GAME NOTES: University of West Alabama Tigers at Delta State University Statesmen (10.27.12)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Statesmen (3-4, 1-2 GSC) of Delta State University hope to get back into the Gulf South Conference race this Saturday, Oct. 27, as the Tigers (6-2, 3-0 GSC) of the University of West Alabama travel to Parker Field-McCool Stadium.  Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and the game will be featured on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 3 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Association Statesmen Game Day Report.  Matt Jones, J.T. Webb, Rodney Martin and Eric Gallo will have the call. 

Delta State will be observing its 79th annual Homecoming, as the Tigers and Statesmen meet for the 56th time in series history.  DSU owns a 33-19-3 edge in the series standings, including eight wins in the last nine matchups.  The Statesmen survived a furious second half comeback by the Tigers last season, claiming a 36-34 win at Parker-McCool.  UWA is in the driver's seat of the GSC and a win by DSU Saturday would muddy the waters in the race for the league crown.    

Junior quarterback Trevor Wooden is your clubhouse leader in the GSC in total offense at 283.7 yards per game.  The High Springs, Fla., native has completed 95-of-176 passes for 1,481 yards and 12 touchdowns, while rushing for 505 yards and eight touchdowns.   Wooden had one of his best games as a collegiate QB with 340 yards passing and four touchdowns at Valdosta State in a 59-41 loss.

STATESMEN QUICK HITTERS
Junior linebacker Ixavier Triplett, who leads the Statesmen with 51 tackles this season, enters Saturday's game with 233 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.  

Freshman running back Rondreaus Truesdale has taken on a larger role as the season has marched on.  The Lancaster, S.C., native has rushed for 359 yards and two touchdowns, while grabbing eight passes for 77 yards.  He matched a career-high with 73 yards rushing at VSU.    

Productivity was the name of the game at Valdosta State for freshman wide receiver Patrick Bethley.  The New Orleans, La., native had a career-high 134 yards and two touchdowns on just two receptions versus the Blazers, including a 75-yard scoring strike on DSU's first play of the game.

Sophomore linebacker Diego Lubin enters this week's game versus the Tigers leading the way in the GSC in tackles-for-loss.  The Western Kentucky transfer has totaled 35 tackles, 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks in seven games this season. 

The Statesman “Black Swarm” defense features three players in the GSC's top 10 in tackles.  Junior All-American candidate Ixavier Triplett (51) is 5th followed by senior safety Montavious Hill (45) who is 7th and sophomore linebacker Rory Island (41) who sits 10th. 

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 25-18 all-time, including 20 wins in his last two seasons at North Greenville University.                

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

STATESMAN TO WATCH: MONTAVIUS HILL, S
Montavius Hill, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound safety is this week's “Statesman to Watch” after leading the Delta State “Black Swarm” defense (3-4, 1-2 GSC) in the 59-41 loss at the Valdosta State University, Saturday, Oct. 20. Hill led the Statesmen with a career best 10 total tackles, and recorded one quarterback hurry.

The Cleveland, Miss., native currently ranks second on the team with 45 tackles. The former Cleveland Eastside High School product also has a quarterback sack and an interception from his safety spot.

Hill currently has 70 career stops, including five tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks and a pair of interceptions.

HOME SWEET HOME
The Statesmen will be observing the 79th Homecoming game in school history on Saturday versus West Alabama.  DSU is 50-27-1 all-time in Homecoming matchups.  

INSIDE THE SERIES: WEST ALABAMA & DELTA STATE
In a series that dates back to a 0-0 tie in 1940, two of the Gulf South Conference's founding institutions will square off on Saturday, Oct. 27, as the Delta State Statesmen (3-4, 1-2 GSC) welcome the Tigers of West Alabama (6-2, 2-0 GSC) to Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. and DSU will be observing Homecoming festivities.

The Statesmen lead the all-time series 33-19-3, including victories in eight of the last nine meetings between the two schools. Despite a monmental comeback effort in which UWA scored 27 points to finish the game, DSU held on for a 36-34 win last season at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Delta State is 24-8-1 all-time versus West Alabama at home, while holding a 9-11-2 mark in Livingston, Ala.

