GAME NOTES: No. 14 Delta State (1-0, 0-0 GSC) at No. 13 Valdosta State (2-0, 0-0 GSC)
Weekly release with notes, rankings, stats and more in PDF
 

CLEVELAND, Mississippi - The No. 14 ranked Statesmen (1-0, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University open Gulf South Conference play this Saturday, Sept. 20 at No. 13 ranked Blazers (2-0, 0-0 GSC) of Valdosta State University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. EST at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium and the game will be televised on ESPN3 in the Florida Space Coast GSC-TV Live Game of the Week.

Both teams enter the contest undefeated and ranked in the nation's top 25. VSU downed previously No. 12 ranked Winston Salem State 22-17 last week, while the Statesmen enjoyed a bye week after defeating Fort Valley State 56-13 in the season opener.

Delta State and Valdosta State are meeting for the 34th time in series history with the Statesmen leading the standings 19-13-1. DSU is 9-5 on the road in Valdosta, Georgia, and 21-21-1 all-time in GSC openers. The Statesmen claimed a thrilling 63-55 victory over the Blazers in last year's meeting at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.
 

STATESMEN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Date/Location:	Sept. 20, 2014 | Bazemore-Hyder Stadium | Valdosta, Ga.
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. 14 - AFCA Top 25 | No. 21 – D2Football.com Top 25 Valdosta State: No. 13 - AFCA Top 25 | No. 23 – D2Football.com Top 25
Series History:	34th Meeting; DSU leads series 19-13-1 | DSU 9-5 at VSU Last Meeting: Nov. 2, 2013 – DSU 63 vs. VSU 55
Coaches:	Delta State: Todd Cooley (8-3, 2nd season) Valdosta State: David Dean (62-21, 8th season)
Live Audio:	Statesmen Sports Network (Click Here)
Live Stats:?	VSU Live Stats (Click Here)
Live Video:	ESPN3 (Click Here)

GREEN-&-WHITE SPOTLIGHTS
Behind Casey Osborne's 113 receiving yards and three touchdowns, Delta State rolled up 484 yards of total offense en route to a commanding 56-13 victory at Fort Valley State in the season opener for both schools. Sophomore quarterback Tyler Sullivan completed 22-of-31 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for another score.

Sophomore linebacker Landry Tullo recorded a career-high seven tackles to spear head Delta State's defensive effort against Fort Valley State. The Hoover, Alabama native also tallied a tackle-for-loss and forced a fumble that led to a Statesman score. Junior defensive end Randall Boyd, a transfer from Itawamba CC, made an immediate impact for the Statesmen versus the Wildcats, recording five tackles, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack.

Delta State is playing in its 44th Gulf South Conference opener Saturday at Valdosta State. The Statesmen are 21-21-1 overall, including an 8-11-1 mark on the road, to start league action since joining the GSC in 1971. DSU is 1-2 versus VSU to open GSC play.

The Statesmen are playing their second straight opponent from the state of Georgia this week at Valdosta State. DSU is 39-23-1 all-time versus the "Peach" state. Delta State crushed FVSU in the season opener 56-13, and will face the University of West Georgia on Oct. 18.

After finishing last year 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the Gulf South Conference, the Delta State University Statesmen were picked to finish second in the annual Preseason GSC Football Coaches' Poll, as released by the league office. DSU also placed a total of seven student-athletes on the Preseason All-GSC Team and four were named to league's Top Newcomers List.

Redshirt sophomore Tyler Sullivan enters the fall as a Harlon Hill Trophy hopeful after an outstanding freshman season. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound signal caller was named the GSC's Offensive Freshman of the Year after completing 130-of-201 passes for 1,764 yards, with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Ricky Hunt, a senior wide receiver from Sardis, Mississippi, was named one of eight finalists for the C-Spire Conerly Award last year. While the 5-foot-9, 175-pound speedster didn't take home the hardware, he's poised to use it as motivation this year. Last season, the East Central Community College transfer led the Statesmen and the GSC in receptions per game (6.8) after grabbing 68 passes for 840 yards and seven scores. Hunt averaged 84.0 yards per game receiving and 12.4 yards per catch.

Senior middle linebacker Rory Island, a native of Waveland, Mississippi, has played in 26 consecutive games and 34 overall for the Statesmen in his career. During that time, Island has totaled 144 tackles, 14.0 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 sacks. As a junior last season, Island led the Statesmen with 76 tackles, 7.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks en route to being named First Team All-Gulf South Conference.

STATESMEN & BLAZERS TO MEET FOR 34th TIME
One of the GSC's most exciting rivalries renews Saturday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium as No. 13 Valdosta State welcomes No. 14 Delta State to south Georgia. The game marks the 34th meeting all-time between the schools with DSU holding a 19-13-1 lead in the series standings, including a 9-5 mark in Valdosta, Georgia.

