GAME NOTES: No. 22 Delta State (0-1) at Elizabeth City State (0-1) - Sept. 8, 2012
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University will travel over 2,000 miles this week, as the No. 22 ranked Statesmen (0-1) hit the road to face the Vikings (0-1) of Elizabeth City State University on Saturday, Sept. 8.  Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. EST at Roebuck Stadium.  The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network with coverage beginning at 4 p.m. CST.

The Statesmen and Vikings have met on two previous occasions, a 17-10 come-from-behind victory for the Statesmen at Roebuck Stadium in the first round of the 2006 NCAA playoffs and last season the Statesmen edged ECSU 28-21 in overtime as Brandon  Lucas scored the game-winning touchdown on a 7-yard scamper. 

Fort Valley State, a top contender in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, escaped Parker Field-McCool Stadium last Saturday with a 31-23 victory over Delta State in Jamey Chadwell's first game as head coach. The Wildcats scored 22 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to claim the win, the second in FVSU history over DSU.   

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Radio: Click here to listen to the Statesmen Sports Network broadcast (4 p.m. CST)
Live Stats: Click here for Live Stats

STATESMEN QUICK HITTERS
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 22-15 all-time, including 20 wins in his last two seasons at North Greenville University.  

Sophomore linebacker Rory Island had a monster breakout game versus FVSU in coach Chad Staggs new 3-4 defensive scheme.  The Gulfport, Miss., native finished the contest with five tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks. 

The Statesmen defense put up some strong numbers last week versus Fort Valley State, including 11.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks.  DSU's 11.0 TFLs per game rank 20th in the NCAA headed into week two of the season.  

Senior wide receiver Lavon Downs grabbed seven passes for 67 yards and returned a kickoff 41 yards in the season opener last week.  Junior tight end Reed Falkner also caught two passes for 55 yards a touchdown, while Kevin Jackson had two catches for 38 yards and a score.  

Junior linebacker Ixavier Triplett enters the season with 189 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.       

Senior Eric Williams recorded a career-high two interceptions versus Fort Valley State last Saturday, while safety Trenton Warren added eight tackles and a tackle-for-loss.   Montavious Hill also had five tackles, a tackle-for-loss and a sack.        

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: RORY ISLAND, LB
Rory Island, a 6-foot, 210-pound sophomore outside linebacker, is this week's “Statesman to Watch” as he leads No. 22 ranked Delta State (0-1) into its first road game of the season at Elizabeth City State (0-1) on Saturday, Sept. 8.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (EST) at Roebuck Stadium.

The Waveland, Miss., native finished his freshman season in 2011 with a mere nine tackles, but made a major statement in coach Chad Staggs new 3-4 defense last Saturday versus Fort Valley State.  

Island finished the contest, a 31-23 loss to the Wildcats, with five tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in the season opener versus Fort Valley State.

DSU-ECSU CONTINUE NATIONAL RIVALRY
Delta State and Elizabeth City State, a top contender in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association, are meeting for just the third time in series history on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Roebuck Stadium in Elizabeth City, N.C.  Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. EST.   

The Statesmen and Vikings have met on two previous ocassions, a 17-10 come-from-behind victory for the Statesmen at Roebuck Stadium in the first round of the 2006 NCAA playoffs. Former All-American Scott Eyster led the Statesmen to 17 unanswered, second half points while throwing for 290 yards and a touchdown in the win.

Last season, the Statesmen edged ECSU 28-21 in overtime as Brandon  Lucas scored the game-winning touchdown on a 7-yard scamper.  Micah Davis passed for 271 yards and two touchdowns in the victory for DSU.

STATESMEN SLIP TO NO. 22 IN AFCA TOP 25
The two-time defending Gulf South Conference champion Delta State University Statesmen slipped to No. 22 in the latest American Football Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, as released by the AFCA on Monday, Sept. 3.  The Statesmen, who are under new head coach Jamey Chadwell, opened the season ranked No. 14 in the preseason release. 

The Statesmen dropped their season opener last Saturday, Sept. 1 versus Fort Valley State 31-23 in a game to be televised on the GSC-TV Live Regional Game of the Week.  FVSU scored 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to steal the victory. 

Pittsburg State, fresh off of its second Division II national championship in 2011, remained No. 1 after opening the year with a 41-20 victory over Northeastern State. 

CHADWELL ERA BEGINS WITH LOSS TO FVSU
The Statesmen opened the Jamey Chadwell Era at Delta State with a hard fought 31-23 loss to Fort Valley State on Saturday, Sept. 1 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. 

