GAME NOTES: Delta State (4-3, 3-2 GSC) at No. 16 Valdosta State (5-1, 3-1 GSC)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University will play its third game of the season against an opponent from the state of Georgia, as the Statesmen (4-3, 3-2 GSC) travel to Valdosta to face the No. 16 Blazers (5-1, 3-1 GSC) of Valdosta State University on Saturday, Oct. 22. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. EST/2 p.m. CST at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. DSU is 44-28-1 all-time against teams from the "Peach State."          

Saturday's clash marks the 36th meeting all-time between Delta State and Valdosta State on the gridiron. The Statesmen own a 20-14-1 edge in the series standings, including a 10-6 record at VSU's Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. The Blazers claimed a 40-34 victory over DSU last season on Nov. 7 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The victory was just the second for VSU in the last 10 games of the series, as DSU is 8-2 versus the Blazers during that stretch.  

In their first season of under new head coach and former Florida star quarterback Kerwin Bell, the Blazers are in the thick of the Gulf South Conference title race with a 3-1 record and a 5-1 overall mark. VSU enters the week ranked No. 16 in the latest AFCA Top 25 Poll after narrowly defeating Mississippi College, 42-41, last Saturday in Clinton. Averaging 33.8 points per game, VSU ranks fifth in the GSC in scoring offense while allowing 26.2 points per contest. Freshman running back Cedric Hollingshed has burst onto the scene for VSU, accounting for 238 yards and four touchdowns.            

The Statesmen claimed a thrilling 55-51 come-from-behind win over the University of West Florida, as Chris Robinson tied the school record for touchdowns in a game with six to lead the Delta State rally. The junior from Bude, Miss., accounted for 232 yards, rushing for 132 yards and five touchdowns while catching three passes for 100 yards and another score. Devontae Wilson led the Statesmen defense with nine tackles, while Chandler Ector added seven.  
 

STATESMEN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Date/Location:	• Oct. 22, 2016 | Bazemore-Hyder Stadium | Valdosta, Ga.
Kickoff Time:	• 2:00 p.m. CST
Radio:	• Statesmen Sports Network | WMJW 107.5 FM  • Talent: Matt Jones (PxP), Philip Tang (Color), Lane Quinton (Sidelines)
TV:	• Not Available
Rankings:	• Delta State: NR - AFCA | NR - D2Football.com  • Valdosta State: No. 16 - AFCA | No. 16 - D2Football.com
Series History:	• 36th Meeting | Delta State leads 20-14-1  • Last Meeting: Nov. 7, 2015 | VSU 40 - DSU 34, 2OT
Coaches:	• Delta State: Todd Cooley (26-13, 4th season)  • Valdosta State: Kerwin Bell (5-1, 1st season | 71-36 overall)
Live Audio:	• Statesmen Sports Network (Click Here)
Live Stats:	• Live Stats (Click Here)
Live Video:	• Web Stream (Click Here)

MAKING A CASE FOR THE HARLON HILL: Junior running back Chris Robinson, who was named GSC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this year on Monday, is making a case that he should be considered one of the leading candidates for the Harlon Hill Trophy, presented annually to NCAA Division II Player of the Year. The Gulf Coast (Miss.) CC transfer is the nation's leading scorer, averaging 17.1 points per game. The 5-foot-8 lethal weapon also leads NCAA Division II in touchdowns (20) and rushing touchdowns (16) while pacing the GSC in rushing (692 yards) and yards per game (98.9). A dual-threat target for opposing defense, Robinson has caught 22 passes for 360 yards and four scores. In fact, he's turned in back-to-back 100-yard receiving games for DSU and has scored at least two touchdowns in five of seven games.

80-YEARS IN THE MAKING: Chris Robinson tied the school & GSC record for touchdowns in a game with six to lead Delta State's rally past the Argonauts. The junior from Bude, Miss., accounted for 232 yards, rushing for 132 yards and five touchdowns while catching three passes for 100 yards and another score. Robinson's performance equaled Chuck Thomas' landmark six touchdown game at Arkansas State in 1936.  

