GAME NOTES: No. 11 Delta State (3-0, 1-0 GSC) at Florida Tech (3-1, 0-0 GSC)
Weekly release with notes, rankings, stats and more in PDF
 

CLEVELAND, Mississippi - The No. 11 ranked Statesmen (3-0, 1-0 GSC) of Delta State University will travel 1,726 miles this Thursday, Oct. 2 to face the Panthers (3-1, 0-0 GSC) of the Florida Institute of Technology in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week, presented by Florida's Space Coast. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. EST at Pirates Stadium and the game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network. Delta State and Florida Tech will be meeting for the second time in series history, as the Statesmen travel to Melbourne, Florida. In the first matchup between the South Region foes, the Statesmen defeated the Panthers 52-31 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28 in last year's Pig Pickin' Classic.

The league's top two passing quarterbacks statistically face off this week. DSU's Tyler Sullivan enters the game leading the GSC with 320.0 yards passing per game, while FIT's Mark Cato averages 244.0 per start. Sullivan has completed 79-of-114 passes for 960 yards and eight touchdowns, while Cato, who has played in one more game this season than Sullivan, is 62-of-111 for 976 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Thursday's game will be just the 10th against a team from Florida. The Statesmen are 4-5 all-time against the Sunshine state. DSU has faced Florida Tech (1-0), Florida State (0-1), and Tampa (3-4) from the state that gives us our orange juice.

STATESMEN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Date/Location:	Oct. 2, 2014 | Pirates Stadium | Melbourne, Florida
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. 13 - D2Football.com Top 25 Florida Tech: RV - AFCA Top 25 | NR - D2Football.com Top 25
Series History:	2nd Meeting; DSU leads series 1-0 Last Meeting: Sept. 28, 2013 - DSU 52 vs. FIT 31 | Parker Field-McCool Stadium
Coaches:	Delta State: Todd Cooley (10-3, 2nd season) Florida Tech: Steve Englehart (8-8, 2nd season)
Live Audio:	Statesmen Sports Network (Click Here)
Live Stats:	FIT Live Stats (Click Here)
Live Video:	ESPN3 (Click Here)

GREEN-&-WHITE SPOTLIGHTS
Delta State wasted little time putting away Central State last Saturday, claiming a 72-8 victory at Parker Field-McCool Stadium for the 250th home victory in program history. The Statesmen dominated the line of scrimmage, rushing for 270 yards and passing for 272 in the in-region victory. The Statesmen ground game led the point of attack, as five different Statesmen ran for touchdowns. Led by Eddie McCadney's career-high 86 yards and two scores. DSU rushed 55 times for a season-high 270 yards, while Tyler Sullivan completed 15-of-19 for 240 yards and two touchdowns.

Sophomore quarterback Tyler Sullivan continues to lead the GSC in passing at 320.0 yards per game. The 6-foot-3 gunslinger has completed 79-of-114 passes for 960 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions through three games. After passing for 240 yards and a pair of touchdowns versus Central State, Sullivan cracked into the career record book for passing yards at No. 10 with 2,742. His 2,920 total offense yards rank 14th on the career list as well.

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 37 times in school history and most recently in DSU's 72-8 dismantling of Central State in last week's 29th Pig Pickin' Classic at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.

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. Florida Tech is currently receiving votes in the AFCA Top 25 poll. 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 27:51 per game.

Up Next: Delta State will be playing its 223rd home game next Thursday, Oct. 9 versus Shorter at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.

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STATESMEN AND PANTHERS SET FOR GSC SHOWDOWN
Delta State and Florida Tech will be meeting for the second time in series history, as the Statesmen travel to Melbourne, Florida, Thursday, Oct. 2 for the Gulf South Conference-TV Live Game of the Week. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. EST at Palm Bay High School's Pirate Stadium. In the first meeting between the South Region foes, the Statesmen defeated the Panthers 52-31 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 28 in last year's Pig Pickin' Classic.

Both teams enter this year's clash with high expectations and improved squads. FIT (3-1, 0-0 GSC) will be playing its first contest against a GSC opponent. The Panthers defeated Stetson (FCS) 54-12 in the season-opener and followed that victory up with back-to-back wins over Ave Maria 42-6 and then-No. 14 Tarleton State 37-31 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. FIT suffered its first loss of the season last Saturday, as Bethune-Cookman (FCS) edged the Panthers 34-33 in Daytona Beach, Florida.

