GAME NOTES: Albany State (1-2) at No. 5 Delta State (3-0)
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CLEVELAND, Mississippi - No. 5/6 Delta State (3-0, 0-0 GSC) welcomes in-region rival Albany State University (1-2, 1-1 SIAC) to Parker Field-McCool Stadium for the first time in regular season series history. The Statesmen and Golden Rams are set for a 2 p.m. kickoff. Matt Jones, Mark Williams, Lane Quinton and Philip Tang will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network at 1 p.m. with Statesman Game Day Live.
 

STATESMEN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Date/Location:	Sept. 26, 2015 | Parker Field-McCool Stadium | Cleveland, Miss.
Kickoff Time:	2 p.m. CST
Radio:	Statesmen Sports Network | Matt Jones (PxP), Mark Williams (Color), Philip Tang (Producer/Host), and Lane Quinton (Sidelines)
Rankings:	Delta State: No. 5 - AFCA | No. 6 - D2Football.com Albany State: NR - AFCA | NR - D2Football.com
Series History:	Second Meeting | DSU leads series 1-0 Last Meeting: W, 28-7 - Dec. 4, 2010 (NCAA Qtrs)
Coaches:	Delta State: Todd Cooley (19-5, 3rd season) Albany State: Dan Land (1-2, 1st season)
Live Audio:	Statesmen Sports Network (Click Here)
Live Stats:	DSU Live Stats (Click Here)
Live Video:	DSU Web Stream (Click Here)

INSIDE THE SERIES: While the Statesmen and Golden Rams will meet for the second time on the gridiron Saturday, Sept. 26, it's the first time the two schools have met in the regular season. In the first meeting between the Super Region II powers, the Statesmen defeated ASU 28-7 in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Dec. 4, 2010 at The Coliseum in Albany, Georgia. DSU finished the day with 348 yards of total offense on 66 plays, including 156 yards rushing. The Statesmen held the ASU "Gold Rush" offense to 307 yards on the day, while shutting down its power run game to the tune of 104 yards on 33 carries.

LAST TIME OUT: Delta State University held Kentucky Wesleyan to just 194 total yards in a 51-18 victory on Pig Pickin', Saturday night at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Statesmen forced five turnovers, including a season-high four interceptions in the victory. KWC managed to rush for a mere eight yards on 33 carries, while passing for 186 yards on 18 completions. Junior running back D'Juan Bellaire rushed for a career-high three touchdowns to pace the Statesmen.

PACING THE GSC: Delta State enters Saturday's contest with Albany State leading the Gulf South Conference in scoring at 50.0 points per game. Led by Tyler Sullivan's 340.3 yards per contest, the Statesmen also lead the league in passing (379.7 ypg). DSU also tops the league's charts for interceptions (8) and sacks (8.0).

PULLING THEM DOWN: With four receivers ranked in the GSC's top 10, DSU's passing offense has been nearly unstoppable this season. Jarvis York and Justin Leavy rank No. 2 and No. 3 respectively in receptions entering the weekend, while Patrick Bethley sits at No. 6 and Darius Powell at No. 8.     

AGAINST NONCONFERENCE FOES: The Statesmen face their 11th nonconference opponent under Todd Cooley, as Delta State welcomes Albany State to Parker-McCool. Cooley and the Statesmen have posted a 9-1 record against nonconference foes, including a 51-44 win at Texas A&M-Commerce and a 51-18 thumping of Kentucky Wesleyan last week. Cooley's lone nonconference loss came at the hands of TAMUC, 45-37, at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas on Sept. 13, 2013. Delta State is an unblemished 6-0 against out of conference opponents at Parker Field-McCool Stadium under Cooley.

BECKWITH PACES BALL HAWKS: Junior safety Joreco Beckwith has shown early on this season why many in the GSC consider him one of the best defensive backs in the league. The Winnsboro, Louisiana native is pacing the Statesmen with 17 tackles and leads the GSC in interceptions with three.   

GSC PREDICTIONS: Delta State was picked to finish second in the annual Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll behind league favorite West Georgia. UWG is the first team other than Delta State, North Alabama and Valdosta State to top the poll since 2000 when former league member Southern Arkansas finished first. The Statesmen placed five Preseason All-GSC honorees in Mose Countryman, Randall Boyd, Wilson Curtis, Romelo Wilson, and Richard Nash.
 
