GAME NOTES: Shorter (3-1, 1-0 GSC) at No. 11 Delta State (4-0, 2-0 GSC)
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CLEVELAND, Mississippi - The No. 11 Statesmen (4-0, 2-0 GSC) face off with the Hawks (3-1, 1-0 GSC) of Shorter University Thursday, Oct. 9 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The contest is the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week, presented by Florida's Space Coast Beaches, with kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Both teams are coming off victories last week against conference opponents, as the Hawks defeated Mississippi College 27-14 and Delta State thrashed Florida Tech 58-20.

Thursday's matchup will be the third between the two schools, with the series tied at 1-1.  Shorter defeated the Statesmen 32-21 on Nov. 10, 2012 in the first ever game between the schools at Barron Stadium in Rome, Georgia. Delta State exacted a little revenge on the Hawks last year, claiming a 38-17 victory in Rome, Georgia.

Delta State is facing its third opponent this year from the state of Georgia on Thursday, as Shorter comes to Parker-McCool. The Statesmen are 40-23-1 all-time against the "Peach state." DSU defeated Fort Valley State 56-13 and Valdosta State 49-32 on the road earlier in the year.

The Statesmen will be playing their 28th game all-time on television Thursday versus Shorter. Delta State is 19-8 under the spotlight and 3-2 under coach Todd Cooley on the big stage. Delta State is 16-8 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.

 

STATESMEN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Date/Location:	Oct. 9, 2014 | Parker Field-McCool Stadium | Cleveland, Miss.
Kickoff Time:	7 p.m. EST | 6 p.m. CST
Radio:	Statesmen Sports Network | Matt Jones (PxP), Mark Williams (Color), Philip Tang (Sidelines)
Television:	GSC-TV/ESPN3 | Don Russell (PxP), Rick Rhoades (Color)
Rankings:	Delta State: No. 11 - AFCA Top 25 | No. 12 - D2FB.com Top 25 Shorter: NR - AFCA Top 25 | NR - D2Football.com Top 25
Series History:	3rd Meeting; Series tied 1-1 Last Meeting: Oct. 24, 2013 - DSU 38 @ SU 17 | Rome, Ga.
Coaches:	Delta State: Todd Cooley (11-3, 2nd season) Shorter: Phil Jones (54-49, 10th season)
Live Audio:	Statesmen Sports Network (Click Here)
Live Stats:	DSU Live Stats (Click Here)
Live Video:	ESPN3 (Click Here)

 
GREEN-&-WHITE SPOTLIGHTS
 - Delta State turned a closely contested game at the half into a 58-20 rout this past Thursday, as Tyler Sullivan threw five touchdown passes and ran for another against Florida Tech Thursday at Palm Bay High School's Pirate Stadium. Sullivan, who has 13 touchdown passes on the year, had 479 yards of offense, completing 24-of-41 passes for 456 yards while rushing four times for 23 yards. Justin Leavy caught four passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns while Ricky Hunt led DSU with 114 yards on four catches and a touchdown and Casey Osborne had five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.

 - GSC Honors: Senior defensive end Diego Lubin and sophomore quarterback Tyler Sullivan were named Gulf South Conference Players of the Week on Monday after leading Delta State to a 58-20 win at Florida Tech.

 - 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 1,416 yards and 13 touchdowns through the first four games. The Louisville, Mississippi, native has completed 103-of-155 passes with two interceptions, while averaging 354.0 yards passing per game to lead DSU and the GSC. He currently ranks fourth nationally in passing and total offense (372.3) per game.

 - 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 last week, and boast 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. 5 North Alabama, No. 22 West Alabama, and No. 24 West Georgia before the end of the year. Since Todd Cooley took over as head coach, the Statesmen are 4-1 against ranked opponents. DSU was 3-1 in his inaugural season.  

 - The Statesmen are certainly an up tempo team, ranking dead last in the GSC in time of possession, averaging 28:14 per game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
1 - The Statesmen currently rank No. 1 in the nation in soring offense, averaging 58.8 points per game. DSU also leads the GSC in total offense (556.4) and ranks third nationally in passing at 389.2 yards per game. The Statesmen have topped 45 points in every game; scoring 56 at Fort Valley State, 49 at Valdosta State, 72 versus Central State, and 58 last week at Florida Tech.

