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GAME NOTES: Delta State University (4-2, 2-1 GSC) at Shorter University (0-7, 0-4 GSC)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University Statesmen (4-2, 2-1 GSC) travel to Barron Stadium on Thursday, Oct. 24 to face thr Shorter University Hawks (0-7, 0-4) in the Gulf South Conference TV Game of the Week. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CST. The game is a key showdown for the Statesmen, as DSU looks to stay in race for the GSC title. Statesmen Sports Network coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Association Statesman Game Day Report.
Matt Jones, Mark Williams,
Philip Tang and Lane Quinton have the call.
OPENING DRIVE
GSC Race On the Line at Shorter: The Delta State University (4-2, 2-1 GSC) football is looking to get back into the Gulf South Conference race as the Statesmen travel to Shorter University (0-7, 0-4 GSC) Thursday, Oct. 24 for the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CST at Barron Stadium.
Statesmen Seeking Revenge at Barron Stadium: Thursday's matchup with Shorter is the second between the two schools on the gridiron. Last season, the Hawks claimed a 32-21 victory in the season finale for both schools in Rome, Ga. DSU was outscored 15-7 in the second half en route to the loss. SU rushed for 323 yards and passed for 117, while DSU managed a mere 119 through the air and 210 on the ground.
Against the Top 25: The Statesmen are 2-1 this season against ranked opponents after last week's 38-36 victory over then-No. 14 Tarleton State. DSU defeated No. 21 North Alabama 37-34 on Sept. 21 at Braly Municipal Stadium. The lone loss came at No. 12 West Alabama, a 48-14 defeat at Tiger Stadium in Livingston, Ala. Delta State still has at least one ranked opponent on the schedule, as No. 10 Valdosta State travels to Cleveland on Nov. 2 for Homecoming.
On the Big Screen: Thursday's game at Shorter marks the 26th time in program history that Delta State will have played on television. The Statesmen are 17-8 in the previous 25 games on TV. The game is also the second this season for DSU on the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week package. The Green-and-White will close out the regular season on the GSC's weekly event Thursday, Nov. 14 at the University of West Georgia.
Dramatic Debut as Starter: Redshirt freshman
Tyler Sullivan completed 33-of-49 passes for 422 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Statesmen to a 38-36 upset victory over previously unbeaten and No. 14-ranked Tarleton State (5-1) at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Louisville, Miss., native engineered the game-winning drive with 1:03 on the clock in the fourth quarter, including 2-of-3 passing for 27 yards and rushing 13 yards for a key first down. After finding
Casey Osborne on a 14-yard reception to the TSU 16-yard line,
Vince Sciorrotta nailed the game-winning 33-yard field goal to push DSU past TSU 38-36.
Heartbreak Kid: True freshman placekicker
Vince Sciorrotta has developed a bit of a moniker, "The Heartbreak Kid," on the DSU campus after nailing two game-winning field goals in his first six games with the Statesmen. The Cumming, Ga., native connected on a 33-yard effort last Saturday to give DSU a 38-36 upset victory over then-No. 14 Tarleton State. In week three, Sciorrotta booted a 31-yard field goal to lift the Statesmen to a 37-34 victory at North Alabama. He is 9-of-13 on field goal attempts this season and a perfect 25-of-25 on PATs.
Freshmen Make Mark in Debut: Three Statesmen defensive freshman made their first starts versus Tarleton State and the results proved to be outstanding. Safety Jereco Beckwith recorded 14 tackles to tie for the team lead, while rover
Christopher Norman closed the contest with 11 tackles, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Linebacker
Landry Tullo also had his best game as a Statesman with eight tackles. While he didn't start,
Romelo Wilson, who was being redshirted until last Thursday, made seven tackles and key pass breakup late in the game versus the Texans.
Warren's Way: Senior cornerback
Trenton Warren had his way with the Texans' receiving corps, as the preseason All-GSC selection recorded 12 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups in DSU's 38-36 win over previously unbeaten Tarleton State. On two key plays in the game, the Baytown, Texas native broke up TSU passes in the endzone to force field goal attempts. In six games, Warren has totaled 26 tackles with an interception, nine pass breakups and 10 passes defended.
Spreading the Wealth: It's hard to pinpoint who will be the focal point of the Statesman offense each week, as DSU has used 15 different receivers over the course of the season.
