GAME NOTES: University of West Georgia (2-3, 0-2 GSC) @ Delta State University (2-3, 0-1 GSC) - Oct. 13, 2012
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Statesmen (2-3, 0-1 GSC) of Delta State University return to Gulf South Conference play host the Wolves (2-3, 0-2 GSC) of the University of West Georgia this Saturday, Oct. 13.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be featured on the Statesmen Sports Network starting at 5 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Association Statesmen Game Day Report.  Matt Jones, Rodney Martin, J.T. Webb and Eric Gallo will have the call. 

West Georgia and Delta State are meeting for the 26th time on the gridiron Saturday at Parker Field-McCool Stadium with the Statesmen owning a 17-8 edge in the series standings.  UWG snapped DSU's eight game winning streak last season with a 38-35 win at University Stadium in Carrollton, Ga., but the Statesmen has claimed the last four meetings at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.    

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 24-17 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 UWG ranked 21st in the NCAA in total defense (300.6).  The Statesmen have allowed 116.8 yards rushing and 183.8 yards passing per game.  DSU is also 30th in pass defense and 61st in pass efficiency defense.     

Junior quarterback Trevor Wooden is your clubhouse leader in the GSC in total offense at 271.8 yards per game.  The High Springs, Fla., native has completed 66-of-121 passes for 987 yards and seven touchdowns, while rushing for 372 yards and four 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 24 grabs for 228 yards and a TD, while Jackson has the team lead with 388 yards receiving on 19 receptions with three touchdowns.     

Junior linebacker Ixavier Triplett, who leads the Statesmen with 39 tackles this season, enters Saturday's game with 221 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 UWG leading the way in the GSC in tackles-for-loss.  The Western Kentucky transfer has totaled 22 tackles and 7.5 tackles-for-loss in five games this season. 

Delta State comes into the West Georgia game ranked 2nd in the GSC in total offense at 409.6 yards per game.  The Statesmen are averaging 212.2 yards rushing and 197.4 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 (39) is 3rd followed by sophomore linebacker Rory Island (29) who is 8th and senior safety Montavious Hill (28) in 10th.               

Versus Top 25: DSU will play three games against teams in the top 25 this season. DSU is 16-6 against DII ranked opponents in the last five years. 

STATESMAN TO WATCH: ANDREW JONES, K/P
Andrew Jones, a 6-foot-0, 185-pound kicker/punter is this week's “Statesman to Watch” after leading Delta State (2-3, 0-1 GSC) to a 38-35 victory over Tarleton State on Saturday, Oct. 6, as the Statesmen claimed their second road victory of the season.

The Corinth, Miss., native knocked home the game-winning field goal with no time remaining in the win over the Texans. He also gave the Statesmen the field position advantage, as he punted five times for an average of 47 yards, including a season best 62-yarder. Jones has punted 25 times this season for a 39.8 yard average, with four punts over 50 yards and six inside the opponents 20 yard line.

Jones, who took Daktronics All-South Region Team and All-Gulf South Conference honors last season, was named Gulf South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.

STATESMEN SNAP SKID WITH WIN AT TARLETON STATE
Andrew Jones' 33-yard game-winning field goal as time expired Saturday, Oct. 6 propelled the Delta State University Statesmen (2-3) to a 38-35 come-from-behind victory over the Tarleton State University Texans (2-3) at Memorial Stadium. 

The Statesmen recovered from a 28-15 deficit to start the fourth quarter by outscoring the Texans 23-7 in the fourth quarter.  The win also kept DSU perfect on the road at 2-0 and ended a two-game skid for coach Jamey Chadwell and the Statesmen.

INSIDE THE SERIES: WOLVES & STATESMEN
In a series that dates back to a 35-3 victory for Delta State in 1983, the Statesmen and University of West Georgia Wolves will renew their rivalry on Saturday at Parker Field-McCool Stadium in Cleveland. 

DSU owns a 17-8 lead in the series standings, but lost a heartbreaker 38-35 last season at University Stadium to UWG snapping a seven game winning streak over the Wolves. 

The Statesmen have one four straight at Parker Field-McCool Stadium, dating back to a 28-9 loss to the Wolves in 1997.  A complete breakdown of the series is listed below.