20 - Delta State has found great success offensively after forcing turnovers from the opposition. In fact, the Statesmen are averaging 20 points a game off opponent turnovers. DSU scored 21 off Florida Tech miscues last week in a 58-20 victory and have a season-high of 28 in a 49-32 win at then No. 12 Valdosta State.
 

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STATESMEN TO FACE HAWKS IN GSC-TV CLASH
 The No. 11 Statesmen (4-0, 2-0 GSC) face off with the Hawks (3-1, 1-0 GSC) of Shorter University Thursday, Oct. 9 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The contest is the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week, presented by Florida's Space Coast Beaches, with kickoff is set for 6 p.m. Both teams are coming off victories last week against conference opponents, as the Hawks defeated Mississippi College 27-14 and Delta State thrashed Florida Tech 58-20.

Thursday's matchup will be the third between the two schools, with the series tied at 1-1.  Shorter defeated the Statesmen 32-21 on Nov. 10, 2012 in the first ever game between the schools at Barron Stadium in Rome, Georgia. Delta State exacted a little revenge on the Hawks last year, claiming a 38-17 victory in Rome, Georgia.

This year's contest will feature contrasting styles of play, as the Hawks run a triple-option based attack and the Statesmen feature a high-octane, air-it-out offense that leads NCAA DII in scoring at 58.8 points per game.

PROTECTING OUR HOUSE
Delta State will be playing its 223rd home game next Thursday, Oct. 9 versus Shorter at Parker Field-McCool Stadium in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week. The Statesmen are 138-75-8 since opening the Statesmen in 1970. DSU, which played several seasons at Delta Field located where Wyatt Hall now stands, is 250-125-15 all-time at home.

PRIME TIME
Delta State will be playing its 28th game all-time on television Thursday versus Shorter. The Statesmen are 19-8 under the spotlight and 3-2 under coach Todd Cooley on the big stage. Delta State is 16-8 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.  

SECOND HALF PROPELS DELTA STATE TO 58-20 WIN
Tyler Sullivan threw five touchdown passes and ran for another as Delta State University used a big second half to extend a 23-20 lead into a 58-20 Gulf South Conference win over Florida Tech Thursday at Palm Bay High School's Pirate Stadium.

Sullivan, who has 14 touchdown passes on the year, had 479 yards of offense, completing 24-of-41 passes for 456 yards while rushing four times for 23 yards.

Justin Leavy caught four passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns while Ricky Hunt led DSU with 114 yards on four catches and a touchdown and Casey Osborne had five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown.

The Statesmen rolled up 577 yards, 483 yards through the air and 94 yards on the ground, while the Statesmen defense held Florida Tech to 161 second half yards and no points, 457 total yards.

DSU's defense forced a punt on FIT's opening drive then forced three FIT turnovers as the Statesmen scored 28-straight third quarter points and 35-straight points overall.

Senior Diego Lubin, a Winter Haven, Florida, native recorded six tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, forced a fumble and recovered another to pace the Statesman defenders.

SULLIVAN & LUBIN CAPTURE GSC HONORS
Delta State University football received a pair of Gulf South Conference weekly awards as Tyler Sullivan was named GSC Offensive Player of the Week and Diego Lubin was awarded GSC Defensive Player of the Week.

Sullivan claimed his second honor of the season and fourth of his career after completing 24-of-41 passes for 456 yards and five touchdowns, while also adding another TD on the ground.  

Lubin captured his first-ever award after recording six total tackles and posting a game-high 3.5 tackles for a loss of 16 yards and two sacks for nine yards.  

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
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. 5 North Alabama and No. 21 West Georgia, while West Alabama is receiving votes.

Since Todd Cooley took over as head coach, the Statesmen are 4-1 against ranked opponents, including a 3-1 mark last year.

STATESMEN OFFENSE CLICKING TO START SEASON
Delta State's offense is clicking on all cylinders four weeks into the season, averaging a NCAA DII best 58.8 points and a Gulf South Conference leading 556.2 yards per game. The Statesmen also rank first in the GSC and rank third in NCAA DII in passing, averaging 389.2 yards per game. DSU has also topped 50-plus points in three of its four games this season, with a high of 72 versus Central State.

The Statesmen also appear throughout the NCAA DII individual rankings. Tyler Sullivan's 354.0 yards passing rank fourth, while Casey Osborne's 123.0 yards receiving per game is fifth and his 7.5 receptions per game are ninth.