The Statesmen have won seven of the last eight matchups, but the Blazers defeated DSU 59-41 in the last game at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Oct. 20, 2012.

DSU and VSU have provided Gulf South Conference fans with many heart-stopping finishes, including a 63-55 instant classic last year at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. With the two teams combining for 55 points in the fourth quarter, the Statesmen had to outlast a furious second-half comeback by the Blazers.

Delta State recorded 662 yards of offense on the evening, led by Tyler Sullivan's school-record 583 yards of total offense. The Louisville, Miss., native completed 34-of-48 passes for 520 yards, including four touchdowns and three interceptions. The former Northwest Mississippi CC transfer also rushed for 63 yards on 18 carries with two touchdowns.

Sullivan's yards shattered the previous school mark of 508 yards set by Scott Eyster on Oct. 4, 2004 at Valdosta State.

STATESMEN IN GSC OPENERS
Delta State is playing in its 44th Gulf South Conference opener Saturday at Valdosta State. The Statesmen are 21-21-1 overall, including an 8-11-1 mark on the road, to start league action since joining the GSC in 1971. DSU is 1-2 versus VSU to open GSC play. In Todd Cooley's GSC debut last season, the Statesmen claimed a thrilling 37-34 victory at North Alabama on Vince Sciorrotta's game-winning 37-yard field goal.

DELTA STATE THROTTLES WILDCATS 56-13 IN OPENER
The Statesmen rolled up 484 yards of total offense and scored 56 straight points to claim a commanding 56-13 victory over Fort Valley State in the season opener for both schools on Saturday, Sept. 6 at Wildcats Stadium.

Sullivan ended the day 25-of-33 for 258 yards and three scores, Champion went 5-of-8 for 78 yards and a touchdown. Osborne hauled in 12 receptions for 113 yards and three touchdowns with Jarvis York adding five receptions for 51 yards.

Ladarrell Hunt paced the ground game with 54 yards on eight carries while Eddie McCadney rushed for 52 yards.

Jon Knox racked up eight tackles to pace the defense, with Landry Tullo, who had two tackles-for-loss, collected seven tackles and Artavius Morgan finishing with six. Lawrence Hopkins picked off one pass in his DSU debut and returned it 22-yards to set up a Delta State scoring drive in the first half.

STATESMEN PICKED SECOND IN GSC PRESEASON POLL
After finishing last year 7-3 overall and 4-2 in the Gulf South Conference, Delta State was picked to finish second in the annual Preseason GSC Football Coaches' Poll, as released by the league office. DSU also placed a total of seven student-athletes on the Preseason All-GSC Team and four were named to league's Top Newcomers List.

UNA enters the year as the favorite for the first time in four years, compiling 35 total points led by five first-place votes.? In 2013, Delta State recorded its highest finish since 2010, taking second-place via 30 points behind the final two first-place nods.

Valdosta State and West Alabama followed in third (26) and fourth place (21), respectively.? Fifth-place West Georgia tallied 17 points, followed by Florida Tech (12) and Shorter (six), which enters the 2014 campaign as an official GSC member after two years as a provisional member.

Ricky Hunt (WR), Casey Osborne (WR), Cortez Hibbler (OL), Rory Island (MLB), Diego Lubin (DE), Frankie Lee (CB) and Artavius Morgan (OLB) were all named to the Preseason All-GSC Team.

GSC & ESPN REACH EXCLUSIVE DEAL
The Gulf South Conference's television package has a new home for 2014 after the league officially announced an exclusive agreement with ESPN to broadcast its GSC-TV content. The agreement marks the fourth consecutive year that the GSC and ESPN have collaborated to bring GSC-TV to fans around the globe.? ESPN3 and live access on WatchESPN will host every contest with no market protections.

Delta State will appear on the league's menu three times this season. All three dates are listed below.

WE ARE A FAMILY, NOT A FOOTBALL TEAM
The Delta State University football program is built on a simple principle, blood is thicker than water and family comes first. Our family is bigger than the coaches and players on the field, it stretches into the people in the picnic area, grand stands and homes around Delta State. Family protects family, and family always stands together.

SULLIVAN SHINES AT FVSU; READY TO BUILD OFF 2013
Redshirt sophomore Tyler Sullivan shined in the 56-13 season-opening victory at Fort Valley State, completing 23-of-31 passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 20 yards and a score.

Sullivan entered the fall as Delta State's starting quarterback after an outstanding freshman season. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound signal caller was named the GSC's Offensive Freshman of the Year after completing 130-of-201 passes for 1,764 yards with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Sullivan, a native of Louisville, Mississippi, also earned a spot on the All-GSC Second Team after remarkable performances that included; a 422-yard four-touchdown show against Tarleton State University in his first start, along with his six total touchdowns and single-game school record 583 total yards of offense versus Valdosta State University.

