GAME NOTES: Fort Valley State University (0-0) at No. 14 Delta State University (0-0) - Sept. 1, 2012
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University will officially open the Jamey Chadwell Era on Saturday, Sept. 1, as the No. 14 ranked Statesmen (0-0) welcome the Wildcats (0-0) of Fort Valley State University to Parker Field-McCool Stadium.  The game will be televised as the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week and is set for a 12:06 p.m. kickoff.  The Statesmen Sports Network will also offer complete radio coverage beginning at 11 a.m.

STATESMEN QUICK HITTERS
Delta State and Fort Valley State, a top contender in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, are meeting for just the third 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, while DSU claimed a 27-7 victory last season at Wildcats Stadium.  The Statesmen are also 2-1 all-time against the SIAC.

The Statesmen, who have claimed the last two Gulf South Conference championships and four in the last five years, were picked to finish third in the annual GSC Preseason Coaches Poll.  DSU received 10 poll points to rank third behind preseason favorite Valdosta State (15) and West Alabama (14).  North Alabama (6) and West Georgia (5) rounded out the poll.        

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 22-14 all-time, including 20 wins in his last two seasons at North Greenville University.  

The Statesmen coaching staff also features several former Mississippi gridiron standouts, including former Southern Mississippi All-American defensive end Skylor Magee and University of Mississippi “Chucky Mullins Award” winning linebacker Lanier Goethie.  

Delta State returns several key contributors off last seasons GSC and Super Region II championship winning club, including All-American and All-GSC offensive lineman Lamar Young, All-America honorable mention and All-GSC punter Andrew Jones, All-GSC linebacker Ixavier Triplett, and All-GSC running backs Richard Freelon and Brant Botill. 

Junior linebacker Ixavier Triplett enters the season with 182 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.      

Kenny Barnes, a junior safety from Madison, Miss., is ready to play a larger role for DSU in 2012 and league coaches agree as they named him to the Preseason All-GSC Team.  Barnes amassed 45 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and six pass break ups last season as a sophomore. 

Brant Botill is making the move to linebacker this year after turning in an All-GSC junior season at running back a year ago.

Secondary Strong: DSU will feature Montavious Hill, C.J. Lester, Erik Williams and Trenton Warren in the defensive backfield.  All four saw action in at least 13 games last season for the Statesmen.      

On the Big Screen: The Statesmen have played 21 games all-time on TV with a 16-5 record in program history on TV.

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.  STATESMEN TO WATCH: Ixavier Triplett, MLB
Ixavier Triplett, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior linebacker, is this week's “Statesman to Watch” as the two-year starting middle linebacker leads No. 14 Delta State (0-0) into the season opener versus Fort Valley State (0-0) on Saturday, Sept. 1.  Kickoff is set for noon at Parker Field-McCool Stadium and the game will be televised regionally on the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week. 

The Hillsboro, Miss., native finished 2011 with a team-high 82 tackles, including 10 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks.    The 2010 GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year has totaled 182 tackles, 22 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks and 11 pass break-ups in just 29 career games and is currently on pace to eclipse the record of 343 held by former Statesman All-American Lardester Hicks-Green.  

STATESMEN TO OPEN 2012 RANKED NO. 14 IN AFCA TOP 25
The two-time defending Gulf South Conference champion Delta State University Statesmen will open the 2012 campaign ranked No. 14 in the annual American Football Coaches Association Preseason Top 25 Poll, as released by the AFCA on Monday, Aug. 13.  The Statesmen, who are under new head coach Jamey Chadwell, will face a daunting schedule this year, as three opponents on the slate are ranked in the nation's top 15. 

The Statesmen open the season Saturday, Sept. 1 versus Fort Valley State, a top contender for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title, in a game to be televised on the GSC-TV Live Regional Game of the Week.  Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. from Parker Field-McCool Stadium. 

In all, the Statesmen will face three teams ranked among the nation's top 25, including No. 8 Valdosta State, the preseason favorite in the GSC, No. 10 Abilene Christian and No. 15 West Alabama.  All three games will have a major national impact on the race for NCAA Super Region II superiority. 

Pittsburg State, fresh off of its second Division II national championship in 2011, opens up 2012 as the preseason favorite to win the national championship. This is the first time since the AFCA Division II Coaches' Poll started in 2000 that the Gorillas have begun the season ranked in the top spot.

DELTA STATE TO BEGIN CHADWELL ERA
The last time Jamey Chadwell stood on Parker Field-McCool Stadium the Statesmen had handed his North Greenville Crusaders a 28-23 loss in the NCAA DII Quarterfinals.  Nine months later, the former East Tennessee State quarterback is poised to begin his tenure as head coach of Delta State University. 

