GAME NOTES: No. 2 Delta State Statesmen at Northwestern State Demons (9.1.11)
Complete Weekly Release in PDF

CLEVELAND, Miss. - The No. 2 ranked Statesmen (1-0, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University make a quick turnaround this week, as the green-and-white travel to Natchitoches, La., on Thursday, Sept. 1 to face the Demons (0-0, 0-0 SLC) of Northwestern State University. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Turpin Stadium. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 5 p.m. with the “DSU Alumni Association Statesmen Game Day Report.” Matt Jones, J.T. Webb and Clayton Coffman will have the call.

DSU and NSU, a former member of the Gulf South Conference, are meeting for the 16th time in series history on the gridiron. The Demons have dominated the series over the years with a 13-2 edge in the all-time satndings. The two teams haven't met since the 2002 season, a 35-7 NSU victory at Turpin Stadium.

The “Cardiac Kids,” who are 15-3 under coach Roberts in games decided by 7-points or less, had to come-from-behind to defeat Elizabeth City State 28-21 in overtime in last Saturday's season opener. Junior running back Brandon Lucas accounted for 182 all-purporse yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in the extra frame on a 5-yard run.

Senior quarterback Micah Davis completed 20 of 33 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns versus the Vikings. The Wesson native also threw two interceptions, but executed two brillant drives late in the game to give the Statesmen a chance at the win. Davis completed passes to 10 different receivers on the night, including three with multiple catches.

Chance Dennis proved to be a major target for the Statesmen on Saturday with seven catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. The Houston, Texas native established a new career-high for receptions in a game. His previous high was six at Arkansas-Monticello and Lambuth last year.

Mark Hoskins, a senior defensive end, turned in a career night versus ECSU with eight tackles, one tackle-for-loss and one sack.

Delta State entered the 2011 season ranked unanimously in the top five in all of the major NCAA Division II polls. The Statesmen hold down the No. 2 spot in the American Football Coaches Association and Lindy's Preseason Magazine Top 25 polls, while sitting at No. 5 in The Sporting News Magazine Preseason Top 25.

The Gulf South Conference annual Preseason Coaches' Poll once again had the Statesmen (14) picked to repeat as league champions. North Alabama (12) was tabbed second followed by Valdosta State (11), West Alabama (9) and West Georgia (4). 

Six Statesmen were named to the GSC's annual Preseason All-GSC Team, including quarterback Micah Davis and 2010 GSC Freshman Defender of the Year Ixavier Triplett. The duo was joined by 2010 All-GSC selections Darrell Leopold (C) and Dominique Davenport (CB). New to the squad this year are Chance Dennis (WR) and Joe Marshall (DE).

STATESMAN TO WATCH: MLB - Ixavier Triplett
Ixavier Triplett, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound sophomore middle linebacker, burst onto the scene last season as the 2010 Gulf South Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year after recording 100 tackles with 12 tackles-for-loss.

The Hillsboro, Miss., native picked up right where he left off last year with seven tackles against Elizabeth City State in the season opener at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The former Scott Central star picked-off ECSU's Creven Powell at the DSU 10-yard line to seal the Statesmen's 28-21 overtime win Saturday. It was his second career interception.

Triplett, a former two-time All-State selection at Scott Central High School, became the first freshman to record 100 tackles in their first season at Delta State University. In DSU's march to the NCAA DII National Championship Game, Triplett totaled four games with at least 10 tackles in a game, including 10 stops, a sack and one forced fumble in the title clash with Minnesota-Duluth.

GREEN-AND-WHITE BEGIN GRUELING SEPTEMBER STRETCH
The Statesmen will certainly feel akin to Mel Gibson's Mad Max character after traveling over 2,577 miles and playing four straight games on the road.

DSU begins the swing with a 511-mile round trip journey to Natchitoches, La., to face Northwestern State on Thursday, Sept. 1. The odyssey continues with a 1,016 mile jaunt to Fort Valley, Ga., to battle the FVSU Wildcats on Saturday, Sept. 10.