YEAR  WINNER  RESULT  LOCATION
2011 West Georgia 35-38 Carrollton, Ga.
2010  Delta State  54-34  Carrollton, Ga.
2009  Delta State  48-7  Cleveland
2008  Delta State  68-10  Carrollton, Ga.
2007  Delta State  41-9  Cleveland
2006  Delta State  21-7  Carrollton, Ga.
2003  Delta State  61-7  Carrollton, Ga.
2002  Delta State  27-21  Cleveland
1999  West Georgia  31-42  Carrollton, Ga.
1998  Delta State  34-10  Cleveland
1997  West Georgia 9-28  Cleveland
1996  Delta State  51-34  Cleveland
1995  West Georgia 14-20  Carrollton, Ga.
1994  West Georgia 20-32  Cleveland
1993  West Georgia 7-27  Carrollton, Ga.
1992  Delta State  36-35  Carrollton, Ga.
1991  West Georgia 15-20  Cleveland
1990 Delta State  28-9  Cleveland
1989 Delta State  27-21  Cleveland
1988  West Georgia 28-33  Carrollton, Ga.
1987  Delta State  40-9  Cleveland
1986  Delta State  42-27  Carrollton, Ga.
1985  Delta State  25-20  Cleveland
1984  Delta State  52-0  Carrollton, Ga.
1983  Delta State  35-3  Cleveland

JONES & WOODEN NAMED GSC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Delta State University junior quarterback Trevor Wooden and senior kicker/punter Andrew Jones were named Gulf South Conference Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for the period ending Sunday, Oct. 7, as announced by the GSC on Monday.  The tandems selection marks the first time this season the Statesmen have received a GSC Player of the Week. 

Wooden accounted for 310 total yards and three touchdowns, as DSU lit the scoreboard with 23 points in the fourth quarter.  The High Springs, Fla., native completed 12-of-18 passes for 223 yards and one TD and also led all players with 87 yards and two more touchdowns on 21 rushing attempts.

Jones earns his third all-time award, first in 2012, providing terrific efforts at placekicker and punter in Delta State's win at Tarleton State.  The senior booted five punts for 235 yards and a 47.0 average, while also booming a 62-yarder and dropping another inside the 20-yard line. The Kossuth, Miss., native did not stop there, kicking the game-winning, 33-yard field goal as time expired in the fourth quarter.

PINK OUT PARKER FIELD-McCOOL STADIUM
Delta State University Athletics, the Breast Education and Early Detection Program and the Delta Cotton Belles are partnering for the sixth straight year to Pink Out Parker Field-McCool Stadium for October's Breast Cancer Awareness month.

The Statesmen will be wearing pink helmet stickers during the game and special pink wrist bands, gloves and warm-ups donated by the Delta Cotton Belles, a non-profit organization in the Mississippi Delta with the mission to provide greater awareness and education of breast cancer and other forms of the dreaded disease.  

AGAINST THE STATES
The Statesmen are facing their second opponent this season from the state of Georgia, as DSU welcomes West Georgia to Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Saturday.  The Statesmen are 35-21-1 all-time against the “Peach State,” including a 31-23 loss to in the season-opener to Fort Valley State at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. 

STATESMEN LOOKING FOR FIRST “W” AT PARKER-McCOOL
The last time the Statesmen dropped three straight home contests in a single season was 15 football seasons ago in 1997, when former Statesmen coach Todd Knight's squad went 0-5 at home with losses to Arkansas Tech (23-20), Central Arkansas (37-12), Southern Arkansas (24-6), North Alabama (17-10) and West Georgia (28-9). 

DSU will be looking to claim their first win at home this season Saturday versus the Wolves.  The Statesmen have lost to Fort Valley State (31-23), North Alabama (20-12) and Abilene Christian (34-28) at Parker Field-McCool Stadium so far this year. 

After Saturday's contest with West Georgia, the Statesmen will face the University of West Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 27 as DSU observes Homecoming.  Kickoff is set for 4 p.m.  

CHADWELL SEEKING MILESTONE WIN
Delta State head coach Jamey Chadwell is seeking his 25th career victory Saturday, as the Statesmen welcome in West Georgia to Parker Field-McCool Stadium.  Chadwell is 24-17 in four seasons as a collegiate head coach, including a 22-14 record at North Greenville in three seasons and a 2-3 mark here at DSU. 

RETURN TO GSC PLAY
With West Georgia making the trip to Cleveland, the Statesmen (2-3, 0-1 GSC) return to Gulf South Conference play for their next three games.  After the Statesmen face the Wolves Saturday at 6 p.m., DSU travels to Valdosta State (10.20) for a key contest at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium and returns to welcome in West Alabama on Oct. 27 for Delta State's 79th annual Homecoming classic. 

GSC RACE WIDE OPEN
Despite sitting 0-1 in league play entering Saturday's showdown with West Georgia, the Gulf South Conference race is still wide open.  North Alabama and Valdosta State are both undefeated in league play, but will face each other on Saturday in Florence, Ala. 

DSU still has league dates with VSU, UWA and Shorter on the schedule.  So suffice it to say the league race is far from over with five weeks to play.

50 SHADES OF...GREEN
The Statesmen will play the remainder of their 2012 schedule in their white road uniforms.  The Statesmen are 2-2 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	-	-	-
@ 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-winning 33-yard field goal by Andrew Jones.

