GAME NOTES: Concordia (1-8) at No. 12 Delta State (7-1)
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CLEVELAND, Mississippi - The No. 12 Statesmen (7-1, 5-1 GSC) step out of conference play this Saturday, Nov. 8, as Delta State welcomes the Hornets (1-8) of Concordia College to Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday's matchup will be the second between the schools, with Delta State claiming a 77-0 victory on Nov. 13, 2013 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. DSU will host Senior Day festivities honoring its football, cheer and band seniors at 1:30 p.m.

Last season, the Statesmen eviscerated the Hornets 77-0, scoring the second most points in a game in the program's history. Delta State finished the game with 387 yards on 48 plays, including 196 yards rushing and 191 yards passing.  Concordia had 142 yards on 57 plays, including 127 through the air.  CC rushed for 17 yards on 29 carries.

 

STATESMEN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Date/Location:	Nov. 8, 2014 | Parker Field-McCool Stadium | Cleveland, Miss.
Kickoff Time:	2 p.m. CST
Radio:	Statesmen Sports Network | Matt Jones (PxP), Mark Williams (Color), Philip Tang (Sidelines)
Rankings:	Delta State: No. 12 - AFCA Top 25 | No. 13 - D2Football.com Top 25   Concordia: NR - AFCA Top 25 | NR - D2Football.com Top 25
Series History:	First Meeting; 2nd overall | Delta State leads 1-0   Last Meeting: DSU W, 77-0 | Nov. 13, 2013
Coaches:	Delta State: Todd Cooley (14-4, 2nd season)   Concordia: Sammy Conner (1-8, 1st season)
Live Audio:	Statesmen Sports Network (Click Here)
Live Stats:	Delta State Live Stats (Click Here)
Live Video:	GoStatesmen.com Web Stream (Click Here)

 
GREEN-&-WHITE SPOTLIGHTS
 - Delta State enters the week ranked No. 2 in the second installment of the NCAA Super Region II rankings. The Statesmen moved up one spot after beating previously undefeated North Alabama 33-28 last week. Lenoir-Rhyne (9-0) moved into the top spot in  the region with just two games remaining in the regular season.
 
- Eddie McCadney and D'Juan Bellaire rushed for two touchdowns each to lead No. 19 Delta State (7-1, 5-1 GSC) to a 33-28 victory over previously unbeaten No. 3 North Alabama (7-1, 4-1 GSC) at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. With the win, the Statesmen moved into first place in the Gulf South Conference race, with only one game remaining on the league schedule for DSU - Mississippi College on Nov. 15. The Statesmen accounted for 410 yards of offense, led by a pounding ground game that gained 169 yards rushing. DSU passed for 241 yards on the night, but did not throw a touchdown for the first time under head coach Todd Cooley.

 - 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 2,522 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. The Louisville, Mississippi, native has completed 212-of-333 passes, with 12 interceptions. The gunslinger is averaging 315.3 yards passing per game to lead DSU and the GSC. He currently ranks 10th nationally in passing and seventh in total offense (338.4) per game.
 
- 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).

 - Rory Island and 22 of his fellow seniors will be honored prior to kickoff Saturday, as DSU observes Senior Day. The Waveland, Mississippi native is a four-year letter winner, who has accounted for 178 tackles, 21.5 tackles-for-loss and 6.5 sacks in his decorated career. A two-time All-GSC selection at linebacker, Island has totaled 37 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks and an interception this season.

 - Against the Top 25: The Statesmen are 2-0 this season against ranked opponents after defeating No. 13 Valdosta State, 49-32, at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Sept. 20, and edging No. 3 North Alabama 33-28 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Nov. 1. Since Todd Cooley took over as head coach, the Statesmen are 5-1 against ranked opponents, with the with the lone loss coming at No. 12 West Alabama in 2013. 

 - Against Non-conference Opponents: Delta State is facing its seventh nonconference opponent under Todd Cooley on Saturday, as Concordia travels to Delta State. Cooley and the Statesmen have posted a 5-1 record against nonconference foes, including a 2-0 mark this season.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
28 - Delta State's offense ran for 22 touchdowns a year ago. After last week's four rushing touchdown performance in a 33-28 win over No. 3 North Alabama, the Statesmen have scored 28 times on the ground this season. Junior Eddie McCadney leads the team and the GSC with 10 rushing touchdowns.