FVSU literally snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat after the Statesmen led 23-9 heading into the fourth quarter.  Seth Hill, who rushed for 144 yards and two touchdowns, powered FVSU to win with 22 unanswered points in the fourth. 

Prior to the FVSU loss, 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.

AGAINST THE STATES
The Statesmen are facing their first opponent this season from the state of North Carolina in Elizabeth City State.  DSU is 3-1 all-time against teams from the state that gave us flight, including a 2-0 mark against Saturday's opponent ECSU.

DELTA STATE DROPS FIRST HOME OPENER SINCE 2002 & FIRST DII OPENER SINCE 2009
With last Saturday's 31-23 loss to Fort Valley State, the Statesmen dropped their first home opener in a decade.  DSU last lost a home opener to West Alabama, 30-24, on Sept. 28, 2002.  The loss also marked the first time the Statesmen have dropped a Division II opener since a 28-17 loss at Texas A&M-Kingsville in 2009. 

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. 9 Abilene Christian in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week on Sept. 27, No. 20 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.

WILLIAMS LOCKS DOWN SECONDARY
Senior defensive back Eric Williams made his presence known in the DSU secondary after his performance last week against Fort Valley State University. The Jackson, Miss. native  recorded four tackles in the contest but he kept the Statesmen in the game with his two timely interceptions.

Williams started eight games for the Statesmen last season and played in all 13 games during the 2011 season for the Green-and-White, recording 11 tackles and two tackles-for-loss.

DOWNS READY TO MAKE MARK AT WIDE RECEIVER
Senior receiver Lavon Downs led the Statesmen and tied his career-high in receptions last week against Fort Valley State University with seven for a total of 67 yards which currently leads the Gulf South Conference.

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.

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 continues his 2012 campaign with 42 career games played on the offensive line, including 29 consecutive starts at right tackle.  

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

TRIPLETT A NIGHTMARE FOR ANY OFFENSE
Junior linebacker Ixavier Triplett continues the 2012 season on a quest to continue his run towards the schoolrecord for career tackles after recording seven total tackles in last week's game against Fort Valley State University.  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 189 tackles in just 30 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 23.5 tackles-for-loss, 4.5 sacks and 11 pass break-ups in his career at DSU.

“TRUE” FRESHMAN
Freshman running back Rondreas Truesdale saw his first collegiate action on September 1, against Fort Valley State University. Truesdale rushed the ball eight times for a total of 41 yards (5.1avg) and recording one reception for three-yards.

The Lancaster, S.C. native's versatility and speed allows Truesdale to be a threat not only on offense but will be a contributor on special teams as he recorded a blocked punt in last week's game against FVSU.

MISSOURI STATE TRANSFER TO START SEASON AT QB
Trevor Wooden, a junior transfer from Missouri State, opened the 2012 season at quarterback for the Statesmen on Sept 1, against Fort Valley State University.

Wooden completed 13-of-25 to five different receivers for 167 yards and two touchdowns in the effort against the Wildcats and led the Green-and-White in rushing with 49 yards on 12 attempts.

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. 

NOT ON MY ISLAND
Sophomore Rory Island proved Saturday 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. 

WEST & WARREN PACE STATESMEN DEFENSE
T.J. West and Trenton Warren paced the Statesmen defense with eight tackles each versus FVSU last week.

STATESMEN DEFENSE RECORDS 11 TFLS & THREE SACKS
The official team monicker for the Statesmen defense is “Sharks in the Water,” and last Saturday versus Fort Valley State they proved the point with 11 tackles-for-loss and three sacks.  The 11.0 TFLs per game rank 20th in the NCAA going into week two.

KO RETURN GAME A PLUS
DSU enters week two ranked sixth in NCAA DII in kickoff returns at 37.5 per return.  Senior wide out Lavon Downs returned one kick for 41 yards while freshman Justin McArthur took another back for 34 yards.  

FALKNER AND JACKSON EMERGE AS OFFENSIVE THREATS
The 2012 season opener against Fort Valley State University gave birth to the emergence of two more receiving threats, as tight end Reed Falkner and wide-out Kevin Jackson each caught a TD on Sept. 1 versus FVSU.

Oxford, Miss., native Falkner entered the 2012 season with only five career catches for 75 yards and was mainly used as a blocking tight end under the previous regime. Falkner so far this season has two receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown,which came on a 17-yard strike from quarterback Trevor Wooden.

After only playing in two games during the 2011 season before being sidelined by an injury, Jackson recorded two receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against FVSU.

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.

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.