TEMPO TEAM
The Statesmen are certainly an up-tempo offensive unit, ranking dead last in the GSC in time of possession. In DSU's four games this season, the Green-and-White are averaging 28:14.

SULLIVAN SEIZING OPPORTUNITY
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 1,416 yards and 13 touchdowns through the first four games.

The Louisville, Mississippi, native has completed 103-of-155 passes with just two interceptions, while averaging 354.0 yards passing per game to lead DSU and the GSC.

Sullivan has shined in 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 last week's 58-20 throttling of Florida Tech.

Throughout his career at DSU, Sullivan, who is 8-1 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 11 games, Sullivan has already eclipsed the 3,000 yards passing mark. The former Winston Academy standout has completed 234-of-356 passes for 3,130 yards, moving him into eighth place all-time at DSU, with 28 touchdowns and six interceptions. He is averaging 289.1 yards and four touchdowns per game for his career.

Sullivan's total offense numbers have also been outstanding, amassing 3,399 yards, climbing to 10th on the career chart, in just 11 games.

HUNT TOPS 1,000 RECEIVING; CHASING 2,000 ALL-PURPOSE
Senior wide receiver Ricky Hunt's performance at Florida Tech pushed the speedster past the 1,000 yards receiving plateau after catching four passes for 114 yards and a score in DSU's 58-20 win. The Sardis, Mississippi, native has grabbed 81 passes for 1,024 yards and eight touchdowns in his 14-game career. He is also approaching the 2,000 all-purpose yards barrier with 1,714.

Hunt, who also returns kicks and punts for DSU, totaled 1,326 all-purpose yards last and 415 through four games this year.

SQUEEZING THE VICE
With the need to pressure the quarterback being a key for the Statesmen last Thursday at Florida Tech, defensive coordinator Charles Anthony dialed up a scheme that saw his unit record 11.0 tackles-for-loss for -52 yards and 5.0 sacks for a loss of 26 yards against the Panthers.

Diego Lubin recorded 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks to lead the way for DSU. Landry Tullo, a sophomore from Hoover, Alabama, finished with 1.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.5 sacks.

Through four games, the Statesmen have tallied 36 tackles-for-loss and 12.0 sacks. A year ago, DSU finished with 80 tackles-for-loss and 23 sacks in 10 games.

DIEGO SMASH
Senior Diego Lubin's return to his native state of Florida was smash hit, recording six tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks against Florida Tech (10.2.14). The Winter Haven, Florida, native also forced and recovered a fumble during DSU's run of 28 unanswered third quarter points.  Lubin was credited with a solo sack in the first quarter and half sacks in the third and fourth quarters.

The former Mississippi Delta CC transfer has 90 tackles, 28.5 tackles-for-loss and 11.5 sacks in his three-year career with Delta State. Lubin needs just half-a-sack to crack into DSU's record book.  

SIMMS MAKES DEBUT
Greg Simms, a highly recruited corner from Copiah-Lincoln Community College, made his debut for the Statesmen against Florida Tech in a 58-20 victory. The Brookhaven, Mississippi, native recorded two passes defended, but did not make a tackle in the victory. Simms play comes at a good time for the Statesmen, who have seen several small injuries to the secondary.

BIRDMAN STALKING THE RECORD BOOK
Casey Osborne is putting together a remarkable junior campaign, leading the Statesmen with 30 receptions for 492 yards and seven touchdowns. The Flowery Branch, Georgia, native grabbed five passes for 114 yards and a score last Thursday in DSU's 58-20 win at Florida Tech. Osborne enters the week averaging 123.0 yards receiving and 7.5 receptions per game.

The speedster has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in all but one game this season, including a season-high 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 Valdosta State. In just a half of action, Osborne caught four passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Osborne has caught 98 passes for 1,378 yards and 15 touchdowns in his 22 game career. He needs just 10 receptions to break into the career record book for receptions.   

FINDING A SECOND GEAR
Delta State has had the ability to find another gear in the second half on both sides of the football in 2014.   Defensively, the Statesmen have allowed just 15 points and 139.7 yards (122.5 passing/22.25 rushing) per game through four games in the second half. Offensively, the Statesmen have outscored their opponents 107-15, 277.8 total yards (181.2 passing/94 rushing) through four games in the second half. The third quarter has been the jump starter, as DSU has outscored its opponents 80-0 in third quarter and 27-15 in the fourth quarter.

