GAME NOTES: Florida Tech (1-3, 0-1 GSC) @ Delta State (4-0, 0-0 GSC)Complete weekly release with notes, stats, rankings & more in PDF format
CLEVELAND, Mississippi - Delta State University (4-0, 0-0 GSC) opens Gulf South Conference play Saturday, Oct. 3, as the No. 5 Statesmen welcome Florida Institute of Technology (1-3, 0-1 GSC) to Parker Field-McCool Stadium in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week on ESPN3. The Statesmen and Panthers are set for a 6:05 p.m. kickoff.
Matt Jones, Mark Williams, Lane Quinton and
Philip Tang will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network at 5 p.m. with Statesman Game Day Live.
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| STATESMEN FOOTBALL GAME DAY |
| Date/Location: | Oct. 3, 2015 | Parker Field-McCool Stadium | Cleveland, Miss. |
| Kickoff Time: | 6:05 p.m. CST |
| Radio: | Statesmen Sports Network | Matt Jones (PxP), Mark Williams (Color),
Philip Tang (Producer/Host), and Lane Quinton (Sidelines) |
| TV: | GSC-TV Live Game of the Week
Don Russell (PxP), Rick Rhoades (Color) |
| Rankings: | Delta State: No. 5 - AFCA | No. 6 - D2Football.com
Florida Tech: NR - AFCA | NR - D2Football.com |
| Series History: | Third Meeting | DSU leads series 2-0
Last Meeting: W, 58-20 - Oct. 2, 2014 (Melbourne, Fla.) |
| Coaches: | Delta State: Todd Cooley (20-5, 3rd season)
Florida Tech: Steve Englehart (12-15, 3rd 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: Saturday's showdown with FIT will be the third in the series since the Panthers became an affiliate member of the GSC in 2013. The Statesmen are 2-0 against FIT, including a 58-20 victory in Melbourne last season. DSU defeated FIT 52-31 in the first meeting between the two schools on Sept. 28, 2013 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium.
LAST TIME OUT: The No. 5 Delta State University football team shutout its first NCAA Division II opponent since 2006 in a 40-0 victory over Albany State on Saturday afternoon at Parker Field McCool Stadium. DSU amassed 471 yards of offense, including a season-high 131 yards rushing.
D'Juan Bellaire rushed for a career-high 85 yards on 15 carries, while
Darius Powell set career highs with six receptions for 93 yards.
Greg Sims recorded his second-straight game with an interception, returning it 40 yards for a touchdown.
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.
PACING THE GSC: Delta State enters Saturday's contest with Florida Tech leading the Gulf South Conference in scoring at 47.5 points per game. Led by
Tyler Sullivan's 326.8 yards per contest, the Statesmen also lead the league in passing (369.8 ypg). DSU also tops the league's charts for interceptions by the defense with eight and rank second in sacks (10.0) and tackles-for-loss (36.0).
NASH TOPS 150: Senior safety
Richard Nash topped the 150 career tackles mark with seven tackles. The Macon, Georgia, native leads the Statesmen with 23 tackles on the year, while posting 151 for his three-year career.
SULLIVAN'S WAY: Junior quarterback
Tyler Sullivan has picked up right where he left off last season, leading the GSC in passing at 326.8 yards per game. The Louisville, Mississippi, native has completed 89-of-139 passes for 1,307 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also rushed for four scores, accounting for 14 total touchdowns. Despite being a Harlon Hill Trophy national finalist, Sullivan was not named to the GSC's preseason team. That honor went to Saturday's opponent and FIT quarterback Mark Cato.
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 three interceptions and ranks second on the squad with 22 tackles. His three interceptions lead the GSC and rank seventh nationally.
BAD BOYS ANCHORING DEFENSIVE FRONT: Senior defensive end
Randall Boyd and junior defensive end
Erin Brown are causing opposing coordinator's nightmares this season. The tandem has amassed 4.0 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss in just four games.
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STATESMEN OPEN GSC PLAY WITH FLORIDA TECHDelta State opens Gulf South Conference play Saturday, Oct. 3, as the No. 5 Statesmen (4-0, 0-0 GSC) welcome the Florida Institute of Technology (1-3, 0-1 GSC) to Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. and the game will be featured on ESPN3 as the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week.
FIT dropped to 0-1 in league play, losing a heart-breaker, 51-48, at No. 8 North Alabama last weekend in Florence, Alabama, despite Mark Cato passing for 353 yards and five touchdowns.
The game features two of the league's elite offensive units, as the Statesmen are averaging 47.5 points and 482.5 yards per game. FIT comes into the contest scoring 32.5 points and accumulating 461.5 yards a game.
While DSU's defense has made great strides through the first four games, the Panthers come in ranked last in the GSC in scoring defense (28.5 ppg) and yards allowed (394.0 ypg). The Statesmen are surrendering 17.0 points and 362.0 yards per game.
In the previous two meetings between the schools, the Statesmen have topped 50 points - claiming a 58-20 win last season in Melbourne, Florida and a 52-31 victory in 2013 at Parker-McCool.
DELTA STATE IN GSC OPENERS SINCE 2000Not only does Delta State boast a perfect 12-0 record at home during the regular season under head coach
Todd Cooley, the Statesmen also bring an equally impressive record in conference openers over the past 15 years.
Since the 2000 season, the Green-and-White are 11-4 in their league openers and 5-2 when opening GSC play at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Cooley, who is 2-0 in his career to open league play, defeated Valdosta State 49-32 in last season's league opener. The Statesmen shocked No. 16 North Alabama, 37-34, to open GSC play on
Vince Sciorrotta's 37-yard game-winning field goal.