WILLIAMS' WAY
Offensive coordinator Joel Williams 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.

SET IT AT 60 & FORGET IT
Delta State is 16-0 all-time when scoring 60-plus points in a game.
In fact, the Statesmen have scored 50-plus points in a game 36 times in school history and most recently in DSU's 56-13 dismantling of Fort Valley State in the season opener at Wildats Stadium in Fort Valley, Georgia.

Delta State is also 34-2 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.

AERIAL ATTACK PROVED LETHAL AT FVSU
The Statesman receiving corps proved to be lethal in the 56-13 win last Saturday at Fort Valley State. Nine separate receivers hauled in receptions, led by Casey Osborne's 12 grab, 113 yard performance. Osborne's three scores tied a career high.

Jarvis York caught five balls for 51 yards, and Justin Leavy grabbed three passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.

WHERE'S THE BEEF?
Delta State's offensive line turned in a quality performance against a solid defensive front at Fort Valley State. Led by senior center Collin Stubblefield's 11 knockdown blocks, the Statesmen recorded 28 total devastation blocks on the day. He also graded at 86 percent.

Mose Countryman recorded the highest grade on the day at left tackle at 96 percent. Countryman was followed by left guard Jordan Martin (95%), right guard Michael Gibbs (88%/7 KD) and Cor'Tez Hibbler (88%).

ONE MAN ISLAND
Senior linebacker Rory Island, a native of Waveland, Miss., has 144 career tackles over 34 career games placing him five away from 150 for his career.? Island is a two-time All-Gulf South Conference First Team selection, also earning 2014 preseason All-GSC honors.? In 2013 he tallied a career-high 76 stops with 7.5 behind the line of scrimmage, along with three sacks.

BIRDMAN TAKES FLIGHT
Casey Osborne has totaled 80 receptions in 19 career games at Delta State. The Flowery Branch, Georgia native has found the end zone 11 times while covering 996 yards - four away from 1,000 yards receiving.? As a sophomore in 2013, he hauled in 64 receptions for 836 yards and eight scores, including four games where he eclipsed 100 yards receiving.? Osborne is a 2014 preseason All-GSC selection after earning 2013 All-GSC Second Team honors.

Osborne is riding a streak of three games surpassing 100 yards receiving, with the final two games of the 2013 season and the 2014 season opener at Fort Valley State , and has a total of five games over 100 receiving yards in his career which includes four on the road - all within the last 11 games played.

FOY SCORES TWO
A year after scoring five touchdowns in 10 games for the Statesmen in 2013, redshirt sophomore Timothy Foy found the endzone twice in DSU's 56-13 victory at Fort Valley State. The Hueytown, Alabama native rushed for just 17 yards.

LADARRELL HUNT A DUAL THREAT
It's hard to pinpoint how junior Ladarrell Hunt will impact a game for the Statesmen, but one thing is for certain, opposing defensive coordinators will have their hands full game planning for him this season. The Itawamba CC transfer had a team high 54 yards rushing on seven carries and caught two passes for 25 yards in the 56-13 victory at FVSU.

TULLO LEADS DEFENSIVE ATTACK AT FVSU
Landry Tullo recorded a career-high seven tackles to spear head Delta State's defensive effort against Fort Valley State. The Hoover, Alabama native also tallied a tackle-for-loss and forced a fumble that led to a Statesman score.

BOYD BREAKS OUT
Junior defensive end Randall Boyd made an immediate impact for the Statesmen versus the Wildcats in DSU's 56-13 victory. The Itawamba CC transfer recorded five tackles, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack.

KNOX RETURNS TO FORM
Former University of Georgia transfer Jon Knox made the most of his return to south Georgia, tying for the team lead with seven tackles in DSU's throttling of FVSU. Knox has been away from the game for four seasons and returned to the form that made him one of the nation's most sought after athletes out of Statesboro High School.

LOCKDOWN CORNER
Senior corner Frankie Lee proved to be one of the GSC's top defensive backs a year ago. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound speedster led the Statesmen and was tied for the league lead with four interceptions, including a school-record tying three pickoffs at West Georgia on Nov. 14 in Carrollton.The Charleston native finished 2013 with 33 tackles, including 25 solo tackles and 2.0 tackles-for-loss.

NASH'S NEIGHBORHOOD
Despite being hampered for part of the season, safety Richard Nash turned in All-GSC First Team numbers in 2013 thanks to his heads up play. The 5-foot-9 speedster recorded 54 tackles, including 33 solo stops, and 2.0 tackles-for-loss. The Macon, Georgia native collected one interception and six passes defended a year ago.