The Statesmen will conclude “Gulliver's” travels with back-to-back trips to Arkansas Tech (544 miles) and Henderson State (506 miles).

STATESMEN AND DEMONS REKINDLE OLD RIVALRY
The Statesmen and Demons will be meeting for the first time since 2002 on Thursday, Sept. 1 when the two school rekindle their rivalry at Turpin Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

Northwestern State has dominated the series over the years, owning a 13-2 edge in the series standings. In the 2002 clash, the Demons controlled the line of scrimmage all day en route to a 35-7 victory over then-coach Rick Rhoades in his debut as head coach of the Statesmen.

STATESMEN VERSUS LOUISIANA
Delta State will be playing its 86th game all-time against a school from Louisiana. DSU is 30-52-3 all-time against the “Pelican State.”

DELTA STATE VERSUS THE SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE
To say the Delta State University Statesmen have not fared well against Southland Conference opponents would be an understatement. DSU holds a 9-24-1 mark all-time against SLC foes, including an unimpressive 2-13-0 ledger against week 2 opponent Northwestern State. If the 10-19-1 mark against former Gulf South Conference members Southeastern Louisiana and Central Arkansas was included, DSU would have a 24-51-2 record against the SLC.

The last time the Statesmen faced a Southland Conference opponent was in 2008, in which the Statesmen fell 52-27 to McNeese State University. DSU last faced NSU in a 2002 contest, which the Demons claimed 35-7.

SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE SCHOOLS RECORD
Central Arkansas: 5-11-1
McNeese State: 0-1
Nichols State: 5-3-1
Northwestern State: 2-13
Sam Houston State: 0-1
Stephen F. Austin: 2-5
Texas State: 0-1
Southeastern Louisiana: 5-8 (Games played while SELA was a member of the GSC)

ROBERTS VERSUS THE SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE
Since joining the Statesmen coaching staff as defensive coordinator in 2005, head coach Ron Roberts has enjoyed a measure of success against the Southland Conference with a 1-2 record.

In 2005, the Statesmen put a major scare into the Bobcats of Texas State before falling 32-25 at Jim Wacker Field. Current DSU defensive coordinator Pete Golding was an All-GSC safety for the Statesmen at the time and finished the game with 11 tackles.

Delta State and coach Roberts exacted a little revenge on the SLC in 2006 with a 17-14 victory over Stephen F. Austin at Homer Bryce Stadium. Graham Houston's 22-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining in the game lifted DSU to the win.

With coach Roberts at the helm of the Statesmen in 2008, DSU ran into preseason No. 10 McNeese State at Cowboys Stadium. After a closely contested first half, the Cowboys pulled away for a 52-27 win.

ROBERTS ON THE ROAD
In his four previous seasons as head coach of the Statesmen, coach Ron Roberts has amassed a 15-9 record on the road. The Statesmen were 7-2 on the road during last season's march to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game.

CARDIAC KIDS
A year removed from six games being decided by a touchdown or less, the Statesmen proved they have the mettle to pull out a hard fought contest in the end with a 28-21 victory against Elizabeth City State in overtime. Brandon Lucas scored the game-winning touchdown on a 5-yard scamper off the right side and Ixavier Triplett sealed the win with an interception of ECSU's Powell at the DSU 10-yard line. The Statesmen are 15-3 under coach Roberts in games decided by eight points or less.

LUCAS PROVIDED SPARK FOR STATESMEN
The first time he touched the ball on Saturday Brandon Lucas rumbled 77-yards on a kickoff return. It's that elusiveness that makes the Covington, Ga., native such a weapon and in DSU's 28-21 overtime win over Elizabeth City State, it was Lucas who provided the spark.

The 2010 All-GSC selection finished the contest with 182 all-purpose yards, including 79 yards rushing, 35 yards receiving and 68 yards in kick and punt returns.