Ricky Hunt leads DSU in receptions with 43, while
Casey Osborne tops the team in receiving yardage (485) and touchdowns (7).
Patrick Bethley has developed into a big-play threat for DSU with 27 receptions for 427 yards and four touchdowns, including a 64-yarder versus TSU.
Jarvis York (13),
Timothy Foy (13),
Josh Pinkston (13),
Michael Davison (11),
Richard Freelon (11) and Jerome Stewart, Jr. (10), all have double-digit receptions as well.
Under the Lights: Who knew Thomas Edison's invention would play such a major impact on the game of college football, but the light bulb not only changed how mankind lived, it's allowed millions of college fans to enjoy the game they love under the lights. Thursday's game at Shorter will be the 512th game all-time at night for the Statesmen. DSU is 272-235-4 in night games in program history.
Boys of October: The Statesmen are looking to inch closer to .500 all-time in the month of October Thursday, Oct. 24 at Shorter. DSU is 164-165-12 all-time in October after last week's 38-36 upset of then-No.14 Tarleton State.
Statesmen in the Stats: The Statesman passing attack has returned to the tops of the GSC rankings and fifth nationally, as DSU enters this week averaging 375.0 yards per game through the air. DSU ranks second in total offense (479.0) and fifth in total defense (382.8). The Statesmen feature the league's third rated run defense, allowing just 120.2 yards per game.
Up Next: Delta State and defending NCAA Division II National Champion Valdosta State will renew their rivalry Saturday, Nov. 2, as the Statesmen host the Blazers for Homecoming at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. The game will also culminate a week-long inaugural celebration of DSU President William N. "Bill" LaForge.
OFFENSE
Statesmen Bring High-Octane Passing Attack to Shorter: Delta State enters Thursday's game at Shorter leading the GSC and ranking ____ nationally in passing at 375.0 yards per game, a full 139 yards better than second ranked West Alabama's 236.4 yards per game. Regardless of who's been the triggerman, DSU has led the league in passing since the start of the season. The Statesmen have completed 204-of-300 passes for 2,874 yards with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
450-Plus: The Statesman offense has been outstanding this season, ranking second in the GSC in total offense at 479.0 yards per game. DSU has topped the 450-yard mark in 5-of-6 games this season, including a season-high 602 yards in a 37-34 victory at North Alabama. DSU totaled 489 yards in last week's 38-36 win over No. 14 Tarleton State.
Dramatic Debut as Starter: Redshirt freshman
Tyler Sullivan completed 33-of-49 passes for 422 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Statesmen to a 38-36 upset victory over previously unbeaten and No. 14-ranked Tarleton State (5-1) at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Louisville, Miss., native engineered the game-winning drive with 1:03 on the clock in the fourth quarter, including 2-of-3 passing for 27 yards and rushing 13 yards for a key first down. After finding
Casey Osborne on a 14-yard reception to the TSU 16-yard line,
Vince Sciorrotta nailed the game-winning 33-yard field goal to push DSU past TSU 38-36.
Spreading the Wealth: It's hard to pinpoint who will be the focal point of the Statesman offense each week, as DSU has used 15 different receivers over the course of the season.
Ricky Hunt leads DSU in receptions with 43, while
Casey Osborne tops the team in receiving yardage (485) and touchdowns (7).
Patrick Bethley has developed into a big-play threat for DSU with 27 receptions for 427 yards and four touchdowns, including a 64-yarder versus TSU.
Jarvis York (13),
Timothy Foy (13),
Josh Pinkston (13),
Michael Davison (11),
Richard Freelon (11) and Jerome Stewart, Jr. (10), all have double-digit receptions as well.
The spread also includes the run game. The three-headed monster of Freelon, Foy and
D'Juan Bellaire has produced a capable rushing attack that has to keep opposing defenses honest in their coverage. Freelon has rushed for 272 yards to lead DSU, while Foy has amassed 224 yards and three touchdowns. Bellaire, who averages a team-leading 5.2 yards per carry, has totaled 114 yards and a touchdown. After missing the first three games of the season,
Justin McArthur is starting to get into the mix as well.
Hunt, Osborne & Bethley making run at GSC leaderboard: Junior
Ricky Hunt enters week seven leading the Gulf South Conference in receptions per game (43/7.2 rpg). The Sardis, Miss., native has accumulated 427 yards and two touchdowns in the process.