FIT's next three games are all against ranked GSC opponents. Following Thursday's matchup with the Statesmen, the Panthers visit No. 17 West Alabama before hosting No. 6 North Alabama.

The league's top two passing quarterbacks statistically face off in the second meeting between the schools. DSU's Tyler Sullivan enters the game leading the GSC with 320.0 yards passing per game, while FIT's Mark Cato averages 244. Sullivan has completed 79-of-114 passes for 960 yards and eight touchdowns, while Cato, who has played in one more game this season than Sullivan, is 62-of-111 for 976 yards and 13 touchdowns.

DELTA STATE VERSUS FLORIDA SCHOOLS
Thursday's game will be just the 10th against a team from Florida. The Statesmen are 4-5 all-time against the Sunshine state. DSU has faced Florida Tech (1-0), Florida State (0-1), and Tampa (3-4) from the state that gives us our orange juice.

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
West Georgia Carrollton, Ga. 748
West Alabama Livingston, Ala. 504

STATESMEN LOCKDOWN MARAUDERS FOR 250th HOME VICTORY
Delta State wasted little time putting away Central State last Saturday, claiming a 72-8 victory at Parker Field-McCool Stadium for the 250th home victory in program history. The Statesmen dominated the line of scrimmage, rushing for 270 yards and passing for 272 in the in-region victory. The Statesmen ground game led the point of attack, as five different Statesmen ran for touchdowns. Led by Eddie McCadney's career-high 86 yards and two scores, DSU rushed 55 times for a season-high 270 yards. D'Juan Bellaire had 69 yards and a score as well.

Tyler Sullivan completed 15-of-19 passes for 240 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but only played two-and-a-half quarters against the Marauders. Nine Statesmen caught passes in the victory, led by Patrick Bethley's four receptions for 90 yards. Casey Osborne, who did not play in the second half, grabbed four passes for 76 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, the Statesmen held CSU to just 50 yards rushing on 34 attempts; the third straight opponent to fail to reach 100 in a game. Junior safety Jon Knox led the Statesmen with eight tackles, followed by Lawrence Hopkins with seven and true freshman Trey Shaw, who saw his first action of the season, with six.

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, No. 22 West Alabama, and No. 24 West Georgia before the end of the year. Florida Tech is currently receiving votes in the AFCA Top 25 poll.

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

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE FOR HOWARD
Junior corner Jordan Howard blocked his second PAT of the season in DSU's 72-8 win over Central State. The Pensacola, Florida, native blocked John Adams' second quarter attempt off the right edge after sprinting past the wedge. Howard did the same thing a week earlier, blocking Anthony Pistelli's attempt in DSU's 49-32 win at Valdosta State.

Howard also made a mark in the return game, taking Adams' fourth quarter punt back 46 yards for a touchdown, his first as a Statesman. Against FVSU, Howard had a 40-yard return negated by a penalty. He is averaging 13.0 per punt return and ranks third in the GSC.

CLEVELAND DUO SHINES IN CSU WIN
With Delta State featuring a stable of running backs, that depth was evident in Saturday's 72-8 win over Central State. Eddie McCadney, a junior transfer from Mississippi Delta CC, led the Statesmen with 86 yards rushing on 11 carries. The 5-for-11, 225-pound former Cleveland High School standout also found the endzone twice, including a 21-yard dagger that helped put the game out of reach.

Another local redshirt freshman Trace Bray also turned in a career night, totaling 49 yards on 12 carries. Bray, who missed all of last season due to injury, capped off the night's scoring with an 8-yard score in the fourth quarter.

STATESMEN OFFENSE CLICKING TO START SEASON
Delta State's offense is clicking on all cylinders three weeks into the season, averaging a NCAA DII best 59.0 points and a Gulf South Conference leading 549.3 yards per game. The Statesmen also rank first in the GSC and rank second in NCAA DII in passing, averaging 358.0 yards per game.

The Statesmen also appear throughout the NCAA DII individual rankings. Tyler Sullivan's 320.0 yards passing and Casey Osborne's 8.3 receptions per game are both tied for eighth.

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.

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.

The Statesmen currently lead the GSC in total offense (549.3) and scoring at 59.0 points per game.

SULLIVAN TOPS GSC IN PASSING
Sophomore quarterback Tyler Sullivan continues to lead the GSC in passing at 320.0 yards per game. The 6-foot-3 gunslinger has completed 79-of-114 passes for 960 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions through three games.

After passing for 240 yards and a pair of touchdowns versus Central State, Sullivan cracked into the career record book for passing yards at No. 10 with 2,742. His 2,920 total offense yards rank 14th on the career list as well.