Prior to coming to DSU, Chadwell directed a resurgence at North Greenville University where he led the Crusaders to a 22-14 record in his three seasons as head coach. 

In 2011, Chadwell led North Greenville (11-3) to the NCAA Quarterfinals in just third season as head coach of the Crusaders.  NGU also captured South Atlantic Conference scheduling alliance championship and finished the year ranked No. 12 nationally in the American Football Coaches Association DII Top 25, marking the first time an NGU team has garnered a spot in one of the nation's official media/coaches' polls.

In his last two seasons in Tigerville, S.C., Chadwell delivered 20 wins as head coach at NGU, including the 2010 National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship after a win over Campbellsville (Ky.) in the Victory Bowl.  As an assistant at Charleston Sou., Chadwell helped lead CSU to its first ever Big South Conference title in 2005.

DSU-FVSU CONTINUE IN-REGION RIVALRY
Delta State and Fort Valley State, a top contender in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, are meeting for just the third 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, while DSU claimed a 27-7 victory last season at Wildcats Stadium. 

Surprisingly, the Statesmen are just 2-1 all-time against the SIAC, considering the geographical locations of two conferences.

STATESMEN AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
One of the nation's most battle tested teams over the last five years, the Statesmen enter Saturday's game scheduled to play three teams ranked in the nation's top 25.  DSU is 16-6 against DII ranked opponents in the last five years. 

The Statesmen are scheduled to face No. 10 Abilene Christian in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week on Sept. 27, No. 8 Valdosta State in Valdosta, Ga., on Oct. 20 and No. 15 West Alabama a week later for Homecoming at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Oct. 27.

AGAINST THE STATES
The Statesmen are facing their first opponent this season from the state of Georgia.  DSU is 35-20-1 all-time against teams from the “Peach State,” including a 1-1 mark against Saturday's opponent Fort Valley State.

ON THE BIG SCREEN
The Statesmen open the 2012 campaign as one of three games televised by the Cox Sports South Network and GSC-TV Live.  DSU welcomes in Fort Valley State for a noon kickoff at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.  

Delta State has enjoyed great success over the years in games televised regionally and nationally.  In the 21 games previously televised, the Statesmen are 16-5 all-time.     

The Statesmen were 3-0 on TV in 2011 with DSU claiming back-to-back wins on GSC-TV Live with a 34-20 victory over Arkansas-Monticello at Parker Field-McCool Stadium and a 30-24 OT win at North Alabama.  Delta State also defeated Valdosta State 36-33 on ESPN3. 

DELTA STATE PLACES FOUR ON PRESEASON ALL-GSC TEAM
With only 26 returning lettermen from 2011, Delta State placed four Statesmen on the annual Preseason All-GSC Team as voted on by the league's head coaches.   DSU's Bryce McBride (RB), Lavon Downs (WR), Kenny Barnes (DB) and Andrew Jones (P) were all named to the team. 

McBride and Downs will combine to lead the Statesmen offense after playing key roles in last season's run to the NCAA National Semifinals.  McBride rushed for 172 yards on just 30 carries, while Downs hauled in 27 passes for 433 yards and three TDs. 

Barnes, a junior safety who made tremendous strides in 2011, closed last season with 45 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, and six passes defended.  He will anchor a Statesmen secondary that should be one of the bright spots for DSU in 2012. 

Andrew Jones was simply outstanding last season, leading the GSC in punting (41.9 ypp) en route to All-GSC and All-Region accolades. 

TRIPLETT: A NIGHTMARE FOR ANY DEFENSE
Junior linebacker Ixavier Triplett enters the 2012 season on a quest to continue his run towards the school record for career tackles.  The Hillsboro, Miss., native finished 2011 with a team-high 82 tackles, including 10 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks. 

The 2010 GSC Defensive Freshman of the Year has totaled 182 tackles in just 29 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 22 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks and 11 pass break-ups in his career at DSU.

HIS NICKNAME IS CHIPPER, BUT HE'S REALLY A BOOMER
Senior punter/placekicker Andrew Jones has been a major weapon for the Statesmen in his career.  The Kossuth, Miss., native led the GSC in punting, averaging 41.9 yards per punt in 2011. 

He boomed a league-high 13 punts over 50-yards, including a 79-yard effort versus North Alabama in the 2nd Round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.  He punted 43 times last year for 1,801 yards with a long of 79 yards, the second longest punt in school history.

For his efforts, he was named GSC Special Teams Player of the Week twice last season, including the week of the West Alabama game after he averaged 44.4 yards per punt versus the Tigers.