DELTA STATE-ALBANY STATE FIRST IN-SEASON MEETING
While the Statesmen and Golden Rams will meet for the second time on the gridiron Saturday, Sept. 26, it's the first time the two schools have met in the regular season.

In the first meeting between the Super Region II powers, the Statesmen defeated ASU 28-7 in the NCAA Quarterfinals on Dec. 4, 2010 at The Coliseum in Albany, Georgia. DSU finished the day with 348 yards of total offense on 66 plays, including 156 yards rushing. The Statesmen held the ASU "Gold Rush" offense to 307 yards on the day, while shutting down their power run game to the tune of 104 yards on 33 carries.

Delta State's Micah Davis became the school's single-season completions leader, going 21-of 29 for 192 yards with a pair of touchdowns and one interception. He moved into second place in a single-season for pass attempts.

STATESMEN VERSUS THE SIAC
Delta State will be playing its ninth game all-time versus a team from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The Statesmen are 6-2 versus teams from the SIAC, including a 1-0 record against Albany State University.

COOLEY VERSUS NONCONFERENCE OPPONENTS
The Statesmen face their 11th nonconference opponent under Todd Cooley, as Delta State welcomes Albany State to Parker-McCool. Cooley and the Statesmen have posted a 9-1 record against nonconference foes, including a 51-44 win at Texas A&M-Commerce and a 51-18 thumping of Kentucky Wesleyan last week.

Cooley's lone nonconference loss came at the hands of TAMUC, 45-37, at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas on Sept. 13, 2013.

Delta State is an unblemished 6-0 against out of conference opponents at Parker Field-McCool Stadium under Cooley.
 
PROTECTING OUR HOUSE
The Green-and-White will be playing their 229th home game on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium versus Kentucky Wesleyan. The Statesmen are 144-76-8 since opening the stadium in 1970. DSU, which played several seasons at Delta Field located where Wyatt Hall now stands, is 256-126-15 all-time at home.

Since taking over the program in 2013, coach Todd Cooley is 12-1 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium, including a 11-0 record in regular season action.

STATESMEN PLAYING 85th SEASON OF FOOTBALL
Delta State is in its 85th season of football in Cleveland. In the previous 84 years of football, the Statesmen are 452-374-23 (.531). Since 2000, DSU is 128-52 (.709) with six Gulf South Conference titles, seven NCAA postseason appearances and the 2000 NCAA Division II National Championship. The Statesmen claimed their 450th win all-time in a 48-7 rout of Fort Valley State in the season-opener.

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Since Todd Cooley took over as head coach, the Statesmen are 6-2 against ranked opponents, including a 51-44 victory at No. 18 Texas A&M-Commerce last week. DSU will face at least four ranked opponents this year with No. 2 West Georgia, No. 10 North Alabama and No. 11 Valdosta State remaining on the schedule.

The Statesmen were 2-1 last 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.  DSU's lone loss against a ranked team came against West Georgia, 37-27,  in the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
 
LEADING THE WAY IN THE GSC
Delta State enters Saturday's contest with Albany State leading the Gulf South Conference in scoring at 50.0 points per game. Led by Tyler Sullivan's 340.3 yards per contest, the Statesmen also lead the league in passing (379.7 ypg). DSU also tops the league's charts for interceptions (8) and sacks (8.0).

HAULING THEM IN...
With four receivers ranked in the GSC's top 10, DSU's passing offense has been nearly unstoppable this season. Jarvis York and Justin Leavy rank No. 2 and No. 3 respectively in receptions entering the weekend, while Patrick Bethley sits at No. 6 and Darius Powell at No. 8.

York has caught 12 passes for 229 yards and two touchdowns, while Leavy also has 12 grabs for 224 yards and two scores. Bethley and Darius Powell have each pulled in 11 passes, while Collin Floyd paces the corps with three touchdowns.

SCIORROTTA SETS PAT RECORD; CHASING SCORING MARK
Kicker Vince Sciorrotta (5-9, 180, Jr.) broke the school record for career PATs after making all five of his attempts versus FVSU. The Cumming, Georgia native has hit 136 PATs in his career, topping Matt Dean's (2008-2011) previous mark of 110.

Sciorrotta's 199 points scored ranks fourth on the career charts. Trevar Deed, a three-time All-American receiver/running back, holds the school record with 264 points. Sciorrotta is just 53 points shy of moving into third on the all-time list, currently held by Josh Bright (1998-2001) with 251.