85 - The Statesmen defensive front has set the tone this season, recording 85 tackles-for-loss to lead the GSC. Through eight games,  DSU ranks second nationally in tackles-for-loss and 13th in sacks. Led by sophomore linebacker Wilson Curtis's 13 tackles-for-loss, the Statesmen have already topped last year's totals for tackles-for-loss (80) and sacks (23).
 

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INSIDE THE SERIES: STATESMEN HOST HORNETS ON SENIOR DAY
Delta State welcomes Concordia College to Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 8 for Senior Day. The game marks the second meeting all-time between the Statesmen and Hornets. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., with Senior Day festivities starting at 1:30 p.m. In addition to honoring its 22 football seniors, DSU Athletics will recognize out-going members of the cheer squad and marching band.

Last season, the Statesmen eviscerated the Hornets 77-0, scoring the second most points in a game in the program's history. Delta State finished the game with 387 yards on 48 plays, including 196 yards rushing and 191 yards passing.  Concordia had 142 yards on 57 plays, including 127 through the air.  The Hornets rushed for a mere 17 yards on 29 carries.

Justin McArthur led the Statesmen on the ground with 77 yards on 11 carries, including a touchdown.  D'Juan Bellaire finished with 60 yards and two scores on six rushes, while Tim Foy had 36 yards.

The Statesmen did not attempt a pass in the second half.  

Defensively, the Statesmen were led by Kenny Barnes, who had six tackles and one tackle-for-loss.  Wilson Curtis, Joreco Beckwith and D'Kovan Ware had five stops each.  Marshall Burgin had two tackles, but picked off one pass and blocked in punt in his final game at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.          

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
The Statesmen are 2-0 this season against ranked opponents after defeating No. 13 Valdosta State, 49-32, at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Sept. 20, and edging No. 3 North Alabama 33-28 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Nov. 1. Since Todd Cooley took over as head coach, the Statesmen are 5-1 against ranked opponents, with the with the lone loss coming at No. 12 West Alabama in 2013.  

COOLEY VERSUS NONCONFERENCE OPPONENTS
The Statesmen are facing their seventh nonconference opponent under Todd Cooley on Saturday, as Concordia travels to Delta State. Cooley and the Statesmen have posted a 5-1 record against nonconference foes, including a 2-0 mark this season. DSU defeated Fort Valley State 56-13 in the season opener and smashed Central State 72-8 on Sept. 27.

Last season, DSU went 3-1 against non-GSC foes. The Statesmen downed Mississippi Valley State 27-14, No. 14 Tarleton State 38-36 and Concordia 77-0. Delta State's lone loss came against Texas A&M-Commerce, 45-37, in the Lone Star Conference Classic at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

The Statesmen are an unblemished 3-0 against out of conference opponents at Parker Field-McCool Stadium under Cooley.

TEMPO TEAM
The 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 45.5 points per game. In DSU's eight games this season, the Green-and-White are averaging 27:18 minutes of possession.

Delta State is 3-0 this season when leading the game in time of possession. The Statesmen downed Valdosta State 49-32 (31:49), Central State 72-8 (31:53), and North Alabama 33-28 (36:33).

DSU MOVES INTO FIRST AFTER 33-28 WIN OVER UNA
Eddie McCadney and D'Juan Bellaire rushed for two touchdowns apiece to lead No. 19 Delta State (7-1, 5-1 GSC) to a 33-28 victory over previously unbeaten No. 3 North Alabama (7-1, 4-1 GSC) at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.

With the win, the Statesmen moved into first place in the Gulf South Conference race, with only one game remaining on the league schedule for DSU - Mississippi College on Nov. 15.

The Statesmen accounted for 410 yards of offense, led by a pounding ground game that gained 169 yards rushing. DSU passed for 241 yards on the night, but did not throw a touchdown for the first time under head coach Todd Cooley.