Jones was named to the All-GSC First Team and Daktronics All-Super Region II First Team for his efforts on the field in 2011. 

FREELON READY TO CARRY THE LOAD
He grew each week last season as a feature back for the Statesmen offense and this season Richard Freelon returns to anchor a corps of running backs capable of dominating the Gulf South Conference. 

The Bruce, Miss., native showed what he was capable of last season leading the Statesmen past North Greenville in the NCAA Quarterfinals, where he erupted for 130 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries in the 28-23 come-from-behind win. 

Freelon, a junior transfer from Jacksonville State, rushed 125 times for 700 yards and eight touchdowns in 2011 to lead all Statesmen rushers.

HUNTER TO MAKE 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's record for career games played. 

The All-GSC and All-American candidate has started for three seasons at DSU and enters the 2012 campaign with 41 career games played on the offensive line, including 28 consecutive starts at right tackle.   

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

ALL-AMERICAN LAMAR YOUNG RETURNS TO ANCHOR LINE
Senior All-American Lamar Young, who missed spring practices for the Statesmen, returns this season to anchor the offensive line for coach Jim Beverly.  The University of Maryland transfer started all 14 games last season en route to All-GSC, All-Region and Honorable Mention All-American honors. 

The 6-foot-5, 330-pound Riverdale, Ga., native will team with Kendall Hunter and Will Kent to form a solid nucleus up front for DSU.

BOTILL MAKES MOVE TO LINEBACKER
After scoring multiple game-winning touchdowns as an All-GSC running back last season, senior Brant Botill has made the move to outside linebacker, a position he played in high school and junior college. 

In 2011, the Corcoran, Calif., native rushed for 406 yards and five touchdowns on just 92 carries en route to being named All-GSC. 

In DSU's 30-24 overtime victory over then-No. 1 North Alabama, Botill plunged in from four yards out for the game-winner in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week. 

Botill also ripped out the hearts of Valdosta State fans across the country after capping a game-winning 92-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown with 40 seconds remaining in the contest.       

DOWNS READY TO MAKE MARK AT WIDE RECEIVER
Lavon Downs finished 2012 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.

BARNES PREPARED FOR LARGER ROLE
Junior safety Kenny Barnes is ready to play a larger role for the Statesmen defense this season after recording 45 tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss and six passes defended last season as a sophomore.  GSC coaches agreed by placing the former Madison Central star on the Preseason All-GSC Team. 

HILL, LESTER AND WARREN TO LEAD SECONDARY
The Statesmen secondary will get quite the boost from three returning lettermen this season.  Seniors Montavious Hill (25 tackles/one INT) and C.J. Lester (19 tackles, one INT), and junior Trenton Warren (15 tackles, one PBU) are ready to lead by example and with experience.  All three played in at least 13 games last season. 

MISSOURI STATE TRANSFER TO START SEASON AT QB
Trevor Wooden, a junior transfer from Missouri State, will open the season at quarterback for the Statesmen.  The High Springs, Fla., native accounted for an 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. 

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.

LAST TIME OUT: STATESMEN ROUT WILDCATS 27-6
The Delta State University Statesmen football team, hit the road again and was looking for a break out game after their first two came down to the wire. They found that game in Fort Valley as the Statesmen routed the Wildcats 27-7 Saturday night.

The Wildcats (0-2) took an early lead, as they scored the game's first touchdown. Quarterback Antonio Henton connected with wide out Chris Slaughter for the 27-yard touchdown pass.

The Statesmen (2-1) came right back and tied the game up a few minutes later. Senior quarterback Micah Davis threw his own 27-yard touchdown pass, as he found senior wide out Chance Dennis for the touchdown.

With the game tied up at seven, the Statesmen took the lead early in the second quarter. Senior wide out Rafael Mitchell weaved his way through the defense, and took the ball to the house on a 41-yard touchdown run. The Statesmen were able too maintain their advantage, as they went into the locker room up 14-7 at the half.

Mitchell's night was not done, as he caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Davis early in third quarter. That set the tone for the rest of the game for the Statesmen. Sophomore running back Richard Freelon capped the night off with an 11-yard touchdown run with six minutes left in the game.

Davis passed for 289 yards, and two touchdowns as the Statesmen out gained the Wildcats 567 yards to 187. Penalties still dragged down the Statesmen as they were flagged 15 times for 131 yards. The Wildcats picked up five penalties for 36 yards. Senior defensive lineman Robbie Mayers led the Statesmen defense. Mayers record two sacks, and three tackles for loss to go with his seven overall stops.