GAME 7: No. 20 Delta State (5-1, 3-1 GSC) at West Alabama (4-3, 1-2 GSC)Complete weekly release in PDF format
CLEVELAND, Mississippi - The No. 20 Statesmen (5-1, 3-1 GSC) look to get back on track this week, as Delta State University travels to Livingston, Alabama to face the Tigers (4-3, 1-2 GSC) of the University of West Alabama. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Tigers Stadium and UWA will observing Homecoming. Saturday's matchup will be the 60th between two of the Gulf South Conference's founding institutions. The Statesmen own a 34-22-3 lead in the series, but West Alabama claimed a 48-14 victory at Tigers Stadium last year in the most recent contest. UWA also leads the series 12-10-2 in games played in Livingston, Alabama.
GREEN-&-WHITE SPOTLIGHTS - Delta State dropped its first game of the season last Saturday, 24-16 at West Georgia. The Wolves used four Statesmen turnovers to score 21 points en route to the win at Ra-Lin Field.
Tyler Sullivan, who established a new school record for attempts with 73, threw two touchdowns and passed for 389 yards in the loss.
Casey Osborne caught a career-high 12 passes for 123 yards and a score, while Tim Foy hauled in seven passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.
- Gulliver certainly has nothing on the Statesmen this season. Delta State is playing its fifth and final road game of the season on Saturday, as the Statesmen travel to Livingston, Alabama. With five road trips this year, DSU will travel a total of 5,198 round trip miles over the course of the season. DSU is 3-1 on the road this season, with the only loss coming at West Georgia last week.
- Sophomore quarterback
Tyler Sullivan, last season's GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year, has seized the opportunity to be Delta State's starting quarterback this year, throwing for 2,123 yards and 17 touchdowns through six games. The Louisville, Mississippi, native has completed 167-of-265 passes, with seven interceptions. The gunslinger is averaging 353.8 yards passing per game to lead DSU and the GSC. He currently ranks fourth nationally in passing and total offense (369.3) per game.
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Casey Osborne has developed into one of the nation's elite receivers, pacing the GSC in receptions (51), receiving yards (722) and touchdowns (8). The Flowery Branch, Georgia native enters the week averaging 120.3 yards receiving and 8.5 receptions per game.
- Junior rover
Richard Nash has turned up his play in the last few weeks, totaling 42 tackles, with a tackle-for-loss, a sack and one interception. The Macon, Georgia, native has 96 career tackles and two interceptions in just 14 games.
- Delta State is 17-0 all-time when scoring 60-plus points in a game. In fact, the Statesmen have scored 50-plus points in a game 38 times in school history, most recently in DSU's 58-20 dismantling of Florida Tech, and boasts a 36-2 record in those contests.
- Against the Top 25: The Statesmen are 1-0 this season against ranked opponents after defeating No. 13 Valdosta State, 49-32, at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Sept. 20. DSU is scheduled to play No. 3 North Alabama on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Both West Alabama and West Georgia have been ranked at times this season. Since
Todd Cooley took over as head coach, the Statesmen are 4-1 against ranked opponents. DSU was 3-1 in his inaugural season, with the lone loss coming to No. 12 West Alabama on the road.
- The Statesmen are certainly an up-tempo offensive unit, ranking dead last in the GSC in time of possession (25:54) despite leading the league and ranking fourth nationally in scoring at 47.7 points per game.
- Delta State has outscored the opposition 101-7 in the third quarter this year, and 141-29 overall in the second half. DSU's defense has yet to give up a point in the third quarter this season.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS60 - Delta State and West Alabama are meeting for the 60th time in series history on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Tigers Stadium. In a series that dates back to a 0-0 tie in 1940, the Statesmen own a 34-22-3 lead in the series, but the Tigers are 12-10-2 at home versus DSU. The two schools helped found the GSC, casting the votes needed to form the league in 1971.
4 - Delta State has created a tremendous offensive rhythm through six games this season, averaging a GSC best and fourth nationally 47.7 points per game. The Statesmen rank sixth in the NCAA in total offense (526.7), third in passing offense (378.2), and 33rd in scoring defense (19.5) so far this season.
