring leader.

DAVIS BECOMES THIRD STATESMEN TO THROW FOR 3,000 YARDS
With his 438-yard, four touchdown performance at Lambuth (11.13), junior quarterback Micah Davis became just the third Statesman in history to pass for 3,000 yards in a season.  The Wesson native has passed for 3,310 yards and 23 touchdowns this season while completing 259-of-408 passes with 14 interceptions.  He joins former Statesmen All-American Scott Eyster, who accomplished the feat all four years at DSU, and Garrett DeWitt, who topped the mark in 2008.

POINTS PLEASE
With his name firmly etched in the annals of all-time greats at Delta State, Trevar Deed can add another record to his list with one more touchdown.  The senior running back needs just five points to become the school's career leader in points scored.  Former Statesman Rico McDonald (1999-2001) ranks No. 1 on the list with 252 points followed by Josh Bright's (1998-2001) 251.  In 34 games, Deed has scored 41 career touchdowns and one two-point conversion to account for 248 career points. 
252    Rico McDonald, 1999-2001
251    Josh Bright, 1998-2001
248    Trevar Deed, 2008-Present

CASTILE GRABS 50th
University of Houston transfer wide receiver L.J. Castile wrapped up the regular season with 51 receptions to lead the Statesmen.  His 733 yards and nine touchdowns are also tops among the Statesmen receivers. 

THREE-HEADED MONSTER
When it comes to scoring touchdowns in the GSC, the Statesmen feature a three-headed monster in running backs Trevar Deed and Brandon Lucas, and wide receiver L.J. Castile.  Deed is tied for the GSC lead with 11 touchdowns, while Castile and Lucas are tied with nine touchdowns each.  The trio has helped DSU to the third best scoring average in the league this season at 32.5 points per game. 

FARRAR SHOWS PATIENCE PAYS OFF
With the Statesmen nine yards away from a school record for total offense, Greg Stevens (OC) called the number of redshirt-junior running back Clint Farrar in the final moments of the game.  That faith paid off, as the Kossuth native rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown on three carries to push the Statesmen to the record. 

STATESMEN OFFENSIVE LINE TOUGH TO CRACK
Led by seniors Phillip Yandall and Jake Zbydniewski, the Statesmen offensive line has helped the offense to a GSC leading 475.0 yards per game.  At the same time, the unit has allowed a mere 13 sacks this season or 1.1 per game, which ranks second in the GSC. 

DEED NEARING 5,000 ALL-PURPOSE YARDS
Entering the NCAA playoffs, senior running back Trevar Deed needs 180 yards to top the 5,000 all-purpose yardage plateau in his career.  Through 33 career games, Deed has rushed for 2,371 yards and grabbed 1,950 yards receiving to total 4,820 yards.  He ranks No. 1 all-time at DSU and is trying to become the first 2,000 rush/2,000 receiving student-athlete in GSC history. 

DAVIS CLEARS 400-YARD HURDLE
Junior quarterback Micah Davis cleared the 400-yard passing hurdle for the second time this season on Saturday, Nov. 13 at Lambuth.  The 6-foot-2 signal caller completed 31-of-42 passes for 438 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. 

COMPLETION PERCENTAGE MARK FALLS
While much of the record-setting attention has focused on Trevar Deed's chase for the 2,000/2,000 club, junior quarterback Micah Davis established a new single-season completion percentage record this year.  The former Copiah-Lincoln CC standout completed 63.5 percent of his passes this year to break the former record of 62.0 percent (258-of-407) set by Garrett DeWitt following the 2008 season. 

WILLIAMS TOPS CENTURY MARK
In his senior season, Garrett Williams has turned into one of the top defensive backs in the GSC.  The Leland native finished the regular season ranked second in the league with 104 tackles. 

Williams topped the century tackle mark against Ouachita Baptist with a 13 tackle performance. He added two stops in the rain at Lambuth on Nov. 13 to get to 104 tackles on the season.  

The last time a Delta State player reached 100 tackles in a year happened in 2009 when Lardester Hicks-Green tallied 100 en route to the GSC career tackles record.   Williams will look to add to his 104 tackles and is a strong candidate for All-American.

DAVENPORT GRABS 10th CAREER INTERCEPTION
Junior All-GSC Dominique Davenport picked off two Lambuth passes on Saturday, Nov. 13 to give the corner five interceptions on the season and 10 for his career.  He is tied for the team lead in INTs with Garrett Williams and ranks third all-time on the career INTs list behind former All-Americans Monterio James (13) and Jamarcus Wiggins (12).  