YEAR  WINNER  SCORE  LOCATION
2011  Delta State  36-34  Cleveland
2010  Delta State  41-37  Cleveland
2009  West Alabama  34-14  Livingston
2008  Delta State  21-14  Cleveland
2007  Delta State  20-9  Livingston
2006  Delta State  41-14  Cleveland
2005  Delta State  43- 4  Cleveland
2004  Delta State  59-7  Livingston
2003  Delta State  47- 7  Livingston
2002  West Alabama  30-24  Cleveland
2001  Delta State  47-7  Cleveland
2000  Delta State  33-8  Livingston
1999  Delta State  27-20  Livingston
1998  Delta State  38-18  Cleveland
1997  Delta State  27-13  Livingston
1996  Delta State  42-13  Cleveland
1995  Delta State  41 3  Livingston
1994  Delta State  30-7  Cleveland
1993  West Alabama  60-55  Livingston
1992  West Alabama  30-24  Cleveland
1991  West Alabama  25-18  Livingston
1990  Delta State  36-18  Cleveland
1989  Tie  24-24  Livingston
1988  Delta State  12-11  Cleveland
1987  TIE  7-7  Livingston
1986  West Alabama  27-15  Cleveland
1985  West Alabama  13-6  Livingston
1984  Delta State  27-24  Cleveland
1983  West Alabama  47-15  Livingston
1982  West Alabama  14-7  Cleveland
1981  West Alabama  21-7  Livingston
1980  West Alabama  17-15  Cleveland
1979  West Alabama  10-0  Livingston
1978  Delta State  34-24  Cleveland
1977  Delta State  14-0  Livingston
1976  Delta State  32-7  Cleveland
1975  West Alabama  10-7  Livingston
1974  Delta State  24-14  Cleveland
1973  Delta State  49-40  Livingston
1972  Delta State  17-14  Cleveland
1971  West Alabama  45-21  Livingston
1970  Delta State  35-21  Cleveland
1969  West Alabama  34-17  Livingston
1968  West Alabama  24-13  Cleveland
1959  Delta State  39-7  Cleveland
1958  Delta State  28-0  Cleveland
1957  Delta State  28-0  Cleveland
1956  Delta State  67-19  Cleveland
1955  Delta State  39-19  Cleveland
1953  Delta State  67-6  Cleveland
1950  West Alabama  22-6  Cleveland
1949  West Alabama  7-0  Livingston
1948  Delta State  27-6  Cleveland
1946  West Alabama  14-0  Cleveland
1940  Tie  0-0  Cleveland

AGAINST THE STATES
The Statesmen are facing their second team from the “Heart of Dixie” this season, as DSU welcomes in the University of West Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 27 for Homecoming.  Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.  The game marks the 199th meeting between DSU and teams from the state of Alabama. 

DSU holds an all-time mark of 92-101-5 against teams from Alabama, including an 0-1 mark this season after a 20-12 loss to North Alabama. 

GSC RACE HEATING UP
With the 59-41 loss at Valdosta State, the Statesmen (1-2 GSC) fell to fourth place in the Gulf South Conference with Saturday's opponent West Alabama (3-0 GSC) remained undefeated in league play with a 49-7 victory over Shorter. 

West Georgia picked up its first GSC victory of the season with a 38-23 victory over North Alabama. DSU has two GSC contests 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 second in the Gulf South Conference in opponent first-downs by allowing only 19.4 per game and third in opponent third downconversions, limiting opposing offenses to 36-of-91 (39.6) on conversion attempts. DSU also ranks third in the GSC in red zone defense, allowing opponents to convert only 18-of-25 chances inside the 20-yard line.

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 seven games in the 2012 season.

Last week, the secondary was highlighted through the play of senior Montavious Hill and junior Kenny Barnes. Hill accounted for 10 total tackles while Barnes recorded four tackles and an interception in the 59-41 loss against Valdosta State on Oct. 20.

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 Alabama. Through seven games, Triplett leads the team in tackles with 51 and is second on the squad with 7.5 tackles-for-loss.

The 2010 GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year has totaled 233 tackles in just 34 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 29.5 tackles-for-loss, 5.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and 12 pass break-ups in his career at DSU.

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.

BIG PLAYS STARRING “ACTION” JACKSON
Senior receiver 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 third in the Gulf South Conference in receiving yards per game with 62.7 yards and ranks fourth in receptions per game  averaging 3.4 grabs per contest.

LUBIN ON THE LOOSE
Sophomore Diego Lubin currently ranks second the Gulf South Conference in tackles forloss coming into this week's game with 10.5 for a total of 51 yards, while ranking second in sacks 3.5 through seven games.

The Winter Haven, Fla., native posted another solid performance in the 59-41 loss against fellow GSC member Valdosta State on Oct. 20, posting seven 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 47 career games played on the offensive line, including 35 consecutive starts at right tackle. If all goes according to plan, he will amass 50-plus games in the Greenand-White for DSU.

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 seven games played for the Statesmen, he has posted 505 yards rushing, 1,481 yards passing and 20 (8 rushing/12 passing) total touchdowns. Wooden continued his offensive explosion Oct. 20 against Valdosta State rushing the ball 18 times for 68 yards and one touchdown while also completing 14-of-34 passing for 340 yards and four touchdowns in the 59-41 loss.

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 10th in the nation in kickoff return average posting 25.00 yards per return and rank 21st nationally in holding opponents to just 4.8 yards per punt return.

Delta State football has several Statesmen ranked among the NCAA's leaders in many statistical categories.  Deigo Lubin, a linebacker who has packed a solid punch this year, is 37th in tackles-for-loss. Offensively, junior quarterback Trevor Wooden is 27th in total offense at 283.71 yards per game and 45th in pass efficiency (136.93).

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 59-41 loss to Valdosta State; he is currently third on the team and 10th in the Gulf South Conferece with a total of 41 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.

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 25-18 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. 

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 30 receptions for 384 yards and two touchdowns so far this season; the talented receiver nabbed three receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown in the 59-41 loss to ValdostaState on Oct.20.

Downs finished 2011 fifth on the Statesmen receiving charts with 27 grabs for 433yards 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.