Last season, Sciorrotta connected on 11-of-14 field goals and 60-of-66 PATs. His 93 points led the Statesmen and ranked second in the GSC.

BALL HAWKS
Delta State's defensive attack has proved treacherous to opponents so far in 2015. Combining for eight interceptions, the Statesmen are keeping opposing offenses at bay.

Junior defensive back Joreco Beckwith leads the team in picks with three, two of which came against then-ranked No. 18 Texas A&M Commerce.

Romelo Wilson, Greg Sims, Tayvon Benjamin, and De'Monterius Kendrick have each racked up one pick each, the usual suspects.

However, Kentarius "Moon Dog" McDonald grabbed a big boy interception from the defensive line in DSU's win over Fort Valley State to open the season.

RICHARD NASH: MAD DASH TO 150
Senior defensive back Richard Nash is quickly approaching 150 career tackles. The Macon, Ga., native sits at 144 take downs in his career and will likely meet the 150 milestone in the next couple of games, as he averages close to five tackles a game.

The three-year letterman leads the team in tackles this season with 14.5, 13 solo and three assisted. He was also chosen as a Preseason Second Team All-GSC pick.

BETHLEY APPROACHING 100 GRABS
Senior receiver Patrick Bethley is six catches away from 100 for his Delta State career. The New Orleans, Louisiana native has 94 grabs for 1,460 yards and 11 touchdowns.

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.

HOME SWEET HOME
A year after traveling 5,198 miles over the course of a season, the Statesmen are set to play seven regular season home games at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The seven home games will be the most played in a regular season since coach Gene Chadwick led the Statesmen to a 6-3 record in 1960. DSU went 4-3 at home that year.

SET IT AT 60 & FORGET IT
Delta State is 18-0 all-time when scoring 60-plus points in a game. In fact, the Statesmen have scored 50-plus points in a game 39 times in school history and most recently in DSU's 73-6 thumping of Concordia College on Nov. 8, 2014 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.

SIGNS, SIGNS, EVERYWHERE THERE'S SIGNS
Coach Todd Cooley and offensive coordinator Joel Williams will be using a new signaling system in 2015. The signage-based system features pop culture photos and celebrity icons. The cards will change throughout the season.

DELTA STATE EDGES TEXAS A&M-COMMERCE 51-44
No. 10 Delta State University used a big fourth quarter performance to take down No. 18 Texas A&M Commerce, 51-44, in a thriller at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.

Trailing by 11 points entering the final period, Tyler Sullivan led the Statesmen on a rapid comeback, connecting with Collin Floyd on the game-winning touchdown, a 23-yard strike with 1:09 to play.

DSU tied the game at 44-44 on a 32-yard TD reception by Jarvis York.

STATESMEN PICKED SECOND IN GSC PRESEASON POLL
Delta State University football was picked to finish second in the annual Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
Coming off their seventh GSC Title and an NCAA postseason appearance, the Statesmen feature five Preseason All-GSC honorees in Mose Countryman, Randall Boyd, Wilson Curtis, Romelo Wilson, and Richard Nash.

For the first time ever, the University of West Georgia finished atop the Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, entering 2015 as the favorite to claim the league crown. In fact, UWG is the first team other than Delta State, North Alabama and Valdosta State to top the poll since 2000 when former Southern Arkansas finished first.

Only one point separates second and third place, as 2014 GSC Co-Champions Delta State (30) and North Alabama (29) shared the final two first-place nods.  Valdosta State came in at fourth place with 19 points, followed by Florida Tech's 17-point total.  Completing the seven-team list was West Alabama (12) and Shorter (six).

23 DEEP
Delta State University's football roster features 23 seniors, including 15 starters this season. Coach Cooley expects big dividends from his senior leadership in 2015.

STATESMEN WEAR SPECIAL HELMET DECAL
Delta State University head football coach Todd Cooley announced Wednesday, Sept. 16 that the Statesmen would wear a special decal on the team's white helmets versus Kentucky Wesleyan College in memory of Dr. Ethan Schmidt. The decal features a black ribbon with the DSU Athletics logo.  

"Dr. Schmidt was one of the most dynamic professors on our campus," Cooley said. "He loved what he did and he loved our student-athletes. His excitement for our program was always evident and he will be missed."