DSU averages 277.7 yards per game, 181.2 passing and 94 rushing, in the second half.   In the last two games the DSU defense has allowed just two points and 179 totals yards in the second half and has not allowed a third quarter score.  DSU's defense has allowed a total of 217 yards, two rushing and 11 passing in the second half versus a Central State, and 161 yards, eight rushing and 13 passing, against Florida Tech.

ROAD WARRIORS
Gulliver certainly has nothing on the Statesmen this season. Delta State is playing its third road game of the young season on Thursday, as the Statesmen travel to Melbourne, Florida. With five road trips scheduled for the year, the Statesmen 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    
West Alabama    Livingston, Ala.    504    

WILLIAMS' WAY
Offensive 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 577 yards, including 483 passing, en route to a dominating 58-20 win at Florida Tech.

The Statesmen currently lead the nation in scoring at 58.8 points per game and rank first in the GSC in total offense (556.3) per game.

FROM REDSHIRT TO RED HOT
After two games the coaching staff decided to lift the redshirt on defensive back Trey Shaw, and the decision has yielded high returns.  In two games played, Central State and Florida Tech, Shaw has recorded 11 tackles with a forced fumble in each game.  Standing 6-foot-3, the corner provides an intimidating presence across the line of scrimmage from the opposing wide receivers.

DEFENSE CREATING SCORING OPPORTUNITIES
The 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 scored the only defensive touchdown with an interception returned 31 yards at Valdosta State.

Opponent    Points Off TO
@ Fort Valley State    14
@ Valdosta State    28
Central State    21
@ Florida Tech    21

TRIO TOPS 100-YARD MARK
Three Statesmen receivers broke the century mark in receiving at Florida Tech as Justin Leavy (three receptions, 121 yards), Ricky Hunt (four receptions, 114 yards), and Casey Osborne (five receptions, 111 yards) each achieved the mark.  The last time Delta State recorded this accomplishment was on Oct. 16, 2004 in a home game versus Central Arkansas.  

The receiving crew that achieved this mark was Chris Parks (12 receptions, 126 yards), Ellis Debrow (10 receptions, 150 yards), and Chad Ridley (two receptions, 100 yards).  The offensive coordinator for Central Arkansas that night was  current DSU head coach Todd Cooley.

LAST CLEAN SHEET
The 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 SHUTOUT
It'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.

CENTER OF ATTENTION
Senior Colin Stubblefield is the center of attention early on for the Statesmen offensive line.  The New Albany, Mississippi, native has graded 86 percent or better with 24 knockdowns through three contests.  

Stubblefield graded 94 percent with 10 knockdowns in the DSU's 49-32 win over No. 13 Valdosta State (9/20) and 90 percent with three knockdowns in limited action during a 72-8 win over Central State (OH). He graded 86 percent with 11 knockdowns in the season opener, a 56-13 win against Ft. Valley State.

SET IT AT 60 & FORGET IT
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 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

STATESMEN STATS WATCH
 - D'juan Bellaire has outperformed his career marks set in 2013.  In just four games played in 2014, Bellaire has rushed for four scores and 211 yards while adding three receptions for 34 yards.  Bellaire has 460 career all-purpose yards and six touchdowns.
 - Cody Mills has seen his redshirt status removed and has been inserted into the Statesmen lineup as kickoff specialist.  Mills has kicked in the most recent two games; Mills has handled 21 kicks with an average of 57.7 yards\kick for 1,211 yards.
 - Timothy Foy has scored 72 career points with 12 touchdowns in 15 career games.  Foy has already matched his 2013 output with five scores on the ground in 2014.
 - Ricky Hunt is closing in on two career milestones.  Hunt has accumulated 298 punt return yards and has eclipsed 1,700 career all-purpose yards and now sits at 1,741 all-purpose yards.
 - Justin Leavy has found the end zone four times in 2014 in just four games.  Leavy played in just three games in 2013 with three receptions.  In 2014 he has hauled in 13 passes for 298 yards.
 - Eddie McCadney has rushed for 178 yards on 28 carries over four games, finding the end zone four times in 2014.
 - Vince Sciorrotta has scored 117 points in his career, having connected on 12 field goals and 81 extra points.  He now sits inside of the top-20 in school history scoring.  He is tied for fourth in school history in PAT's with Billy Dorgan.
 - Jarvis York has 487 career receiving yards, needing just 13 yards to eclipse 500.  York has 42 career receptions and a pair receiving scores.