GAME NOTES: Delta State University Statesmen (3-3, 1-1 GSC) at Valdosta State University Blazers (5-2, 2-1 GSC) - Oct. 20, 2012
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Statesmen (3-3, 1-1 GSC) of Delta State University face another Gulf South Conference challenge this week as they travel to play the Blazers (5-2, 2-1 GSC) of Valdosta State University this Saturday, Oct. 20.  Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. EST/2 p.m. CST at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Ga. The game will be featured on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 1 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Association Statesmen Game Day Report.  J.T. Webb and Eric Gallo will have the call. 

Valdosta State and Delta State have enjoyed a streaky rivalry with both schools enjoying extensive stretches of success.  The Statesmen lead the all-time series 18-12-1, including six straight wins over the Blazers. DSU claimed a thrilling 36-33 win last season at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on a late touchdown by Brant Botill.

DSU head football coach Jamey Chadwell is in his first season as skipper of the Statesmen and his fourth as a collegiate head coach.  Chadwell, a former East Tennessee State quarterback, is 25-17 all-time, including 20 wins in his last two seasons at North Greenville University.  

Delta State's “Black Swarm” defense enters this week's contest with VSU ranked 20th in the NCAA in total defense (305.5).  The Statesmen have allowed 139.5 yards rushing and 166.0 yards passing per game.  DSU is also 12th in pass defense and 53rd in pass efficiency defense.     

Junior quarterback Trevor Wooden is your clubhouse leader in the GSC in total offense at 267.7 yards per game.  The High Springs, Fla., native has completed 81-of-142 passes for 1,147 yards and eight touchdowns, while rushing for 465 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Lavon Downs, a senior from Avon Park, Fla., and Kevin Jackson, a senior from Fresno, Calif., are proving to be the go-to-guys in the passing game for the Statesmen.  Downs leads the Statesmen receiving corps with 27 grabs for 313 yards and a TD, while Jackson has the team lead with 427 yards receiving on 22 receptions with four touchdowns.     

Junior linebacker Ixavier Triplett, who leads the Statesmen with 45 tackles this season, enters Saturday's game with 227 career tackles, a pace good enough to contend for the school's all-time record. Former Statesmen All-American Lardester Hicks-Green, who ended his career as the GSC's all-time leader, holds the record with 343 tackles.       

Sophomore linebacker Diego Lubin enters this week's game versus the Blazers leading the way in the GSC in tackles-for-loss.  The Western Kentucky transfer has totaled 28 tackles and 9.0 tackles-for-loss in six games this season. 

Delta State comes into the Valdosta State game ranked 2nd in the GSC in total offense at 414.0 yards per game.  The Statesmen are averaging 223.8 yards rushing and 190.2 yards passing per contest.

The Statesman “Black Swarm” defense features three players in the GSC's top 10 in tackles.  Junior All-American candidate Ixavier Triplett (45) is 4th followed by sophomore linebacker Rory Island (35) and senior safety Montavious Hill (35) who are tied for 7th.               

Versus Top 25: DSU is 16-6 against DII ranked opponents in the last five years. 

STATESMAN TO WATCH: DIEGO LUBIN, LB
Diego Lubin, a 5-foot-11, 245-pound linebacker is this week's “Statesman to Watch” after leading Delta State (3-3, 1-1 GSC) to a 33-24 victory over the University of West Georgia on Saturday, Oct. 13, as the Statesmen claimed their first home and Gulf South Conference victories of the season. Lubin finished with six total tackles, including 1.5 quarterback sacks and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.

The Winter Haven, Fla., native ranks fifth on the team with 28 total tackles while leading the GSC in tackles-for-loss and ranking second in sacks. The Mississippi Delta Community College/Western Kentucky University transfer has totaled 9.0 tackles-for-loss, and 3.5 quarterback sacks this season.

Lubin has recorded at least one TFL in every game this season for the Statesmen.

INSIDE THE SERIES: VALDOSTA STATE & DELTA STATE
The Delta State Statesmen and the Valdosta State Blazers will meet for the 32nd time in series history on Saturday, Oct. 20 at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium at Cleveland Field.

Over the years, the rivalry has produced some of the most exciting games in DSU football history. The Statesmen lead the all-time series 18-12-1, including six straight victories over the Blazers. DSU defeated VSU 36-33 last year at Parker Field-McCool Stadium in a thrilling affair that saw running back Brant Botill score the game-winning touchdown with 40 seconds remaining.

It seems like nearly each time the Delta State Statesmen and the Valdosta State Blazers meet on the gridiron that the implications are huge, and the games entertaining. DSU earned its first ever NCAA Playoff win in 2000 over Valdosta State with a 49-12 win over the Blazers en route to the only National Championship in DSU history. The victory was the first of two in that memorable season for DSU over VSU.