The former Madison Central High School product currently ranks fourth on the team with 22 tackles.

LESTER ROPES TEXANS
C.J. Lester recorded his best game in the Green-and-White in the victory over Tarleton State, as he totaled seven total tackles, including two tackles for loss and his first career quarterback sack. The Dinuba, Calif., native also forced a fumble.

The College of the Sequoias transfer had a previous career best of five tackles exactly one year to the date in a 34-20 victory. Lester has recorded 16 tackles and three tackles for loss this season.

BIG PLAYS STARRING “ACTION” JACKSON
Senior wide-out Kevin Jackson, continues to be an explosive play maker in the Statesmen offense reeling in four receptions for 63 yards in last week's contest against Tarleton State, Jackson ranks second in the Gulf South Conference in receiving yards per game so far this season with 388 yards on 19 receptions.

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 7.5 for a total of 34 yards, while ranking fourth in sacks 2.0 through five games.

The Winter Haven, Fla., native posted seven tackles, two tackles for loss for a total of 10 yards, one sack and a pass breakup in the 38-35 winning effort against Tarleton State on Oct. 6.

HUNTER TO MAKE 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 45 career games played on the offensive line, including 33 consecutive starts at right tackle.

If all goes according to plan, he will amass 50-plus games in the Green-and-White for DSU.

THE “BLACK SWARM”
The Statesmen defense ranks first in the Gulf South Conference in opponent first-downs by allowing only 19 per game and opponent third down conversions limiting opposing offenses to 23-of-66 (34.8) on conversion attempts.

DSU also leads the GSC and is ranked 16 nationally in red zone defense, allowing opponents to convert only 11-of-18 chances inside the 20-yard line. 

Nationally, the Statesmen feature the 21st best defense in the nation (300.0 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 cornerback C.J. Lester and safety Kenny Barnes, who both accounted for seven tackles in the 38-35 win against Tarleton State.

Barnes and senior strong safety Montavious Hill also picked off one pass each, both leading to Statesmen scoring drives, in the victory. 

TRIPLETT TERRORIZES OPPOSING OFFENSES
Junior linebacker Ixavier Triplett continues the 2012 season on a quest to continue his run towards the school record for career tackles after recording eight total tackles and a tackle for loss in last week's contest against Tarleton State. Through five games, Triplett leads the team in tackles with 39 and is second on the squad with 4.5 tackles-for-loss.

The 2010 GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year has totaled 221 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 26.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and 12 pass break-ups in his career at 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 five games played for the Statesmen, he has posted 372 yards rushing and 987 yards passing.

Wooden continued his offensive explosion Oct. 6 against Tarleton State rushing the ball 20 times for 87 yards and two touchdowns while also completing 12-of-18 passing for 223 yards and one touchdown in the 28-35 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 so far this season. The kickoff return team currently ranks 2nd in the nation in kickoff return average posting 28.50 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 63rd, out of 500, in interceptions with two.  Linebacker Diego Lubin has packed a solid punch this year as well, as Lubin is 36th in tackles-for-loss.

Offensively, junior quarterback Trevor Wooden is 35th in total offense at 271.80 yards per game and 58th in pass efficiency (133.89).

NOT ON MY ISLAND
Sophomore linebacker Rory Island continues to grow as a linebacker under the tutelage of linebacker's coach Lanier Gothie, as he recorded 13 tackles and a tackle for loss in the 38-35 win against TarletonState; he is currently second on the team and eighth in the Gulf South Conferece with a total of 29 tackles on the season.

Island ranks fourth in the Gulf South Conference in the sacks category with two for a total of 12 yards. 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 24 receptions for 272 yards and a touchdown so far this season; the talented receiver nabbed three receptions for 44 yards in the 38-35 win against LSC member Tarleton State.

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: VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS
The Statesmen continue Gulf South Conference play on Saturday, Oct. 20, as Delta State travels to Bazemore-Hyder Stadium to take on the Blazers of Valdosta State University.  Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. EST/2 p.m. CST and the game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network. 

Delta State and Valdosta State have enjoyed a thrilling series over the year with the Statesmen owning an 18-12-1 lead in the all-time standings.  DSU has reeled off six straight wins over VSU, including 36-33 come-from-behind win in the final minutes of last year's contest at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.  The No. 1 ranked Statesmen football team put together a 92-yard touchdown drive in the final minutes to defeat the No. 10 Blazers 36-33.

The Statesmen (8-1, 2-0 GSC) offense converted three fourth-down attempts on the final drive that saw Brant Botill score a 3-yard touchdown run to give Delta State the lead and the eventual win. 

Melvin Griffin and Anthony Daniels sealed the victory for the Statesmen with back-to-back sacks to end the game