Casey Osborne is second in the GSC in receptions per game at 6.5, as the Flowery Branch, Ga., native has caught 39 passes for 485 yards and seven touchdowns.
Patrick Bethley is sixth in the league in receptions per game at 4.5 with 27 grabs for 427 yards and four touchdowns. All three also rank in the top five in yards receiving.
Freelon 10th in GSC in Rushing: Despite not putting up eye-popping totals this season, senior running back
Richard Freelon ranks 10th in the GSC in rushing yards per game (45.3). The Bruce, Miss., native has carried the ball 59 times for 272 yards on the season. He became the 18th back in DSU history to top 1,000 career yards versus North Alabama on Sept. 21. The three-year letterman has rushed for 1,152 yards and nine career touchdowns.
Protecting the QB: The Statesman offensive line has improved greatly over the last four games, including three against ranked opponents. DSU has surrendered 16 sacks this season, including a season-high in week two versus Texas A&M-Commerce. Since that game, the O-line has allowed just six sacks, including one last week versus then-No. 14 Tarleton State.
Red Zone Effectiveness: Delta State continues to find ways to score once reaching the red zone this season and went 3-for-3 in the 38-36 victory over previously unbeaten Tarleton State last week at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. DSU is 24-for-29 (80%) on the year inside the zone with 15 touchdowns and nine field goals.
Third & Fourth Down Effectiveness: DSU enters Thursday's game 44-of-104 (42%) on third down conversions and 9-of-14 (64%) on fourth down attempts.
DEFENSE
Run Defense Key versus Hawks: As the Statesmen prepare for their first true triple-option opponent this season at Shorter, the DSU run defense will be the key this week at Barron Stadium. After allowing the Hawks to rush for 323 yards a year ago, DSU enters this year's contest allowing 120.5 yards rushing per game.
Roving All Over: Redshirt sophomore rover
Richard Nash has turned into a tremendous leader on the field for the Statesman defense. The Macon, Ga., native leads the team with 51 tackles, including a game-high 14 stops versus No. 14 Tarleton State. Nash has also accumulated 2.0 tackles-for-loss, an interception and five total passes defended. In week one, Nash was named the GSC Defensive Player of the Week after recording seven solo tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and intercepting a pass.
Lubin cutting loose: Redshirt junior defensive end
Diego Lubin has made a major impact for the Statesman defense since his return. The Winter Haven, Fla., native leads DSU and the GSC with 5.0 sacks and ranks sixth in TFLs with 7.0 in five games. Lubin recorded five tackles, a sack and a key forced fumble that led to a DSU defensive score versus the Texans last week.
Morgan's Message: Junior outside linebacker
Artavius Morgan is heating up at the right time for DSU. The Fairburn, Ga., native leads the league in tackles-for-loss (7.5). In six games, he has 29 tackles, 7.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks.
Island Stopper: Junior linebacker
Rory Island is once again on an All-GSC type pace, as the Waveland native has 42 tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss and a sack this season. In DSU's 38-36 win over Tarleton State, the Waveland, Miss., native had nine total tackles.
Warren's Way: Senior cornerback
Trenton Warren had his way with the Texans' receiving corps, as the preseason All-GSC selection recorded 12 tackles, an interception and four pass breakups in DSU's 38-36 win over previously unbeaten Tarleton State. On two key plays in the game, the Baytown, Texas native broke up TSU passes in the endzone to force field goal attempts. In six games, Warren has totaled 26 tackles with an interception, nine pass breakups and 10 passes defended.
The Delivery Man: Senior defensive tackle
Adrian Dinkins has picked up his deliveries to the quarterback, as the Ridgeland, Miss., native is tied for second on the club with 7.0 tackles-for-loss and three sacks through six games. He has totaled 19 tackles with a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
Freshmen Make Mark in Debut: Three Statesmen defensive freshman made their first starts versus Tarleton State and the results proved to be outstanding. Safety Jereco Beckwith recorded 14 tackles to tie for the team lead, while rover
Christopher Norman closed the contest with 11 tackles, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. Linebacker
Landry Tullo also had his best game as a Statesman with eight tackles. While he didn't start,
Romelo Wilson, who was being redshirted until last Thursday, made seven tackles and key pass breakup late in the game versus the Texans.