Defensively, the Statesmen held the Lions to 344 yards on the night and a mere 55 yards rushing. UNA entered the game averaging 221.1 yards on the ground. DSU also stood tall on two key fourth down stops, including a 4th-and-1 at the UNA 13-yard line with 5:03 remaining in  the game.

STATESMEN MOVE TO NO. 2 IN SUPER REGION II
Coming off a thrilling 33-28 victory over the previously unbeaten Lions (7-1) of the University of North Alabama this past Saturday, the Statesmen (7-1) of Delta State University climbed one spot to No. 2 in the latest NCAA Region Two Poll, as released by the NCAA on Monday.

Lenoir-Rhyne (9-0) moved into the top spot after claiming a 35-32 win over Carson Newman while UNA slipped two spots to third. Tuskegee (7-1) remained fourth with Valdosta State rounding out the top five. The complete poll is listed below.

RANK/TEAM    IN-REGION    DII OVERALL
1.    Lenoir-Rhyne    8-0    9-0
2.    Delta State    7-1    7-1
3.    North Alabama    6-1    7-1
4.    Tuskegee    7-1    7-2
5.    Valdosta State    6-2    6-2
6.    West Georgia    7-2    7-2
7.    Albany State    6-2    6-2
8.    Carson-Newman    6-2    6-2
9.    Miles    6-2    6-3
10.    Florida Tech    4-2    6-3

McCADNEY LEADS GSC IN TOUCHDOWNS
Eddie McCadney, a junior running back from Cleveland, Mississippi, followed up his best performance of the season, a career-high 93 yards on 20 carries and three touchdowns in DSU's 45-24 win at West Alabama, with a two touchdown effort in the Statesmen's 33-28 victory over then-No. 3 North Alabama.

McCadney enters the weekend with a Gulf South Conference leading 10 touchdowns, while rushing for 358 yards on 74 carries.  

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF TEMPO
The Statesmen are known as an up-tempo, pass-happy team, but the last two weeks, Delta State has proved that it can ground and pound against the GSC's toughest rush defenses. In a 45-24 victory at West Alabama, DSU rumbled for 205 yards on 43 carries, led by Eddie McCadney's 93 yards and three touchdowns.

Last week in a 33-28 win over No. 3 North Alabama, the Statesmen rumbled for a game-high 169 yards on 54 carries. Tyler Sullivan led the way with 66 yards on 21 carries, while Eddie McCadney and D'Juan Bellaire scored two rushing touchdowns apiece.

Delta State held the ball for a season-high 36:33, scoring four rushing touchdowns for a second straight week - tying the most against a league opponent this year.

It was also the first game in coach Todd Cooley's career as a head coach that DSU won a game without throwing a touchdown pass.

SULLIVAN SEIZING OPPORTUNITY
Sophomore 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 2,522 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 4,286 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 in the 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 11-2 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 15 games, Sullivan has already eclipsed the 4,000 yard passing mark. The former Winston Academy standout has completed 343-of-534 passes for 4,286 yards, moving him into sixth place all-time at DSU, with 34 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. He is averaging 285.7 yards per game for his career.

Sullivan's total offense numbers have also been outstanding, amassing 4,614 yards, climbing to sixth on the career chart.

BIRDMAN STALKING THE RECORD BOOK
Junior Casey Osborne is putting together a remarkable junior campaign, leading the Statesmen with 62 receptions for 839 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 104.9 yards receiving and 7.8 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 two games 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. In DSU's 33-28 win versus No. 3 North Alabama, Osborne caught nine passes for 101 yards.

Osborne has caught 130 passes for 1,722 yards and 16 touchdowns in his 25-game career. He ranks eighth on the career grabs list with 130.   

SCORING IN BUNCHES
Delta State's offense is scoring in bunches this season, averaging 45.5 points per game to rank fourth in NCAA DII. The Statesmen have topped the 40-point plateau in five of their eight games so far this season.

DSU ranks 15th nationally in total offense at 491.8 yards per game, led by the league's top passing attack (333.5 ypg) and rank 10th in the NCAA. DSU has topped 50-plus points in three games this season, with a high of 72 against Central State on Sept. 27.

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.

