GAME NOTES: No. 3 North Alabama (7-0, 4-0 GSC) @ No. 19 Delta State (6-1, 4-1 GSC)Complete weekly release in PDF format
CLEVELAND, Mississippi - The No. 19 Statesmen (6-1, 4-1 GSC) put their title hopes and postseason aspirations on the line this week, as Delta State University welcomes the No. 3 Lions (7-0, 4-0 GSC) of the University of North Alabama to Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Saturday's matchup will be the 58th between two of the Gulf South Conference's founding institutions. The Lions have held the edge in the series over the years, boasting a 31-25-1 overall record against the Statesmen. Since the 2006 season, the two clubs have met 13 times, with UNA claiming a 7-6 lead in those contests.
Last season
Vince Sciorrotta's 31-yard game-winning field goal with 9.9 seconds remaining ended an emotional night for Delta State University and catapulted the Statesmen to a 37-34 victory over North Alabama in the Gulf South Conference opener for both schools Saturday, Sept. 21 in front of 10,127 at Braly Municipal Stadium.
GREEN-&-WHITE SPOTLIGHTS - Delta State enters the week ranked No. 3 in the first installment of the NCAA Super Region II rankings. The Statesmen host Super Region II's top-ranked team, the University of North Alabama, on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.
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Eddie McCadney had three rushing touchdowns and No. 19 Delta State (6-1, 4-1 GSC) scored 21 points off three West Alabama (4-4, 1-3 GSC) turnovers to earn a 45-24 win and spoil the Tigers' Homecoming last Saturday night at Tiger Stadium. McCadney, who rushed for 93 yards on 20 carries, became the first Statesmen to score three rushing touchdowns in a game since Trevor Wooden against West Georgia in 2012. The three touchdowns also moved the Cleveland, Mississippi, natives total to a team-high eight rushing touchdowns.
- 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 2,281 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. The Louisville, Mississippi, native has completed 186-of-295 passes, with nine interceptions. The gunslinger is averaging 325.9 yards passing per game to lead DSU and the GSC. He currently ranks fourth nationally in passing and total offense (342.4) per game.
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Casey Osborne has developed into one of the nation's elite receivers, pacing the GSC in receptions per game (7.5) and receiving touchdowns (8), while ranking second in receiving yards (738).
- Junior rover
Richard Nash has turned up his play this season, totaling 46 tackles, with 2.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack and one interception. The Macon, Georgia, native has 100 career tackles and two interceptions in just 15 games over the last two years.
- 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 then No. 13 Valdosta State, 49-32, at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Sept. 20. DSU faces 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.
- Delta State has outscored the opposition 108-14 in the third quarter this year, and 155-43 overall in the second half. DSU's defense has yet to give up a point in the third quarter this season.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
24 - Delta State's offense ran for 22 touchdowns a year ago. After last week's four rushing touchdown performance in a 345-24 win at West Alabama, the Statesmen have scored 24 times on the ground through seven games. Junior
Eddie McCadney leads the team and is tied for the GSC lead with eight rushing touchdowns.
6 - Sophomore
Tyler Sullivan became the sixth quarterback in Delta State history to eclipse the 4,000 career passing yard mark after throwing for 153 yards and two scores in a 45-24 win at West Alabama. The Louisville, Mississippi native has completed 317-of-496 passes for 4,045 yards, including 34 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
INSIDE THE SERIES: GSC LEAD ON THE LINE FOR DSU-UNADelta State welcomes North Alabama to Parker Field-McCool Stadium this Saturday, Nov. 1 with the Gulf South Conference lead and a berth in the NCAA DII Championship Tournament on the line. The Statesmen and Lions, who are meeting for the 58th time in series history, are set to kickoff at 6 p.m.
The Lions have held the edge in the series over the years, boasting a 31-25-1 overall record against the Statesmen. Since the 2006 season, the two clubs have met 13 times, with UNA claiming a 7-6 lead in those contests.
Vince Sciorrotta's 31-yard game-winning field goal with 9.9 seconds remaining ended an emotional night for Delta State University and catapulted the Statesmen (2-1, 1-0 GSC) to a 37-34 victory over North Alabama (1-2, 0-1 GSC) in the Gulf South Conference opener for both schools Saturday, Sept. 21 in front of 10,127 at Braly Municipal Stadium.
DSU finished the game with 602 yard of total offense, the first time the Statesmen had crossed the barrier since totaling 711 at Lambuth on Nov. 13, 2010. The ground game racked up 153 yards led by Tim Foy's 65 yards on 18 carries.
Travis Champion finished the night 40-of-52 passing for 450 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, including three to
Casey Osborne. Champion's 40 completions were a new school record at the time.
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTSThe 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 will face No. 3 North Alabama on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. 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.