FIVE STATESMEN APPROACHING 50 TACKLES
Entering the NCAA playoffs, the Statesmen have five players nearing 50 tackles this season.  Joe Marshall (48), Hollan Fiu (47), Brett Butler (47), Preston Felder (46) and Robert Hogan (46) all have a shot at 50 stops.  Garrett Williams leads the Statesmen with 104 tackles this season with Xavier Triplett standing second with 76. 

FRESHMAN PHENOM
Redshirt freshman All-GSC linebacker Xavier Triplett, who became the first linebacker ever chosen Defensive Freshman of the Year, continues to make his presence felt in his first year on the field for the Statesmen. The Hillsboro native has 76 stops on the season which ranks him at sixth in the conference in total tackles.

Triplett leads the Statesmen in tackles for loss with a total of 10 on the year and ranks ninth in the conference in that category. He also has two forced fumbles and an interception in his freshman campaign.

FORCING THE ISSUE
The defense for the Statesmen has made it a habit of causing turnovers this season. Delta State has 25 take aways on the year with 16 interceptions and 9 fumble recoveries. DSU forced four turnovers at Lambuth on Nov. 13 at Trinity Christian Stadium. 

MARSHALL ANCHORING DEFENSIVE LINE
Junior Youngstown State transfer Joe Marshall has saved his best performances for the back half of the schedule, recording a combined 28 tackles with 5.0 tackles-for-loss and two sacks in the last four games for the Statesmen.  The Clearwater, Fla., native has 48 tackles with 9.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.0 sacks and four QB hurries this season.   

STATESMEN DEFENSE CLOSING OUT OPPOSITION
In a year that clearly hasn't turned out the way defensive coordinator Pete Golding envisioned in August, the Statesmen are starting to gel at the right time.  While surrendering more yards than the coaching staff would like, points have been hard to come by in the fourth quarter.  Through 11 games, the Statesmen have allowed just 76 points in the final quarter.   

HOGAN CLOSING IN ON 100
Junior linebacker Robert Hogan is closing in on 100 career tackles.  The Lexington native has 94 in his career, including a career-high 46 this season.  He tallied 15 as a freshman and 33 as a sophomore. 

STATESMEN KNOW THEIR FLAGS
Entering the NCAA playoffs, DSU is the most penalized team in the Gulf South Conference at 116.0 yards per game on 12.6 flags per game.  The 116 yards is also good or bad enough to lead NCAA DII. 

1,500 AND COUNTING
Senior wide receiver and return specialist Maurice Moore topped the 1,500 all-purpose yardage mark at Lambuth on Nov. 13.  The Fort Worth, Texas native has amassed 1,535 yards this season to lead the GSC at 139.5 yards per game. 

MOORE TIES GSC RETURNS RECORD; CHASING ANOTHER
Kick return specialist Maurice Moore tied former UWA Tiger Terry Allen's GSC record for returns in a season with 46 after returning on kick at Lambuth on Nov. 13.  Moore has 46 kickoff returns for 984 yards in 11 games this season.

The Forth Worth, Texas native is chasing another Allen record.  The University of Wisconsin transfer currently ranks sixth in GSC history in season kick return yardage, and needs 108 yards to break the record.

CALDWELL DROPS THE BOMB
His punts have been timely and exceptional this season.  Senior punter Tyler Caldwell has been a huge special teams weapon this season, allowing the green-and-white to lead the GSC in net punting.  Individually, Caldwell finished the regular season ranked second in punting average at 43.7 yards per punt.  He trails Derek Jambon of Arkansas-Monticello by less than a yard - 0.7 yards per punt.  Caldwell has punted 28 times for 1,223 yards with seven kicks over 50 yards and three inside the 20. 

MOORE TAKES DOWN ANOTHER RECORD
It was a another record-setting night for senior wide receiver and kick returner Maurice Moore versus Harding.  The Fort Worth, Texas native set a school record for kick return yardage in a game with 168 yards on seven returns versus the Bisons.  Moore's effort bested the previous mark of 150 yards held by former Statesman Dennis Patterson, who established the record versus Valdosta State on Nov. 4, 1989. 

MOORE BREAKS SCHOOL RECORD FOR KICKOFF RETURN YARDS
Senior wide receiver/kick returner Maurice Moore became Delta State's single-season kickoff return yardage leader on Oct. 7 at UAM.  The Fort Worth, Texas native returned three kicks for 70 yards to give him 560 kick return yards this year on 26 attempts.  He has since added to that total, amassing 984 return yards on 46 returns.

ONLY 33
It's hard to believe, but the Statesmen have punted just 33 times during the entire regular season.  The GSC average is 51.2 punts per team.  DSU, Ouachita Baptist (36), West Alabama (38) and Henderson State (42) are the only teams to punt fewer than 50 times this year.  Interestingly enough, all four teams rank in the top four in total offense in the GSC.