PETERSON'S PARTY: Senior defensive end Latrell Peterson turned in an outstanding performance in DSU's 55-51 victory over West Florida, recording five tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Trailing late in the fourth quarter, the Covington, La., native delivered a vicious hit on Argos quarterback Kaleb Nobles, jarring loose the ball and setting up DSU's game-winning drive.

4th QUARTER COMEBACK: DSU recorded its first victory of the year when trailing after three quarters on Saturday, Oct. 15 versus West Florida. Trailing 51-42 heading into the fourth frame, the Statesmen rallied for 13 points to defeat UWF 55-51. DSU is 1-2 this year when trailing after three quarters and 2-9 all-time under head coach Todd Cooley.  

ECTOR CLEANING UP: Sophomore linebacker Chandler Ector has flourished in new-DC Raleigh Jackson's system. The Decatur, Ga., native is leading the unit with 46 tackles. This past weekend versus UWF, Ector finished with a seven tackles and a tackle-for-loss.   

LEAGUE LEADERS: Running back Chris Robinson enters this week leading the Gulf South Conference in scoring (20 TD/17.1 ppg), rushing yards (692), and rushing yards per game (98.9). Punter/kicker Cody Mills also leads the league in average yards per punt (43.3). Zane Samuel is tied for the league lead with two blocked punts. Delta State also boasts the league's top scoring offense, averaging 43.9 points per game.

SULLIVAN ALONE AT N0. 2: Senior quarterback Tyler Sullivan, who leads NCAA DII in completion percentage at 70.3, completed 14-of-22 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns in DSU's 61-31 win over Mississippi College to push him into second place in every major career passing statistic. In 31 career games, Sullivan has completed 719-of-1,111 passes for 8,900 yards with 74 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. He has also rushed for 17 career scores to push his TD-responsible for to 91. Previously, the Louisville, Miss., native passed Micah Davis (8,238/29 games) to take over second place in career total offense with 8,764 yards. Scott Eyster (2003-2006) holds the school-record with 14,342 yards. He also holds every career passing statistic in Delta State history, with the exception of completion percentage.

BELLAIRE TOPS 1,500 YARDS: Senior running back D'Juan Bellaire topped the 1,500 career yard mark on Saturday, Oct. 15 with 96 yards rushing and a touchdown versus West Florida. The Sacramento, Calif., native has rushed 326 times for 1,551 yards and 19 touchdowns in his 33-game career.

EVANS PACING RECEIVERS: Senior wide receiver K'Shun Evans enters the week as Delta State's leading pass catcher, hauling in 40 for 421 yards and a touchdown. In last week's win over UWF, Evans tied his career-high with eight grabs for 91 yards. The previous week he had eight catches at West Alabama.

WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE: Delta State, which moved to 18-2 under head coach Todd Cooley when winning the turnover battle, forced three West Florida turnovers last week while giving away a lone interception.  

HIGH-OCTANE OFFENSE: Despite several injuries to key roles within the system, the Statesmen feature the GSC's highest scoring offense, averaging 43.9 points per game. Delta State enters the week ranked No.7 in NCAA Division II in scoring offense.

DISRUPTING THE OPPOSITION: Delta State's defense has found ways to disrupt the opposition, posting 52 tackles-for-loss, 14 sacks and picking-off 10 interceptions.  

GREEN ZONE EFFICIENCY: Delta State is 34-for-35 inside the "Green Zone" this season in scoring situations. In fact, the Statesmen have scored 29 touchdowns and converted five field goals inside the opposition's 20-yard line. DSU's lone failure in the "Green Zone" came in the 55-51 win over UWF, as the Statesmen knelt to kill the clock.

LEADING AT THE HALF: Delta State is 21-0 under head coach Todd Cooley when leading at half-time. The Statesmen are 5-10 when trailing and 0-2 when tied at the half.

RACE TO 30: The Statesmen are 24-5 all-time when scoring 30 or more points against an opponent under head coach Todd Cooley.

TELEVISED RESULTS: Delta State's clash with Mississippi College was the 33rd game televised by the GSC/NCAA/ESPN. The Statesmen are 22-11 all-time in televised contests, including a 3-0 mark again the Choctaws. In his three-plus seasons at DSU, coach Todd Cooley is 7-4 in televised games.