ON THE BIG STAGEThe Statesmen will play their 28th game on television, as DSU faces Florida Tech in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week on ESPN3. Delta State is 19-8 in games televised all-time, including a 5-2 mark under head coach
Todd Cooley.
STATESMEN PICKED SECOND IN GSC PRESEASON POLLDelta 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).
LAST TIME OUT: STATESMEN ROUT GOLDEN RAMS 40-0The No. 5 Delta State University football team shutout its first NCAA Division II opponent since 2006 in a 40-0 victory over Albany State on Saturday afternoon at Parker Field McCool Stadium. DSU amassed 471 yards of offense, including a season-high 131 yards rushing.
D'Juan Bellaire rushed for a career-high 85 yards on 15 carries, while
Darius Powell set career highs with six receptions for 93 yards.
Greg Sims recorded an interception, returning it 40 yards for a touchdown.
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTSSince
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.
COOLEY VERSUS NONCONFERENCE OPPONENTSThe Statesmen faced their 11th nonconference opponent under
Todd Cooley, as Delta State welcomed Albany State to Parker-McCool - a 40-0 victory. Cooley and the Statesmen have posted a 10-1 record against nonconference foes, including a 51-44 win at Texas A&M-Commerce and a 51-18 thumping of Kentucky Wesleyan.
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 7-0 against out of conference opponents at Parker Field-McCool Stadium under Cooley.
STATESMEN PLAYING 85th SEASON OF FOOTBALLDelta State is in its 85th season of football in Cleveland. In the previous 84 years of football, the Statesmen are 453-374-23 (.531). Since 2000, DSU is 129-52 (.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.
LEADING THE WAY IN THE GSCDelta State enters Saturday's contest with Florida Tech leading the Gulf South Conference in scoring at 47.5 points per game. Led by
Tyler Sullivan's 326.8 yards per contest, the Statesmen also lead the league in passing (369.8 ypg). DSU also tops the league's charts for interceptions by the defense with eight and rank second in sacks (10.0) and tackles-for-loss (36.0).
HAULING THEM IN...With four receivers ranked in the GSC's top 10, DSU's passing offense has been nearly unstoppable this season.
Justin Leavy and
Darius Powell are tied for fifth in the GSC in receptions per game, while
Jarvis York ranks seventh.
Leavy is second in the league with 71.8 yards receiving per game, while York sits fourth with 66.3 and Powell 10th with 54.2 yards per game.
Patrick Bethley is sixth in receiving yards with 63.5 per game.
BALL HAWKSDelta State's defensive attack has proved treacherous to opponents so far in 2015. Combining for nine 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 No. 18 Texas A&M Commerce.
Greg Sims has two interceptions, including a 40-yard touchdown return versus Albany State.
Romelo Wilson,
Tayvon Benjamin, and
De'Monterius Kendrick have each racked up one pick each. However, Kentarius "Moon Dawg" McDonald grabbed a big boy interception from the defensive line in DSU's 48-7 win over Fort Valley State.
NASH LEADING DEFENSE; TOPS 150 CAREER TACKLESSenior safety
Richard Nash topped the 150 career tackles mark with seven tackles. The Macon, Georgia, native leads the Statesmen with 23 tackles on the year, while posting 151 for his three year career.
SULLIVAN LEADING GSC IN PASSINGJunior quarterback
Tyler Sullivan has picked up right where he left off last season, leading the GSC in passing at 326.8 yards per game. The Louisville, Mississippi, native has completed 89-of-139 passes for 1,307 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also rushed for four scores, accounting for 14 total touchdowns.
Despite being a Harlon Hill Trophy national finalist, Sullivan was not named to the GSC's preseason team. That honor went to Saturday's opponent and FIT quarterback Mark Cato.
Sullivan, who is 17-3 as DSU's starting quarterback, has completed 458-of-760 passes for 6,429 yards with 52 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. His 292.2 yards per game average ranks No. 1 all-time in school history, while ranking fifth on the career yards passing list. He has also rushed for 403 yards and 15 touchdowns in 22 games.
BECKWITH BREAKING OUTJoreco 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 three interceptions and ranks second on the squad with 22 tackles. His three interceptions lead the GSC and rank seventh nationally.
BOYD, BROWN ANCHORING DEFENSIVE FRONTSenior defensive end
Randall Boyd and junior defensive end
Erin Brown are causing opposing coordinator's nightmares this season. The tandem has amassed 4.0 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss in just four games.
20-PLUS STOPSLed by
Richard Nash's 23 stops, Delta State's defense features four players with 20-plus tackles on the year.
LeDarion Robinson (22),
Joreco Beckwith (22) and
Lawrence Hopkins (20) are also on the list through the first four games.
FLIPPING THE FIELDCody Mills, a sophomore from Oxford, Mississippi, has proven to be quite the weapon for the Statesmen this season - leading the GSC in punting at 45.6 yards per attempt. He has nailed seven inside the 20-yard line and four over 50 yards, including a 57-yard effort in a key punt at No. 18 Texas A&M-Commerce.
SCIORROTTA SETS PAT RECORD; CHASING SCORING MARKKicker
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 131 PATs in his career, topping Matt Dean's (2008-2011) previous mark of 110. Sciorrotta's 209 points scored ranks fourth on the career charts. Trevar Deed, a three-time All-American receiver, holds the school record with 264 points.
LAST CLEAN SHEETThe Statesmen blanked Albany State 40-0 on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Prior to last year's game, DSU had not shutout an NCAA Division II opponent since defeating Arkansas-Monticello, 53-0, on Nov. 11, 2006.
LAST TIME STATESMEN WERE SHUTOUTIt'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.
SET IT AT 60 & FORGET ITDelta 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.