However, to say the Blazers exacted revenge would be an understatement. After trailing 12-7 to the Statesmen, VSU scored an amazing 63 straight points in a dominant win over the Statesmen with quarterback Dusty Bonner passing for six touchdowns. The 2004 meeting between the two will also go down as one of the most entertaining in the series history. Twice, the Statesmen held an 11 point lead over the Blazers in the contest, until quarterback Fabian Walker lead the Blazers to a thrilling victory that still remains a touchy subject to DSU faithful. VSU went on to win the NCAA National Championship, while the Statesmen failed to make the playoffs.

In 2005, the Blazers completed yet another fourth quarter comeback. This time, the Blazers trailed 23-14 before rallying to break the hearts of quarterback Scott Eyster and the Statesmen with a 24-23 win. The Statesmen got the best of VSU in a hotly contested 35-28 decision in 2006, a season in which DSU marched its way to the NCAA Semifinal.

The 2007 meeting between the two GSC powerhouse football schools was the stuff of legend that is if you are a DSU fan. Trailing 24-0 and 31-7 in the second half, the Statesmen scored 28 straight points. Jamarcus Wiggins intercepted VSU's Willie Copeland at the DSU one-yard line to end the game. Jeremy Ricks had an amazing 254 all-purpose yards for the Green-and-White.

2008's matchup did not disappoint either, as the two squads battled to a 24-24 tie at the end of regulation, before Tom Santos knocked home a 36-yard field goal for the Statesmen. Damien Davis recovered a Chris Hart fumble to end the game and give the Statesmen a big win.

In the 2009 edition of the Statesmen and Blazers, there was no scoring following a field goal for each team in the third quarter, as the Statesmen won 31-23. Lardester Hicks-Green set a DSU single game record with 20 stops in the contest.

The 2010 edition also lived up to its billing, coming down to the waning moments of the contest. DSU found themselves trailing 14-3 early in the fourth quarter, before rallying to take a 24-21 lead with Chance Dennis' 73-yard touchdown catch. With the Statesmen leading 27-23, DSU's Joe Marshall and Mark Hoskins stopped a Brett Whitmire quarterback sneak on 4th and 1 from the DSU 14.

SERIES MEETINGS SINCE 2000  RESULTS
2000   Delta State 45 - Valdosta State 35
2000   Delta State 49 - Valdosta State 12 (NCAA Playoffs)
2001   Delta State 12 - Valdosta State 70
2002   Delta State 0 - Valdosta State 42
2003   Delta State 17 - Valdosta State 28
2004   Delta State 48 - Valdosta State 51
2005   Delta State 23 - Valdosta State 24
2006   Delta State 35 - Valdosta State 28
2007   Delta State 35 - Valdosta State 31
2008   Delta State 27 - Valdosta State 24
2009   Delta State 31 - Valdosta State 23
2010   Delta State 27 - Valdosta State 23
2011   Delta State 36- Valdosta State 33

WOODEN NAMED GSC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Delta State University junior quarterback Trevor Wooden captured his second-straight Gulf South Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor on Monday after leading the Statesmen to a 33-24 win over UWG.

The junior sparked DSU to victory thanks to 20 fourth-quarter points. The High Springs, Fla., native completed 15-of-21 passes for 154 yards and one TD, while also running for 93 yards and three scores on 21 carries. He scored what proved to be the go-ahead touchdown scamper from 20 yards out just seven seconds into final frame and capped the contest via a one-yard score with 1:35 left to play.

AGAINST THE STATES
The Statesmen are facing their third opponent this season from the state of Georgia, as DSU travels to Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Saturday to face Valdosta State.  The Statesmen are 36-21-1 all-time against the “Peach State,” including a 31-23 loss to in the season-opener to Fort Valley State and a 33-24 win over West Georgia, both at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. 

CHADWELL CAPTURES MILESTONE WIN
Delta State head coach Jamey Chadwell captured his 25th career victory on Saturday, Oct. 13 with a 33-24 win over West Georgia at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.  Chadwell is 25-17 in four seasons as a collegiate head coach, including a 22-14 record at North Greenville in three seasons and a 3-3 mark here at DSU. 

GSC RACE HEATING UP
With the 33-24 win over West Georgia, the Statesmen (1-1 GSC) moved into a tie for third place in the Gulf South Conference with Saturday's opponent Valdosta State (2-1 GSC) and North Alabama (2-1 GSC).  DSU has two GSC contest remaining after the VSU game, West Alabama on Oct. 27 for Delta State's 79th annual Homecoming classic and Nov. 10 at Shorter University in Rome, Ga.   

THE “BLACK SWARM”
The Statesmen defense ranks first in the Gulf South Conference in opponent first-downs by allowing only 18.5 per game and opponent third down conversions limiting opposing offenses to 28-of-76 (36.8) on conversion attempts. DSU also leads the GSC and is ranked 18th nationally in red zone defense, allowing opponents to convert only 13-of-20 chances inside the 20-yard line. 

