GAME NOTES: Delta State University (3-5) at University of Indianapolis (7-2) - Nov. 3, 2012
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Statesmen (3-5, 1-3 GSC) of Delta State University need two wins to close out the season .500 and avoid the first losing season since 2002.  To do that, DSU steps out of conference play this week, as the University of Indianapolis (7-2, 7-0 GLVC) welcomes in the Green-and-White to Key Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 3.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. EST/5 p.m. CST.  The game will be featured on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 5 p.m. EST/4 p.m. CST with the DSU Alumni Association Statesmen Game Day Report.  Matt Jones, J.T. Webb, Marks Elder and Herb Brooks will have the call. 

Delta State and Indianapolis will be meeting for the first time in series history on the gridiron.  In fact, the game marks just the second all-time against a team from Indiana.   The Statesmen dropped a 19-6 decision to Evansville College in 1950.      

STATESMEN 1ST-&-10'S 
Junior quarterback Trevor Wooden is your clubhouse leader in the GSC in total offense at 257.9 yards per game.  The High Springs, Fla., native has completed 98-of-188 passes for 1,520 yards and 12 touchdowns, while rushing for 543 yards and nine touchdowns.  

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 380 yards and two touchdowns, while grabbing nine passes for 95 yards.  He matched a career-high with 73 yards rushing at VSU.    

Redshirt freshman linebacker Stephen Varnado had his best game as a Statesmen against West Alabama with nine tackles. 

Jasper Williams, a senior defensive lineman, tallied a career-best eight tackles and forced a fumble in DSU's 37-7 loss to West Alabama. 

Senior All-American punter Andrew Jones is averaging 41.5 yards per punt this season, ranking 17th in the NCAA in net punting.  

Senior receiver/kick returner Lavon Downs averages a blistering 28.8 yards per kick return.  He has returned 14 kicks for 403 yards. 

Sophomore linebacker Diego Lubin enters this week's game versus the Greyhounds leading the way in the GSC in tackles-for-loss.  The Western Kentucky transfer has totaled 41 tackles, 11.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks in eight 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 4th followed by senior safety Montavious Hill (51) who is 7th and sophomore linebacker Rory Island (46) 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 25-19 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: WILL KENT, C
Will Kent, a 6-foot-3, 275-pound center is this week's “Statesman to Watch,” after anchoring the Delta State offensive line this season.  The Mississippi Delta Community College transfer has started all eight games for the Statesmen and graded at 85-percent or higher each time out. 

The Sidon, Miss., native ranks among the team leaders in devastation blocks, knockdowns and sacks allowed this season, including a career-high 17 pancake blocks at Elizabeth City State.  He has also helped block for one of the Gulf South Conference's most explosive offenses, as the Statesmen average 392.9 yards per contest. 

After spending most of 2011 as a backup at center and guard, Kent has taken the reins of the center position and more importantly that of leader on the 2012 club.  

INSIDE THE SERIES: DELTA STATE-INDIANAPOLIS
Delta State and Indianapolis will be meeting for the first time in series history on the gridiron.  In fact, the game marks just the second all-time against a team from Indiana.   The Statesmen dropped a 19-6 decision to Evansville College in 1950.

UP NEXT: SHORTER UNIVERSITY
The Statesmen will travel to the great state of Georgia for a Saturday, Nov. 10 showdown with the Hawks of Shorter University.  Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m.  The game will mark the first ever meeting between the schools on the gridiron and in Gulf South Conference play. 

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 3rd in the nation in kickoff return average, posting 26.68 yards per return, and rank 18th nationally in holding opponents to just 4.58 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, is35th in tackles-for-loss averaging 1.44 per contest. Offensively, junior quarterback Trevor Wooden is 42th in total offense at 257.88 yards per game and 60th inpass efficiency (129.40).

HUNTER MAKING RUN AT GAMES PLAYED RECORD
Offensive tackle Kendall Hunter, a 6-foot-6, 325-pound senior from Mound Bayou, Miss., is set to make a run at the school 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 48 career games played on the offensive line, including 36 consecutive starts at right tackle. If all goes according to plan, he will amass exactly 50 games in the Green and White for DSU.

AGAINST THE STATES
The Statesmen are facing their first opponent this season from the state of Indiana in the University of Indianapolis on Saturday, Nov. 3.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. EST at Key Stadium. DSU is 0-1 all-time against teams from Indiana, including a 19-6 loss to Evansville College, what is known as Evansville University today, in 1950. 

LUBIN ON THE LOOSE
Sophomore Diego Lubin currently ranks second the Gulf South Conference in tackles for loss coming into this week's game with 11.5 for a total of 56 yards, while ranking third in sacks 3.5 through eight 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 six total tackles in the contest including 1.0 tackles for loss.

STATESMEN OFFENSE LOOKING FOR BALANCE
The Delta State University Statesmen offense has been one of the most explosive in the country over the last nine seasons. In fact, the Green-and-White has led the GSC in total offense five times since 2003,which included a three-year stretch from 2003-05. DSU also led the league in total offense last season with 463.7 yards per game. The Statesmen attack has not been as explosive this season, as the unit has gained 392 yards per game. The last time DSU has not gained more than 400 total yards per game was in 2001, as it finished with 381 yards per contest.

WOODEN ADDS TO SCORING RESUME
After scoring a rushing touchdown in the 37-7 loss versus West Alabama, DSU quarterback Trevor Wooden became tied for the league lead with six touchdowns in Gulf South Conference games. It has become a year for the running quarterback in the GSC this season, as Dallas Dickey of West Georgia and Luke Wingo of North Alabama have each scored four rushing touchdowns in league games, which ties them for second.