His 35-yard touchdown reception in the 3rd quarter cut DSU's deficit to 21-14, while his electrifying 5-yard scamper in overtime proved to be the game winner.

STATESMEN DEFENDERS SHUTDOWN VIKINGS IN SECOND HALF
After allowing 21 points and 257 yards to Elizabeth City State in the first half, the Delta State Defense held the Vikings scoreless in the second frame and to a mere six yards of total offense. ECSU finished the third quarter with 20 yards on 10 plays while amassing -6 yards on nine plays in the fourth quarter.

In the decisive overtime period, ECSU lost another eight yards on two plays and gave up the game-winning interception to Ixavier Triplett at the DSU 10-yard line.

HOSKINS LEADS WAY FOR STATESMEN DEFENSE
If you've followed the career of Mark Hoskins, you know the senior defensive end has had to battle for everything he's received. Saturday, the Louisville native led the way for the Statesman defense with eight tackles, one tackle-for-loss and a sack.

His eight tackles was one shy of his career high nine last season in DSU's 41-17 win at Lambuth.

DENNIS COMES UP BIG FOR GREEN-AND-WHITE
Chance Dennis made the most of his opportunities in the season-opener for the Statesmen with a career-high seven receptions for 88 yards and touchdown. The Houston, Texas native hauled in Micah Davis' first touchdown pass of the season on a 4-yard fade to the corner in the second quarter of Saturday's 28-21 overtime win.

DAVIS SHAKES OFF THE RUST
Micah Davis looked like at veteran quarterback at times on Saturday, but the preseason All-American and Harlon Hill Trophy candidate will tell you he was a bit rusty.

The Wesson native completed 20 passes to 10 different receivers for 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns versus the Vikings, but the stat Davis will pay the most attention to during preparations for Northwestern State game will be his two interceptions and a fumble.

STATESMEN IN SEASON OPENERS
Delta State improved to 41-34-4 record in season openers with its 28-21 overtime victory Saturday against Elizabeth City State. Trailing 21-7, the Statesmen rallied for 21 unanswered points en route to the win.

INSIDE PARKER FIELD-McCOOL STADIUM
Over the years, Parker Field-McCool Stadium has been a very successful place for the Statesmen. In its 41 year history, the Statesmen are 121-71-7, while DSU boasts an all-time record of 239-121-15. In head coach Ron Roberts' tenure, the Statesmen have posted a 21-3 record at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.

KICK RETURNS VITAL WEAPON AGAINST ECSU
Special teams play is often overlooked by the average fan, but in DSU's 28-21 win over ECSU, it proved to be vital. The Statesmen averaged 32.0 yards per kick return, including a 77-yard effort by Brandon Lucas, on four attempts and had a 73-yard Lucas punt return negated by an inadvertant whistle.

PLAYER KICK RETURNS/YARDS
Bryce McBride: 1-17
Jamel Gandy: 1-15
Jamarcus Jackson: 1-17
Brandon Lucas: 1-77

MR. THIRD DOWN
Senior wide receiver Tim Smith may have a new monicor around the Statesmen football team this week, Mr. Third Down. The Baltimore, Md., native caught four passes for 43 yards versus the Vikings with three going for first downs. In two crucial drives in the second half, Smith's receptions kept drives going and the team's hopes alive.

THE TWO B'S
Brant Botill and Bryce McBride were a feirce one-two punch in the second half Saturday versus the Vikings, rushing for 62 yards 10 carries in DSU's come-from-behind win.

Botill, a 5-foot-10 junior from Hanford, Calif., finished the night with 61 yards on 12 carries. McBride, a 5-foot-8 junior from West Covina, Calif., had 28 yards on just four carries. The duo finished the night with 89 combined yards on 16 carries for an average of 5.6 yards per carry.

MAYERS, TRIPLETT, DAVENPORT AND GRIFFIN ANCHOR DEFENSE
With Mark Hoskins reacking havoc up front, Robbie Mayers, Ixavier Triplett, Dominique Davenport and Melvin Griffin anchored the Statesmen defense versus the Vikings.

