Benjamin Dishong

Football Matt Jones

GAME NOTES: No. 6/11 Statesmen to travel to Fort Valley State

GAME NOTES: No. 6/11 Statesmen @ Fort Valley State (9.10.11)
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CLEVELAND
- The No. 6/11 ranked Statesmen (1-1, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University continue their month long road trip Saturday, Sept. 10, as the Wildcats (0-1, 0-0 SIAC) of Fort Valley State University play host to the green-and-white. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Wildcats Stadium in Fort Valley, Ga.

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.

Delta State and Fort Valley State, a top contender in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, are meeting for just the second time in series history. The Wildcats edged the Statesmen in the 1998 NCAA Division II Playoffs 21-14 in a first round game at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Statesmen are 1-1 all-time against the SIAC.

The “Cardiac Kids,” who are 15-4 under coach Roberts in games decided by 7-points or less, have had back-to-back games come down to the final seconds to start the season. Last week, Northwestern State held off the Statesmen, 24-23, as DSU's two-point conversion pass fell to the turf. A week earlier, DSU rallied to come-from-behind and defeat Elizabeth City State 28-21 in overtime in the season opener.

Senior quarterback Micah Davis, who has completed 39 of 75 passes for 561 yards and four touchdowns climbed to No. 4 on the all-time passing charts with his 290-yard effort at Northwestern State last Thursday. The Wesson native has amassed 4,658 yards passing to leap past former Statesman David Crowe (1992-1995), who had totaled 4,551 yards. Scott Eyster (2003-2006) holds the school's all-time record with 13,889 yards passing.

Ixavier Triplett, a sophomore linebacker and All-America candidate, recorded 10 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack in DSU's 24-23 loss at Northwestern State. The Hillsboro native leads the team with 17 tackles this season.

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 in September. DSU began the swing with a 511-mile round trip journey to Natchitoches, La., a 24-23 heartbreaking loss to Northwestern State, and this week DSU continues the odyssey with a 1,016 mile jaunt to Fort Valley, Ga., to battle the FVSU Wildcats on Saturday.

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).

GREEN-AND-WHITE CONTINUE 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 began the swing with a 511-mile round trip journey to Natchitoches, La., a 24-23 heartbreaking loss to Northwestern State, and this week the Statesmen continue 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 WILDCATS FOR ONLY SECOND TIME
The No. 6/11 ranked Statesmen (1-1, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University continue their month long road trip Saturday, Sept. 10, as the Wildcats (0-1, 0-0 SIAC) of Fort Valley State University play host to the green-and-white. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Wildcats Stadium in Fort Valley, Ga.

Delta State and Fort Valley State, a top contender in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, are meeting for just the second time in series history. The Wildcats edged the Statesmen in the 1998 NCAA Division II Playoffs 21-14 in a first round game at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.

AROUND THE NATION
No. 7 Albany State (Ga.) takes on No. 23 Wingate (N.C.). Albany State (1-0) defeated Savannah State 37-34. Wingate (0-1) fell to Valdosta State (Ga.) in double overtime 34-28.

No. 18 Mercyhurst (Pa.) hosts No. 19 Kutztown (Pa.). Mercyhurst (1-0) defeated Notre Dame (Ohio) 24-23 in overtime last week. Kutztown (1-0) rolled over St. Anselm (N.H.) last week 56-30.

THIS WEEK IN THE GSC

The No. 14 ranked Valdosta State Blazers (1-0) take on Newberry College (0-1) in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week on Thursday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. In other games, Fort Valley State (0-1) hosts No. 11 Delta State (1-1) at 6 p.m. on Saturday with No. 5 North Alabama (1-0) hosting Glenville State (0-1) at 6 p.m.

West Alabama (0-1) wraps up the GSC schedule with a matchup against Lone Star Conference foe Tarleton State (0-1) at 6 p.m.

DELTA STATE VERSUS THE SIAC
Although many of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference institutions are geographically close, the Statesmen only have two all-time meetings with SIAC football playing schools.

In 1998 the Statesmen fell 28-14 in a playoff loss to the Fort Valley State Wildcats. It took 12 years before the next meeting between DSU and a SIAC member, which was a 28-7 Statesmen win over Albany State in the 2010 NCAA Playoffs.

ROBERTS AGAINST THE SIAC
Coach Ron Roberts has enjoyed a great deal of success against the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association during his tenure at Delta State. The Visalia, Calif., native is 1-0 against the SIAC with a 28-7 win at Albany State in the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals last year.

ROBERTS ON THE ROAD
In his four previous seasons as head coach of the Statesmen, coach Ron Roberts has amassed a 15-10 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.

JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS OVER

The Statesmen have now put together back-to-back two-minute scoring drives in the fourth quarter. After week one's 15-play, 91-yard touchdown drive with less than 30 seconds left to tie the game against Elizabeth City State, the Statesmen nearly topped that at Northwestern State.

With 10 seconds left, the Statesmen came within an extra point of a tie game after Micah Davis and Tim Smith connected for the touchdown to cap off an 11 play, 71 yard drive. Going for the win, the Statesmen failed a two-point conversion attempt.

CARDIAC KIDS
A year removed from six games being decided by a touchdown or less, and 2011 looks to be no different with back-to-back, edge-of-your-seat heroics in the first two weeks. In week one, 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 on Saturday, Aug. 27. 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.

