GAME NOTES: North Alabama (5-1, 4-0 GSC) at Delta State (4-4, 3-3 GSC)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - Delta State University will play its final home game of the 2016 season this Saturday, Oct. 29, as the Statesmen (4-4, 3-3 GSC) welcome the No. 7 Lions (5-1, 4-0 GSC) of the University of North Alabama to Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. DSU will be recognizing its 24 football seniors and six cheer seniors at special ceremonies during pregame/halftime while also hosting Military Appreciation Day. Special recognitions and events are planned throughout the afternoon, including a National Guard Apache attack helicopter on display in Statesman Park. 

Saturday's clash marks the 60th meeting all-time between Delta State and North Alabama on the gridiron. The Statesmen are 26-32-1 against the Lions all-time, while holding a slim 16-14-1 mark in games played in Cleveland. The series has featured win streaks by both clubs, but the last 10 meetings have netted a 5-5 record. In last year's meeting, UNA claimed a 43-17 victory on Oct. 31, 2015 at Braly Municipal Stadium.    

Under legendary head coach Bobby Wallace, the Lions are in the hunt for the Gulf South Conference title with a 4-0 record and a 5-1 overall mark. UNA features one of the most balanced teams in the GSC, led by quarterback Jacob Tucker. The dual-threat signal-caller has rushed for 442 yards (73.7 ypg) and nine touchdowns, while passing for 1,270 yards and seven scores. North Alabama leads the GSC in scoring defense, allowing a mere 16.8 points per game, while their offense isn't too shabby either, ranking fourth in scoring (37.0 ppg).             

Despite a three touchdown performance from Chris Robinson, the Statesmen dropped their third road contest of the year, falling 56-27 at No. 16 Valdosta State. The junior running back accounted for 210 yards, rushing for 131 and three touchdowns on 18 carries while catching five passes for 79 yards. Junior linebacker Landry Tullo paced the Statesmen defense with nine tackles. Chandler Ector added seven tackles with 2.0 tackles-for-loss.

North Alabama, which holds the No. 1 rankings in NCAA Super Region II, picked up its fifth win of the season, dispatching the Crusaders of North Greenville University, 52-21, at Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala. Tucker rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 378 and three scores. Those numbers were career highs for Tucker in both rushing and passing yards, and were reached in just three quarters. After the Lions blew open a 21-14 game with 24 unanswered points, Tucker left the game after three quarters. His 510 total yards in the game was just nine yards shy of the school record of 519.

 

STATESMEN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Date/Location:	• Oct. 29, 2016 | Parker Field-McCool Stadium | Cleveland, Miss.
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  • North Alabama: No. 7 - AFCA | No. 3 - D2Football.com
Series History:	• 60th Meeting | North Alabama leads 32-26-1  • Last Meeting: Oct. 31, 2015 | UNA 43 - DSU 17 (Florence, Ala.)
Coaches:	• Delta State: Todd Cooley (26-14, 4th season)  • North Alabama: Bobby Wallace (120-50-1, 15th | 165-151-1 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 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 17.3 points per game. The 5-foot-8 lethal weapon also leads NCAA Division II in touchdowns (23) and rushing touchdowns (19) while pacing the GSC in rushing (823 yards) and yards per game (102.9). A dual-threat target for opposing defense, Robinson has caught 27 passes for 439 yards and four scores. In fact, he's turned in back-to-back 130-yard rushing games for DSU and has scored at least two touchdowns in seven of eight games.

NEW SCORING RECORD: One week after Chris Robinson tied the school & GSC record for touchdowns record  in a game with six,  the junior from Bude, Miss., accounted for 210 yards, rushing for 131 yards, and three touchdowns to become Delta State's single-season points-scored leader with 138. Robinson broke Josh Bright's previous mark of 126 in 2000.   

BROWN, TULLO & ECTOR LEADING DEFENSE: Chandler Ector, a sophomore linebacker from Decatur, Ga., and Landry Tullo, a junior linebacker from Hoover, Ala., are tied for the team lead with 53 tackles. Erin Brown, a senior defensive end from West Monroe, La., tops the charts with 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 4.5 sacks.  

LEAGUE LEADERS: Running back Chris Robinson enters this week leading the Gulf South Conference in scoring (23 TD/17.3 ppg), rushing yards (823), and rushing yards per game (102.3). Punter/kicker Cody Mills also leads the league in average yards per punt (42.4). Zane Samuel is tied for the league lead with two blocked punts. Delta State also boasts the league's top scoring offense, averaging 41.7 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 733-of-1,135 passes for 9,084 yards with 75 touchdowns and 39 interceptions. He has also rushed for 17 career scores to push his TD-responsible for to 92. Previously, the Louisville, Miss., native passed Micah Davis (8,238/29 games) to take over second place in career total offense with 9,562 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 337 times for 1,574 yards and 19 touchdowns in his 34-game career.

EVANS PACING RECEIVERS: Senior wide receiver K'Shun Evans enters the week as Delta State's leading pass catcher, hauling in 43 for 469 yards and a touchdown. His career-best performance came in a 55-51 win over UWF, with eight grabs for 91 yards.  

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 41.7 points per game. Delta State enters the week ranked No. 14 in NCAA Division II in scoring offense.

DISRUPTING THE OPPOSITION: Delta State's defense has found ways to disrupt the opposition, posting 61 tackles-for-loss, 16 sacks and picking-off 10 interceptions.  

GREEN ZONE EFFICIENCY: Delta State is 37-for-40 inside the "Green Zone" this season in scoring situations. In fact, the Statesmen have scored 32 touchdowns and converted five field goals inside the opposition's 20-yard line.

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.