TEMPO TEAMThe Statesmen are certainly an up-tempo offensive unit, ranking dead last in the GSC in time of possession despite leading the league in scoring at 47.3 points per game. In DSU's seven games this season, the Green-and-White are averaging 25:59 minutes of possession.
DELTA STATE SPOILS HOMECOMING FOR WEST ALABAMA 45-24Eddie McCadney had three rushing touchdowns and No. 20 Delta State University (6-1, 4-1 GSC) scored 21 points off West Alabama (4-4, 1-3 GSC) turnovers to earn a 45-24 win and spoil the Tigers' Homecoming Saturday night at Tiger Stadium.
McCadney rushed for 93 yards on 20 carries, becoming the first Statesmen to score three rushing touchdowns in a game since Trevor Wooden against West Georgia in 2012. The three scores also moved the Cleveland, Mississippi, native's total to a team-high eight rushing touchdowns.
Tyler Sullivan threw two touchdowns passes and rushed for one, while completing 19-of-30 passes (63 percent) for 158 yards.
Patrick Bethley and
Justin Leavy caught four passes and
Casey Osborne,
Ricky Hunt and
Jarvis York D.J Holley had two receptions to lead the DSU receivers.
A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TEMPOThe Statesmen are known as an up-tempo, pass-happy team, but this past week at West Alabama, Delta State proved that it could ground and pound against one of the GSC's toughest rush defenses. DSU rumbled for 205 yards on 43 carries, led by
Eddie McCadney's 93 yards and three touchdowns.
Delta State held the ball for just 26:59, but made the most of it's possessions, with four rushing touchdowns - the most against a league opponent this season.
SCORING IN BUNCHESDelta State's offense is scoring in bunches this season, averaging 47.3 points per game to rank fourth in NCAA DII. The Statesmen have topped the 40-point plateau in five of their seven games so far this season.
DSU ranks sixth nationally in total offense at 503.4 yards per game, led by the league's top passing attack (346.7 ypg) and rank third in the NCAA. DSU has also topped 50-plus points in three games this season, with a high of 72 against Central State on Sept. 27.
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cCADNEY BREAKS OUT AT WEST ALABAMAEddie McCadney, a junior running back from Cleveland, Mississippi, turned in his best performance as a Statesman in DSU's 45-24 win at West Alabama. The former Cleveland High Wildcat rushed for a career-high 93 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns in the effort.
SULLIVAN SEIZING OPPORTUNITYSophomore
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 2,281 yards and 19 touchdowns.
The Louisville, Mississippi, native became the seventh quarterback to top 4,000 career yards passing after throwing for 158 in DSU's 45-24 win at West Alabama. Sullivan, who has 4,045 yards to rank sixth on the career list, has completed 186-of-295 passes with nine interceptions, while averaging 325.9 yards passing per game to lead DSU and the GSC.
Sullivan has shined during big stage matchups for the Statesmen, passing for 502 yards and three touchdowns in a 49-32 win at Valdosta State, and 456 yards and five touchdowns in a 58-20 throttling of Florida Tech, both of which were GSC-TV Games of the Week.
Throughout his career, Sullivan, who is 10-2 as a starter at DSU, has performed well under pressure. In his first career start against No. 14 Tarleton State last season, Sullivan completed 33-of-49 passes for 422 yards and four touchdowns, two weeks later establishing a new school record for single game passing yards with 520 and five touchdowns in a 63-55 win over No. 21 Valdosta State.
In 14 games, Sullivan has already eclipsed the 4,000 yards passing mark. The former Winston Academy standout has completed 317-of-496 passes for 4,045 yards, moving him into sixth place all-time at DSU, with 34 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He is averaging 288.9 yards per game for his career.
Sullivan's total offense numbers have also been outstanding, amassing 4,307 yards, climbing to eighth on the career chart.
BIRDMAN STALKING THE RECORD BOOKJunior
Casey Osborne is putting together a remarkable junior campaign, leading the Statesmen with 53 receptions for 738 yards and eight touchdowns. The Flowery Branch, Georgia native has caught 12 passes twice this season, including a three touchdown performance at Fort Valley State.
Osborne enters the week averaging 105.4 yards receiving and 7.6 receptions per game; two numbers that rank in the top six in NCAA DII.
The speedster has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in all but one game this season, including 12 receptions for 113 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-13 win at Fort Valley State. Osborne followed that up with a career-high 192 yards and a score in DSU's 49-32 win at then No. 12 Valdosta State. In just the first half of action, Osborne caught four passes for 76 yards and a touchdown versus CSU.
Osborne has caught 121 passes for 1,621 yards and 16 touchdowns in his 24-game career. He ranks ninth on the career grabs list with 121.