PUTTING THE OPPOSITION IN REVERSE
Delta State's defense has picked up the pressure on opposing quarterbacks, totaling 25.0 tackles-for-loss (-99 yards) and 7.0 sacks (-42 yards) through just three games. in 2013, DSU zeroed in on the quarterback for 23 sacks for 153 total yards lost. The Statesmen ranked second in the league in sacks and totaled a whopping 80 tackles-for-loss accounting for 308 lost yards.

DSU racked up 8.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks in the 72-8 win over Central State. Rory Island recorded three tackles, 1.5 went for a loss with a sack that day.

KNOX LEADING BY EXAMPLE
Junior strong safety Jon Knox leads the defense in tackles this season, and has recorded the team-high in all three games played this season. The University of Georgia transfer, Knox has 22 tackles recorded this season. The safety also has a fumble forced and one recovered. Leading the secondary in the home opener Knox finished with a career-high eight tackles.

RISING STARS: HOPKINS & TILLMAN
Two rising stars are featured in the five-man secondary. Lawrence Hopkins, a junior from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, recorded an interception in the season-opener at Fort Valley State. Hopkins sits second on the team in tackles, 14, has recorded a stop behind the line of scrimmage and has forced one fumble. Hopkins set his career-mark in single game tackles with seven stops against Central State University.

Cedrick Tillman, is part of a three-way tie for third on the team in tackles with 13, including a pair for loss. Tillman moves from cornerback to rover and has used his versatility to lead the defense with three pass break-ups.

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.

ISLAND JOINS 150 CLUB
Senior linebacker Rory Island has now recorded his 150th career tackles versus Central State on Sept. 27 in 36 career games for Delta State. Island is a back-to-back selection as All-GSC First Team linebacker and 2014 Preseason All-GSC Team. Over his four year career, Island has 150 tackles with 16.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.
74 after DSU's 72-8 win over Central State.

SCIORROTTA SETS CAREER LONG
Vince Sciorrotta connected on a career-long 47-yard field goal in the third quarter versus Central State. The kick set a new career-long for the Cumming, Georgia sophomore, eclipsing his prior best by 11 yards (36 yards on Sept. 13, 2013 versus Texas-A&M Commerce). Sciorrotta's home best at Parker Field - McCool Stadium was a 33-yard game-winning field goal against Tarleton State on Oct. 19, 2013 with seven seconds to play, 38-36.

This season, Sciorrotta has connected on 1-of-3 FG attempts and 24-of-25 PAT attempts for 27 points through three games.

STATESMEN CAREER TRACKER:
- Patrick Bethley needs 74 yards to crack 1,000 receiving yards for his career.
- Tim Foy scored his 10th career TD versus Central State
- Diego Lubin enters the weekend with 25.0 career tackles-for- loss and 9.5 sacks
- Ricky Hunt has topped the 1,500 all-purpose yard plateau with 1,587. Hunt has 910 yards receiving, 298 on punt returns and 379 off kick returns.
- Vince Sciorrotta moved into fifth place on the career PAT's list with 74 after DSU's 72-8 win over Central State."

SULLIVAN SETS COMPLETIONS RECORD AT VSU
Tyler Sullivan's 41 completions against the vaunted Valdosta State defense established a new Delta State single-game record, breaking the previous mark of 40 held by Travis Champion, who set the mark at North Alabama last season.

The Louisville, Mississippi native completed 41-of-64 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns in DSU's victory.

PRIME TIME
Delta State will be playing its 27th game all-time on television Thursday at Florida Tech. The Statesmen are 18-8 under the spotlight and 3-0 under coach Todd Cooley on the big stage.

TEMPO TEAM
The Statesmen are certainly an uptempo offensive unit, ranking dead last in the GSC in time of possession. In DSU's three games this season, the Green-and-White are averaging 27:51.

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) on Saturday. He graded 86 percent with 11 knockdowns in the season opener, a 56-13 win against Ft. Valley State.

SMITHSON MAKES FIRST START
Redshirt sophomore Jesse Smithson made his first start at right tackle for the Statesmen against the Marauders of Central State. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound Springhill, Tennessee, native graded out at 88 percent with eight knockdown blocks in Delta State's 72-8 victory.

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 37 times in school history and most recently in DSU's 72-8 dismantling of Central State in last week's 29th Pig Pickin' Classic at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.

Delta State is also 35-2 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

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.