Down 24-17 with less than two minutes remaining, Micah Davis marched the Statesmen 71-yards in 1:54 and found Tim Smith on a 13-yard touchdown pass to cut the Northwestern State lead to one, 24-23. DSU elected to go for two, but the pass fell incomplete as NSU held on for the win.

The Statesmen are 15-4 under coach Roberts in games decided by eight points or less.

STATESMEN TOP 400
For a second straight week, the Delta State Offense topped the 400-yard mark with 421 yards on 80 plays at Northwestern State. The Statesmen ran for 131 yards on 37 carries while passing for 290 yards on 19 of 43 attempts. In week one, DSU amassed 440 yards with 169 yards rushing and 271 yards passing.

DELTA STATE SIMPLY OFFENSIVE IN THE GSC STATS
The Statesmen enter week three ranked second in the Gulf South Conference in total offense with a 430.5 yards per game average. Valdosta State leads the league with 452.5 yards per game.

Delta State's passing attack ranks No. 1 behind the play of Micah Davis, who has completed 39 of 75 passes for 561 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.

STATESMEN “GREEN SHIRTS” RANK No. 1 ON DEFENSE
Entering Saturday's trip to Fort Valley State, the Statesmen “Green Shirts” defense ranks No. 1 in the Gulf South Conference in total defense at 311.0 yards allowed per game. DSU is fourth in scoring defense, allowing 22.5 points per game.

STATESMEN TURN UP THE HEAT IN THE GREEN ZONE
Delta State was a perfect 4 of 4 inside the “Green Zone” this past week at Northwestern State. Micah Davis threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, while Matt Dean nailed a 23-yard field goal.

The Statesmen were just 1 of 2 inside the “Green Zone” in the season opener against Elizabeth City State. Hopefully last week's upswing will continue.

FIRST HALF EXECUTION

The Statesmen scored on three-of-their-five offensive possessions in the first half against Northwestern State University last week. Delta State's two touchdown drives went for 98 and 83 yards, respectively, while its final drive covered 90 yards before a Matt Dean 23-yard field goal.

DSU led 17-0 at the half, but couldn't keep any offensive continuity going in the second. Northwestern State took advantage and clawed back for the 24-23 win.

MR. SMITH GOES TO WORK

Senior wide receiver Tim Smith tied for the team lead with four catches against Northwestern State last week. Not only did he average 10.7 yards per catch, but he was also the recipient of Micah Davis' touchdown pass that brought the Statesmen within a point of the Vikings (24-23). Smith also had a 15-yard rush.

Smith has eight receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown in just two games for the Statesmen. Last season, the Baltimore, Md., native caught 16 passes for 302 yards and a touchdown in 15 games.

TRIPLETT TAKE TWO
Preseason All-America candidate Ixavier Triplett has continued to lead the Statesmen week-in and week-out, recording a team-high 10 tackles with 4.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack in the 24-23 loss at Northwestern State last Thursday. He also recorded a forced fumble.

HOGAN'S HEROICS
Senior linebacker and All-GSC candidate Robert Hogan recorded seven tackles, three tackles-for-loss and two sacks in his best performance of the season for the Statesmen at Northwestern State. Hogan's sack late in the 4th quarter kept the Demons to a field goal and giving the Statesmen a chance at the end.

NOT QUITE TWINS - BARNES DUO TOP NOTCH
The Statesmen secondary feature senior safety Jerry Barnes and sophomore strong safety Kenny Barnes. The duo proved to be quite a 1-2 punch for the Statesmen at Northwestern State. Jerry, an Oakland, Calif., native recorded seven tackles on Thursday, while Kenny, a Madison, Miss., native, posted six tackles, two tackles-for-loss and a sack.

JUST LIKE CHUNBAWUMBA
ˆI get knocked down, but I get up again. You're never gonna keep me down,” you're not going to find a much better way to describe the performance from senior quarterback Micah Davis. He lived those lyrics in the second half against the Demons, leading the Statesmen to a touchdown on the final drive after taking several hits in the second half.

LET FREELON RING

Sophomore running back and Jacksonville State transfer Richard Freelon got his first carries as a Statesman last week against Northwestern State. The big, down hill runner carried 10 times for 41 yards with a long of 24.

HOW SWEET IT IS

Lavon Downs got his first touchdown with the Statesmen last Thursday. Downs scored on an 8-yard catch, run and dive to reach the pylon in the second quarter to put DSU up 14-0 on the Demons. Downs had two receptions for 39 yards in the game.

PACING THE DEFENSE

Through two games this season, sophomore linebacker Ixavier Triplett (6-1/230) is leading the Statesmen with 17 tackles. Triplett also leads the squad with 5.5 tackles for loss, and has recorded one sack.

The Hillsboro native also come through with several big plays this season. He forced a fumble against Northwestern State, and he secured the game winning interception in overtime against Elizabeth City.

THE ELDER STATESMAN

Senior LB Robert Hogan has been played well so far this season. Hogan has 12 tackles with three being for a loss. Also, Hogan leads the Statesmen defense with two sacks, and he has forced and recovered a fumble.

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.

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.

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.

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.

STATESMEN FACE WONDER BOYS
Delta State will continue its month-long road trip on Saturday, Sept. 17 at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Ark. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

The game marks the first meeting between the two schools since the Wonder Boys departed the Gulf South Conference in May for the Great American Conference. The Statesmen and Wonder Boys have met on 18 previous ocassions with DSU holding an 11-7 edge in the series standings. DSU defeated ATU 27-25 last season in the CBS College Sports National Game of the Week.



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