The foursome accounted for 25 combined stops, including a career-high six for Mayers, who made his first career start at nose guard on Saturday. Triplett had seven tackles, while Davenport and Griffin chipped in with six stops each.

STATESMEN O-LINE PAVES WAY IN SECOND HALF
The DSU Offensive line made great adjustments in the second half leading to 145 yards rushing in the final two quarters in the 28-21 overtime victory over Elizabeth City State.

Juniors Mark Vucadinovic (6-4/300) and Lamar Young (6-5/315) both graded out at 89 percent on Saturday, while Kendal Hunter (6-6/338) led the OL with a grade of 91 percent.

TRIPLETT SEALS WIN WITH INTERCEPTION
Sophomore All-America candidate Ixavier Triplett (6-1/230) made the most of his second career interception Saturday, picking off ECSU's Creven Powell at the DSU 10-yard line in overtime to seal the victory.

The Hillsboro, Miss., native finished the night with seven tackles, a tackle-for-loss and an interception.

HOPKINS RECORDS FIRST CAREER BLOCK
How do you spell intensity for Statesman tight end Dex Hopkins? Apparently, it's b-l-o-c-k, as the senior recorded his first career blocked punt on Saturday in the first quarter off ECSU's Rickey Jarmin.

DEAN GOES 4 FOR 4 ON PATS
After struggling last season on extra point attempts, senior kicker Matt Dean connected on 4 of 4 point after attempts in DSU's 28-21 overtime thriller against ECSU.

DELTA STATE PICKED TO REPEAT AS GSC CHAMPIONS; STATESMEN PLACE SIX ON PRESEASON ALL-GSC TEAM
The Gulf South Conference officially released its 2011 Preseason Football Coaches Poll with the Delta State University Statesmen picked to repeat as league champions. The Statesmen received 14 votes in the annual poll followed by North Alabama (12), Valdosta State (11), West Alabama (9) and West Georgia (4). A total of six Statesmen were also named to the Preseason All-GSC Team, led by quarterback Micah Davis and 2010 GSC Freshman Defender of the Year Ixavier Triplett.

The Statesmen placed three players on the offensive and defensive units. Joining Davis on the offense are 2010 All-GSC Second Team center Darrell Leopold and senior wide receiver Chance Dennis, who caught 52 passes for 807 yards and four touchdowns.

Defensively, the Statesmen return nine starters including Triplett. Senior All-GSC defensive back Dominique Davenport and defensive tackle Joe Marshall were also named to the defensive unit.

STATESMEN OPEN SEASON RANKED NO. 2 IN AFCA TOP 25
The Delta State University Statesmen football team will begin the 2011 season ranked No. 2 nationally, as the American Football Coaches Association officially released its AFCA Preseason Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

Minnesota-Duluth, fresh off of its second national championship in 2010, opens up 2011 as the preseason favorite to win the national championship. This is the first time since the AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll started in 2000 that the Bulldogs have begun the season ranked No. 1.

2010 national runner-up Delta State (Miss.) starts the season at No. 2, followed by No. 3 Northwest Missouri State, who received one first-place vote, No. 4 Abilene Christian (Texas) and No. 5 Grand Valley State (Mich.). There will be four Top 25 matchups in the first full week of action, including a Top 10 battle as No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth travels to No. 8 Augustana (S.D.).

DAVIS NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN; HARLON HILL IN SIGHT
A year after leading the Statesmen to the NCAA DII National Championship Game, senior quarterback Micah Davis is ready to build on last season's successes, but erase the mistakes that kept the green-and-white from hoisting the trophy.

Davis, who was named a preseason All-American by Consensus Draft Services and All-GSC by a vote of the league's coaches, spent the 2010 season rewriting the Statesmen quarterbacking record book, becoming the first DSU signal-caller to eclipse the 4,000-yard mark. In 15 games, Davis completed 336 of 517 passes for 4,097 yards with 33 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

Along the journey, Davis topped school records for completions, attempts, yards, completion percentage, total offense yards and yards passing in a debut.