BALL HAWKS
The Statesmen secondary finished second in the Gulf South Conference last season with 15 interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. Frankie Lee tied the DSU single game record with three picks at West Georgia and led the team and was tied for the team lead with four overall.

PUTTING THE OPPOSITION IN REVERSE
Delta State's defense zeroed in on the quarterback for 23 sacks last season for 153 total yards lost for the opposition. The Statesmen ranked second in the league in sacks and totaled a whopping 80 tackles-for-loss accounting for 308 lost yards.

SCIORROTTA'S SHOE
A year removed from nailing 10-of-17 field goal attempts and 50-of-51 extra points, sophomore kicker Vince Sciorrotta is ready to improve on a tremendous freshman campaign. His 80 points scored last year were the most ever by a Statesman freshman. The 5-foot-8 left-footed kicker went 8-for-8 on extra points at FVSU to move into the top 10 with 58 career PATs at DSU.

BSN NAMES EIGHT TO PRESEASON ALL-GSC SQUAD
The Statesmen placed eight student-athletes on the Beyond Sports Network Preseason All-Gulf South Conference Team. Led by Tyler Sullivan, who was named GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year, the Statesmen placed Ricky Hunt (WR), Casey Osborne (WR), Diego Lubin (DE), Rory Island (LB), Richard Nash (S), Frankie Lee (CB) and Vince Sciorrotta (PK) on the squad.

USA COLLEGE FOOTBAL NAMES FIVE STATESMEN TO WATCH LIST
USA College Football has awarded five Statesmen All-American honors as part of their pre-season release.? Delta State has three members on the First Team, with a duo recognized as Third Team. Ricky Hunt (WR), Diego Lubin (DL), and Rory Island (LB) were each selected as First Team All-Americans.? Tyler Sullivan (QB) and Richard Nash (DB) were chosen as Third Team All-Americans.

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.

DELTA STATE & UNDER ARMOUR STRIKE APPAREL DEAL
The 2014 college football season will usher in a new apparel provider for the Statesmen, as Delta State University and Under Armour signed an agreement in July. As a part of the three-year agreement, Under Armour/BSN Sports will provide apparel, footwear and equipment for training and game-day uniforms for DSU Athletics' 13 intercollegiate athletic sports teams.

CHADWICK'S VAUNTED 1954 DEFENSE
Coach Gene Chadwick's 1954 undefeated Statesmen squad still holds the school record for the fewest points allowed in a season. DSU went 8-0 that year, scoring 261 points and allowing a meager 36.

NEW ERA AT PARKER-McCOOL
Delta State University officially began a new era at Parker Field-McCool Stadium, as director of athletics Ronnie Mayers and head football coach Todd Cooley cut the ribbon on the recently installed synthetic turf on Monday, Aug. 11. President Bill LaForge addressed the crowd of fans, alumni and community leaders prior to Cooley clipping the ribbon.

Completed in just 39 days, the new turf at Parker Field-McCool Stadium was installed by Geo Surfaces, Inc., of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Delta State is the fifth school in the Gulf South Conference to make the switch to a synthetic playing surface and the first collegiate client for Geo-Surfaces, Inc., in Mississippi. The project features Geo-Surfaces' latest synthetic surface with six-foot wide sidewalks surrounding Parker Field. A 45' x 90' synthetic field for pregame stretching and practice is also a part of the design.

A feature that fans will not see is Mississippi's first patented GeoFlo shock pad and drainage system. The system is design to help curtail injuries sustained from contact with the field while helping to assist drainage. The system will be the same one used by the National Football League's Pro Bowl, NFL Challenge Field and Louisiana State University's football practice field.

DSU's Parker Field-McCool Stadium will feature a new picnic area located in the north end zone, new visitors side concession stand and restrooms, new men's and women's soccer locker rooms and renovated concession stands when the Statesmen open the home portion of their schedule on Saturday, Sept. 27 for Pig Pickin' versus Central State (Ohio).

GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE LEGACY
The Statesmen hold a key part in the formation of the Gulf South Conference. Following the 1972 season, Delta State University alongside the University of North Alabama and University of West Alabama helped create one of NCAA Division II's most successful conferences. Prior to joining the GSC, Delta State had been a member of several conferences, but never for long periods of time.

BRINGING BACK THE BELL
Delta State and Mississippi College will renew one of the state's great gridiron rivalries this season on Nov. 15, 2014 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium, as the two schools once again battle for the "Heritage Bell."The Statesmen defeated the Choctaws 14-0 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Nov. 11, 1995 in the last meeting between the schools. DSU is 17-15-2 all-time against MC and currently holds a two game winning streak in the series.