DSU amassed 363 yards, including 205 rushing, en route to a dominating 45-24 win at West Alabama. Delta State followed that performance with 410 yards, including 169 rushing in a 33-28 win over then-No. 3 North Alabama.

The Statesmen currently rank fourth nationally and lead the GSC in scoring at 45.5 points per game, while posting the 18th best total offense in the country at 491.8 yards per game.

FINDING A SECOND GEAR
The Statesmen have been finding another gear in the second half through eight games. Last week, DSU held UNA to 194 yards, 11 rushing and 183 passing in the second half while totaling 203 yards on offense (90 rush/113 pass). Offensively, DSU is averaging 266 yards (96.7 rush/169.2 pass) in the second half as compared to 238.8 (71.1 rush/167.7 pass) in the first half.

Defensively, the Statesmen are allowing 160.8 yards per game (38.6 rush/122.2 pass) in the second half and 222 yards (78.6 rush/143.3 pass) in the first half.  The Statesmen have outscored opponents 111-21 in the third quarter, and 171-71 overall in the second half.    

The Statesmen have limited its last two opponents to 11 yards rushing and have given up less than 30 yards rushing in six-of-eight games this season.

DEFENSE CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
The Statesmen defense has set the offense up in great field position.  Delta State has scored 108 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.

Opponent    Points Off TO
@ Fort Valley State    14
@ Valdosta State    28
Central State    21
@ Florida Tech    21
Shorter    0
@ West Georgia    0
@ West Alabama    21
North Alabama    3

RED HOT RED ZONE
The Statesmen have scored on 38-of-48 trips into the red zone this season, for an 79 percent conversion rate. In fact, 33 of their 48 trips have resulted in a touchdown.

NASH LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Richard Nash, a junior from Macon, Georgia, 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. In DSU's 33-28 win over North Alabama, Nash made six stops and broke up a pass to help lead DSU to the win. Through eight games, Nash leads the team with 52 tackles and a career-high 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack to go along with an interception.

PUTTING OFFENSE IN REVERSE
Delta State's defensive unit enters the weekend ranked No. 2 nationally in tackles-for-loss with 10.6 per game. The Statesmen also rank 13th in the NCAA in sacks per game (3.5).

THIRD QUARTER MADNESS
Delta State has outscored the opposition 111-21 in the third quarter this year, and 171-71 overall in the second half. Of the 21 points surrendered in the third quarter, only seven have come on an offensive play.

STATESMEN D-LINE SETTING THE TONE
The Statesmen defensive front has set the tone this season, recording 85 tackles-for-loss to lead the GSC and 26 sacks. Through eight games,  DSU ranks second nationally in tackles-for-loss and 13th in sacks.

Led by sophomore linebacker Wilson Curtis's 13 tackles-for-loss, the Statesmen have already topped last year's totals for tackles-for-loss (80) and sacks (23).

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 27 tackles with three interceptions and four pass breakups on the season.
 
TULLO TURNING UP
Sophomore linebacker Landry Tullo continues to increase his production each week for the Statesman defense. The Hoover, Alabama, native had just two tackles in DSU's 33-28 win over North Alabama, but on a key 4th-and-1 play with 5:03 remaining in the contest, Tullo knifed through the offensive line to make the stop.  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 39 tackles, including 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks. In his 18 game career, Tullo has totaled 66 tackles, 13.5 tackles-for-loss and recorded 4.5 sacks.

RED ZONE & SCORING DEFENSE
The Statesmen defense has turned it up a notch this season, allowing 21.1 points per game. DSU, which ranks 49th in the NCAA in points allowed, has allowed the opposition to convert just 63 percent of its trips inside the red zone (17-of-27). In the 33-28 win over UNA, DSU allowed the Lions to convert on just one trip inside the red zone.

PROTECTING OUR HOUSE
Delta State will be playing its 225th home game on Saturday, Nov. 8 versus Concordia College at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Statesmen are 140-75-8 since opening the Statesmen in 1970. DSU, which played several seasons at Delta Field located where Wyatt Hall now stands, is 252-125-15 all-time at home.

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.

ROAD WARRIORS
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 traveled 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 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.