Statesman Secondary Playing Well: DSU's corners have played well this season and have improved at a steady pace through the first six games. Junior
Frankie Lee has tallied 27 stops with 2.0 tackles-for-loss and four pass breakups.
Jeremy Davis has become the type of corner offensive coordinators stay away from. Davis has recorded 14 tackles, eight passes defended and leads the team with two interceptions.
Evans growing into safety spot: True freshman
David Evans, who missed last week's game versus Tarleton State, is growing into his safety position after joining the starting lineup in week three. In just four games, the Hueytown, Ala., native has 24 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and has forced and recovered a fumble.
Red-Zone Defense: The Statesman defense has allowed opponents inside the red zone 26 times this season, leading to 19 scores (73%). Opponents have scored 14 touchdowns in the 26 trips inside the zone for a 54% conversion rate.
SPECIAL TEAMS
No Pressure:
Vince Sciorrotta, a true freshman from Cumming, Ga., has handled his starting position in a special way this season. The 5-foot-8, 165-pound lefty has nailed 9-of-14 field goals, including two game-winning kicks in his first collegiate season. He is also 25-of-25 on PATs.
Hunt tops GSC in All-Purpose Yards: Not only is he the league's leading receiver, but
Ricky Hunt tops the GSC in All-Purpose yardage heading into week seven. The Sardis, Miss., native is averaging 114.5 all-purpose yards per game. He has amassed 427 receiving, 139 on punt returns and 121 on kick returns through six games.
Davison leading GSC in kick returns:
Michael Davison enters week seven leading the GSC in kick returns with 323 yards on 13 attempts. His 24.8 yards per return average is also tops in the league. His 25-yard return on the final drive of last week's game versus Tarleton State set the Statesmen up at the 45-yard line for what proved to be the game-winning possession in a 38-36 DSU victory.
Holt delivers in punter role: Junior punter
Justin Holt has played exceptionally well for the Statesmen this season, averaging 41.2 yards per punt. In six games, Holt has punted 29 times for 1,196 yards including 14 kicks inside the 20-yard line. The Coldwater, Miss., native also has five kicks of 50-plus yards with a long of 61-yards this season.
Leading Scorer:
Vince Sciorrotta enters week seven ranked No. 1 in scoring in the GSC with 8.7 points per game. The Cumming, Ga., has connected on nine field goals (27 points) and 25 extra points this season for a total of 52 points in six games.
FACE THE FOE
Hawks offense centered on ground game: The Hawks enter Thursday's contest averaging 213.6 yards rushing per game and 323.6 in total offense. Shorter will be DSU's first true triple-option offense to face this season, although North Alabama and West Alabama utilize the option heavily in their schemes.
Looking for first W: Shorter is still looking for its first victory of the season after falling 28-24 last week to Florida Tech. Despite playing in several close contests, the Hawks are winless on the season, including an 0-4 mark at Barron Stadium.
Quality Defense: Despite being 0-7 coming into Thursday's contest, the Hawks have played quality defense this season. Su is allowing 418.1 yards of total offense per game, while giving up 210.0 yards rushing and 208.1 yards passing.
Five Hawks top century mark: Shorter's rushing attack features five Hawks who have topped the century mark this season, including team leader Eric Dodson's 448 yards (64.0 ypg). Bradley Moon is second on the team with 444 yards (63.4 ypg) followed by B.J. McCoy (237/33.9 ypg), Roderick Jones (133/42.0 ypg) and Kirk Wilson (113/22.6 ypg).
Soaring Hwwks: Shorter quarterback Eric Dodson has managed the Hawks offense effectively this season, passing for 770 yards while completing 49-of-100 attempts. He has tossed three touchdowns on the campaign, but has also thrown six interceptions.
Henfield paces defense: Inside linebacker Dominique Henfield is leading the Hawks defense this season with 44 tackles and 2.5 tackles-for-loss. The Savannah, Ga., native tallied a career-high 14 stops in a loss to Carson-Newman.
The Coach: Shorter University is coached by long-time skipper Phil Jones, who is in his 10th season on the sidelines in Rome, Ga. Jones has led the Hawks from their formation as a program through the NAIA ranks and into NCAA Division II transition. He also holds the title of Senior Associate Athletic Director at SU.