Nationally, the Statesmen feature the 20th best defense in the nation (305.50 ypg) and 12th ranked pass defense (166.0 ypg).

STINGY STATESMEN SECONDARY
The Statesmen bring back a quality group of cornerbacks and safeties this season and it has shown on the playing field through five games in the 2012 season.

Last week, the secondary was highlighted through the play of senior Montavious Hill and junior Kenny Barnes, who both accounted for seven tackles each in the 33-24 win against West Georgia. Barnes also accounted for one tackle for loss and two pass breakups.

TRIPLETT TERRORIZES OPPOSING OFFENSES
Junior linebacker Ixavier Triplett continues the 2012 season on a quest to rewrite the school recordbook for career tackles after recording six total tackles and a tackle for loss and one sack in last week's contest against West Georgia. Through six games, Triplett leads the team in tackles with 45 and is second on the squad with 5.5 tackles-for-loss.

The 2010 GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year has totaled 227 tackles in just 33 career games played and is currently on pace to eclipse the record of 343 held by former Statesman All-American Lardester Hicks-Green.

The former Scott Central HS star has also amassed 27.5 tackles-for-loss, 5.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and 12 pass break-ups in his career at DSU.

50 SHADES OF...GREEN
The Statesmen will play the remainder of their 2012 schedule in their white road uniforms.  The Statesmen are 3-2 since making the change, including a 2-0 mark on the road.  A dryer mishap forced the team to abandon the plans for the home green uniforms this season.  The Statesmen have worn four different combinations so far this season.

OPPONENT	HELMET	JERSEY	PANTS
Fort Valley State	Black	Green	Green
@ Elizabeth City State	Black	White	White
North Alabama	Black	White	Black
Abilene Christian	Black	White	White
@ Tarleton State	Black	White	Green
West Georgia	Black	White	Green
@ Valdosta State	-	-	-
West Alabama	-	-	-
@ Indianapolis	-	-	-
@ Shorter	-	-	-

STATESMEN, NOT OKRA
The Delta State University football team mascot is officially the “Statesmen.”  While the student body may enjoy the “Fighting Okra” as an unofficial mascot, the official mascots of the DSU's athletic programs are “Statesmen” and “Lady Statesmen.”

BARNES TOPS 100-CAREER TACKLES MARK; MAKES KEY PLAY @ TSU
Statesmen defensive back Kenny Barnes added two career milestones to his collegiate football resume in the 38-35 win over Tarleton State on Oct. 6. The Madison, Miss., native had seven total tackles, which moved him into the 100 career tackles club, with 102 total.

The junior also recorded his first career interception, coming with 53 seconds remaining in the game, which set up the game-winning33-yard field goal by Andrew Jones.

The former Madison Central High School product currently ranks fourth on the team with 29 tackles.

BOTILL BRUISES WOLVES
Senior running back Brant Botill recorded his first 100-yard rushing performance since making the move back from the defensive side of the ball three weeks ago. Botill rushed the ball 12 times for 101 yards with his longest coming on a 49-yarder where he ran through, on and around the Wolves to set up the one-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Trevor Wooden that sealed the 33-24 victory.

The Corcoran, Calif., native made his 2012 debut at running back for the Statesmen versus Abilene Christian after being moved from linebacker at the start of spring practice. Botill finished with 54 yards on nine carries and a touchdown.  His scoring jaunt came on a 2-yard scamper in DSU's 21-point second quarter versus the Wildcats.

The College of the Sequoias transfer was named Second Team All-Gulf South Conference following his junior season in which he gained 406 yards on 92 carries with five touchdowns, including three game winners.

BIG PLAYS STARRING “ACTION” JACKSON
Senior wide-out Kevin Jackson, continues to be an explosive play maker in the Statesmen offense recording three receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown in the 33-24 win over West Georgia on Oct. 13. Jackson currently ranks second in the Gulf South Conference in receiving yards per game with 72.1 yards and ranks third in receptions with 22 total grabs on the season.

The Fresno, Calif., native made his mark in the 26-7 victory over Elizabeth City State by hauling in three receptions for 94 yards and one touchdown. The touchdown, quite possibly the highlight of the game, came on the hail mary jump-ball Jackson caught in the back corner end zone at the end of the first-half of play.

LUBIN ON THE LOOSE
Sophomore Diego Lubin leads the Gulf South Conference in tackles for loss coming into this week's game with 9.0 for a total of 43 yards, while ranking second in sacks 3.5 through five games.