FINDING A SECOND GEARThe Statesmen have a niche for finding another gear in the second half through seven games. Last week, in typical fashion, a stingy DSU defense limited West Alabama to 159 yards, 11 rushing and 148 passing, and one touchdown in the second half. Offensively, the Statesmen are averaging 270.3 yards (93.1 rush/177.2 pass) in the second half as compared to 243.5 (70.1 rush/173.4 pass) in the first half. Defensively, the Statesmen are allowing 156.1 yards per game (42.5 rush/113.5 pass) in the second half, and 232.2 yards (83.7 rush/148.5 pass) in the first half.
Delta State has outscored opponents 108-14 in the third quarter with the 14 points coming on opponent non-offensive touchdowns. DSU has outscored opponents 155-43 overall, 107-30 over the last four games, and have a plus-four turnover margin in the second half.
DEFENSE CREATING OPPORTUNITIESThe Statesmen defense has set the offense up in great field position. Delta State has scored 84 points this season off of turnovers.
Romelo Wilson has produced the only defensive touchdown with an interception returned 31 yards at Valdosta State on Sept. 20.
WILLIAMS' WAYOffensive coordinator
Joel Williams has Statesmen opponents feeling some type of way. The veteran ball coach holds the distinction of orchestrating three of Delta State's most prolific single season offenses. His 2003 and 2004 units, under then head coach Rick Rhoades, accounted for 458 and 443 points respectively.
Delta State rolled up 484 yards of total offense and eight touchdowns in a 56-13 season-opening victory at Fort Valley State. The Statesmen followed up that performance with 620 yards and six scores in a 49-32 win at Valdosta State. Delta State totaled 542 yards and scored eight touchdowns and a field goal in the 72-8 victory over Central State.
Last week, DSU amassed 363 yards, including 205 rushing, en route to a dominating 45-24 win at West Alabama.
The Statesmen currently rank fourth nationally and lead the GSC in scoring at 47.3 points per game, while posting the sixth best total offense in the country at 503.4 yards per game.
RED HOT RED ZONEThe Statesmen have scored on 26-of-33 trips into the red zone this season, for an 79 percent conversion rate. In fact, 24 of their 44 trips have resulted in a touchdown.
NASH LEADING BY EXAMPLERichard Nash, a junior from Macon, Ga., had a career-high 17 tackles on Oct. 18 at West Georgia and followed that up with four more stops versus West Alabama on Oct. 25. Through seven games, Nash leads the team with 46 tackles and a career-high 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack to go along with an interception.
PUTTING OFFENSE IN REVERSEDelta State's defensive unit enters the weekend ranked No. 1 nationally in tackles-for-loss with 11.0 per game. The Statesmen also rank sixth in the NCAA in sacks per game (3.4).
D-LINE PLAYING WELL AS A UNITThe Statesmen defensive front set the tone versus West Alabama by limiting the Tigers offense to just 81 yards rushing, far below the 265.4 average that the Tigers were accustomed to. The DSU defense has yielded just six rushing touchdowns, while registering 77 tackles-for-loss and 26.5 sacks.
Randall Boyd tops the stat sheet with 22 tackles, 6.5 tackles-for-loss, and 4.5 sacks.
Derrien Covington,
Diego Lubin,
Ryan Self and
Latrell Peterson have also been major cogs in the machine. Covington has 17 tackles, a pair of sacks and tackles-for-loss; matching career marks set as a sophomore in 2012. Lubin, a two-time All-GSC pick, has made 5.5 stops behind the line, while totaling 3.0 sacks. Peterson has turned in 16 tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss and a sack; while Self comes in with 15 tackles, a sack and 3.5 tackles-for-loss.
LINEBACKERS SETTING THE TONEDelta State runs out three linebackers for every snap on defense. Landy Tullo sits second on the team with 37 tackles, including 10 tackles-for-loss and leads the Statesmen with six sacks. Tullo has recorded sacks in four consecutive games dating back to his three sack game at Florida Tech. Tullo has also shown the ability to cover in the passing game by breaking up a pair of passes thus far.
Wilson Curtis has recorded a sack in three consecutive games on his way to 4.5 sacks and the team-high 11.5 tackles-for-loss. Tullo and Curtis have combined for 21.5 tackles-for-loss. Curtis has intercepted a pass and returned it 33 yards and also picked up a fumble that he advanced 22 yards.
Rory Island, a four-year Statesmen, has manned the middle for six games and has 29 tackles (6.5 for a loss) and now has 170 career tackles in 39 games played. The Statesmen are holding the opposition to just 126.3 yards rushing per game while limiting the opposition to 20.14 points per game while allowing just 36% of third downs to be converted.
WILSON!Romelo Wilson, a sophomore corner from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, made his fourth career interception and his third this season two weeks ago at West Georgia. Wilson stepped in front of Dallas Dickey's pass in the end zone in the second quarter to keep the Statesmen in the hunt. Wilson has recorded 24 tackles with three interceptions and four pass breakups on the season.