WEEK THREE PREVIEW: STATESMEN FACE FVSU WILDCATS
Delta State will continue its month-long road trip on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, Ga. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

The game marks the first ever regular season meeting between the two South Region foes. DSU fell to FVSU 21-14 in the 1998 NCAA Division II playoffs. FVSU, a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, finished the 2010 season with an 8-3 record under head coach Donald Pittman. The Wildcats have been a periennial fixture in the SIAC's upper-tier of football-playing schools.

DEMONS PICKED 5TH IN SLC COACHES POLL
After coach Peveto rallied the troops for four wins at the end of last season to finish SLC tied for third at 4-3, the Northwestern State Demons were picked to finish fifth in the annual Southland Conference Coaches Preseason Poll.

The Demons received 24 poll points to rank fifth behind preseason favorite McNeese State (44), Stephen F. Austin (43), Central Arkansas (37) and Sam Houston State (36).

Northwestern State was picked fourth in the SLC Sports Information Directors Poll, receiving 33 points and one first place vote.

PEVETO TURNING THE CORNER
Known for his agressive coaching style on the field, NSU head coach Bradley Dale Peveto has started to turn the corner with the Demons in just his third season as head coach.

After an 0-11 first season in Natchitoches, La., Peveto coached the Demons to a 5-6 overall mark, including a 4-3 record in SLC play, last year.

With 21 starters and 59 lettermen returning, the 2011 campaign could be a bright one for the Demons and coach Peveto.

PLAY'EM YOUNG
Northwestern State has played 24 true freshmen over the last two seasons.

BACK UNDER THE GUN
Junior quarterback Paul Harris is back under center, and looks to improve an offense that scored a conference worst 17.6 points per game. The Preseason All-SLC 2nd Team pick threw for 1,821 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. He averaged 182.1 yards per game and completed 56.6 percent of his passes. Harris also led the team in rushing as well. He ran for 347 yards and four touchdowns.

LOOKING IN THE STABLE
It was running back by committee last season for the Demons, and it will be more of the same in 2011. Senior Sterling Endsley gained 316 yards on 93 attempts, and scored two touchdowns in 2010. Others like sophomores Rumeall Morris, and D.J. Palmer will also get carries for the Demons who were ranked second to last in rushing offense in 2010.

DEMONS AIR ATTACK
Junior receiver Phillip Harvey will anchor the receiving corp. Harvey caught 25 passes last season, for 312 yards, and a touchdown. Senior T.C. Henry and Sophomore Louis Hollier will also have an impact in the passing game. Senior tight end Justin Aldredge will also be a big factor in the passing game. Aldredge caught 22 passes, for 289 yards, and four touchdowns in 2010.

YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE
Senior Zach Case will center the offensive line for the Demons that return all the starters from last season. The line has a lot of youth and experience as four of the five starters saw action as true freshman in each of the last two seasons.

A ROSE WITH 138 THORNS
Junior linebacker Derek Rose became the first sophomore All-American for Northwestern since 2000, last season. Rose started all 11 games, totaling 138 tackles and two sacks.

FRESH UPFRONT
NSU returns only one starter on the defensive line. Junior defensive end Wade Williams is the lone returner, coming off an All-Southland Conference Honorable Mention selection. Williams recorded 46 tackles with 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks last season.

STOUT AT SAFETY
Junior All-SLC First Team free safety Jamaal White and junior strong safety Brashard Booker return to anchor the Demons secondary. White posted a three interception, 65 tackle season as a sophomore while Booker, an All-SLC Second Team selection, was second on the squad with 90 tackles despite starting just four games.

FIELD POSITION GAMECHANGER
Punter Bradley Russo returns with a 41 yards per punt average, including 18 kicks inside the 20-yard line.