The Winter Haven, Fla., native posted another solid performance in the 33-24 win against fellow GSC member West Georgia on Oct. 13, posting six total tackles in the contest including 1.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

HUNTER MAKING RUN AT GAMES PLAYED RECORD
Offensive tackle Kendall Hunter, a 6-foot-6, 325-poundsenior from Mound Bayou, Miss., is set to make a run at the school's record for career games played.

The All-GSC and All-American candidate has started for three seasons at DSU and continues his 2012 campaign with 46 career games played on the offensive line, including 34 consecutive starts at right tackle. If all goes according to plan, he will amass 50-plus games in the Greenand-White for DSU.chool product currently ranks fourth on the team with 22 tackles.

WOODEN CONTINUES TO SET PACE FOR GSC QB's
Trevor Wooden, a junior transfer from Missouri State, leads the Gulf South Conference in total offense and passing yardage through fivegames played for the Statesmen, he has posted 465 yards rushing, 1,141 yards passing and 17 (7 rushing/8 passing) total touchdowns. Wooden continued hisoffensive explosion Oct. 13 against West Georgia rushing the ball 21 times for 93 yards and three touchdowns while also completing 15-of-21 passing for 154 yards and one touchdown in the 33-24 win.

The High Springs, Fla., native accounted for a Missouri Valley Conference best 2,420 yards of total offense as a sophomore. Wooden completed 138-of-233 passes for 1,853 yards and 17 touchdowns with only eight interceptions.  He also rushed for 567 yards on 150 carries with seven touchdowns.

STATESMEN IN THE NCAA STATS
The special teams play of the Green-and-White has been an asset this season. The kickoff return team currently ranks 8th in the nation in kickoff return average posting 25.71 yards per return and rank 18th nationally in holding opponents to just 3.7 yards per punt return.

Delta State football has several Statesmen ranked among the NCAA's leaders in many statistical categories.  Senior corner Eric Williams and sophomore safety Dandrick Jackson are currently tied for 85th, out of 500, in interceptions with two.  The linebacker has packed a solid punch this year as well, as Lubin is 37th in tackles-for-loss. Offensively,junior quarterback Trevor Wooden is 37th in total offense at 267.67 yards per game and 51st in pass efficiency (134.68).

NOT ON MY ISLAND
Sophomore Rory Island continues to grow as a linebacker under the tutelage of linebacker's coach Lanier Gothie, as he recorded six tackles in the 33-24 win over West Georgia; he is currently second on the team and seventh in the Gulf South Conferece with a total of 36 tackles on the season.

Island proved Sept. 1, versus Fort Valley State that no one gains ground on his “Island,” as the Gulfport, Miss., native recorded five tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks.  He also tallied one pass break-up.

1ST “DOWNS”
Senior wide receiver Lavon Downs has been the go to guy for quarterback Trevor Wooden this season and it has shown as he has hauled in a team-high 27 receptions for 313 yards and a touchdown so far this season; the talented receiver nabbed three receptions for 41 yards in the 33-24 win against West Georgia on Oct.13.

Downs finished 2011 fifth on the Statesmen receiving charts with 27 grabs for 433 yards and three touchdowns, but he showed down the stretch his ability to make big plays for DSU.

In victories over North Alabama and West Alabama, the Avon Park, Fla., native hauled in seven passes each, while setting up game-winning scores for Brant Botill and Carlton Ollie.  He also played a major role in DSU's 36-33 win over Valdosta State with three receptions for 63 yards, including a 62-yard touchdown.

NEW COACHING STAFF HAS TOP PEDIGREE
DSU's new football staff is no stranger to successes at the highest levels of college football.  Defensive coordinator Chad Staggs and DL coach Skylor Magee both got their starts as graduate assistants for the “Ole Ball Coach” Steve Spurrier at South Carolina.

Offensive coordinator Gabe Giardina was a placekicker and graduate assistant coach at the University of Alabama under coaches Mike Shula and Nick Saban, and offensive line coach Jim Beverly was a college teammate of head coach Jamey Chadwell and once held the NFL combine record of 41 reps of 225-pound bench press.

The staff also features former Mississippi gridiron standouts, including USM All-American defensive end Skylor Magee and Ole Miss “Chucky Mullins Award” winning linebacker Lanier Goethie.

UP NEXT: WEST ALABAMA TIGERS
The Statesmen continue Gulf South Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 27, as Delta State welcomes the University of West Alabama Tigers to Parker Field-McCool Stadium for the 79th annual Homecoming Classic.  Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network. 

The Statesmen and Tigers, two of the founding institutions in the GSC, will be meeting for the 56th time in the series.  Delta State owns a 33-19-3 edge in the standings, including a 36-34 win on Homecoming last year at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. 

The game was nip-and-tuck, as UWA mounted a furious second half comeback after trailing the Statesmen 36-7 in the third quarter. 

The victory propelled the Statesmen to their fourth Gulf South Conference Championship in five years under then-head coach Ron Roberts and their second consecutive.