TULLO TURNING UPSophomore linebacker
Landry Tullo continues to increase his production each week for the Statesman defense. The Hoover, Alabama, native had four tackles, including two for a loss, in last week's victory at West Alabama. In the most recent home game for the Statesmen, Tullo had a game-high 10 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack in Delta State's 35-20 win over Shorter on Oct. 9.
The former Hoover High School standout is second on the team with 37 tackles, including 10.0 tackles-for-loss and 6.0 sacks. In his 17 game career, Tullo has totaled 64 tackles, 13.5 tackles-for-loss and recorded 6.0 sacks.
THIRD QUARTER MADNESSDelta State has outscored the opposition 108-14 in the third quarter this year, and 155-43 overall in the second half. The 14 points surrendered in the third quarter both came on turnovers and was not allowed by the defense.
RED ZONE & SCORING DEFENSEThe Statesmen defense has turned it up a notch this season, allowing 20.1 points per game through seven contests. DSU, which ranks 30th in the NCAA in points allowed, has allowed the opposition to convert just 64 percent of its trips inside the red zone (16-of-25).
PROTECTING OUR HOUSEDelta State will be playing its 224th home game on Saturday, Nov. 1 versus the University of North Alabama at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Statesmen are 139-75-8 since opening the Statesmen in 1970. DSU, which played several seasons at Delta Field located where Wyatt Hall now stands, is 251-125-15 all-time at home.
PRIME TIMEDelta State has finished the regular season league schedule with a perfect 3-0 mark in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week telecasts. The Statesmen are 20-9 under the spotlight and 4-2 under coach
Todd Cooley on the big stage. Delta State is 17-8 all-time on the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week, boasting the highest winning percentage and win total of any team in the league.
LAST CLEAN SHEETThe Statesmen blanked the Hornets of Concordia College of Selma, Alabama, 77-0 on Nov. 9, 2013 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Prior to last year's game, DSU had not shutout an opponent since defeating Arkansas-Monticello, 53-0, on Nov. 11, 2006.
LAST TIME STATESMEN WERE SHUTOUTIt's been 12 seasons since Delta State suffered its last shutout. Then No. 1 Valdosta State defeated the Statesmen 42-0 back on Sept. 1, 2002 at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Ga.
ROAD WARRIORSGulliver 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. A breakdown of this year's travels are listed below.
OPPONENT LOCATION MILES RESULT
Fort Valley State Fort Valley, Georgia 1,067 W, 56-13
Valdosta State Valdosta, Ga. 1,152 W, 49-32
Florida Tech Melbourne, Fla. 1,726 W, 58-20
West Georgia Carrollton, Ga. 748 L, 24-16
West Alabama Livingston, Ala. 504 W, 45-24
SET IT AT 60 & FORGET ITDelta 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 and most recently in DSU's 58-20 thumping of Florida Tech in last week's GSC-TV Live Game of the Week in Melbourne, Florida.
Delta State is also 36-2 in games scoring 50-plus points. West Alabama defeated the Statesmen 63-55 at Tigers Stadium in Livingston, Alabama on Oct. 23, 1993 and Central Arkansas, with current DSU head coach
Todd Cooley at offensive coordinator, claimed a 55-52 win on Oct. 12, 2004 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.
# W/L DATE PF OPPONENT PA LOCATION
1 W 10-04-1969 84 Illinois-Chicago 0 Cleveland, MS
2 W 11-09-2013 77 Concordia College (AL) 0 Cleveland, MS
3 W 10-07-1950 75 Memphis NAS (TN) 6 Cleveland, MS
4 W 09-27-2014 72 Central State 8 Cleveland, MS
5 W 11-08-2008 68 West Georgia 10 Carrollton, GA
6 W 11-03-1956 67 West Alabama 19 Cleveland, MS
7 W 1953 67 West Alabama 6 Cleveland, MS
8 W 10-18-1930 66 Bethel (TN) 0 Cleveland, MS
9 W 1936 64 Northwest Mississippi JC 0 Cleveland, MS
10 W 11-13-1936 63 Bethel (TN) 6 Cleveland, MS
11 W 12-09-2000 63 Bloomsburg (PA) 34 Florence, AL
12 W 11-02-2013 63 Valdosta St. (GA) 55 Cleveland, MS
13 W 11-23-1968 63 Centenary (LA) 0 Shreveport, LA
14 W 11-06-2004 62 Arkansas-Monticello 41 Cleveland, MS
15 W 10-04-2003 61 West Georgia 7 Carrollton, GA
16 W 09-02-2006 61 West Virginia Tech 0 Cleveland, MS
17 W 10-31-1959 60 Harding (AR) 7 Cleveland, MS
