GAME NOTES: Delta State (1-0, 0-0 GSC) at No. 3 West Georgia (2-0, 0-0 GSC)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Statesmen (1-1, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University hit the road for the first time this season, as they travel to the No. 3-ranked Wolves (2-0, 0-0 GSC) of the University of West Georgia on Saturday, Sept. 17 in the Gulf South Conference opener for both schools. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. EST/1 p.m. CST at Ra-Lin Field-University Stadium in Carrollton, Georgia. DSU is 11-5 in league openers since 2000 and 2-1 under head coach Todd Cooley.

Delta State and No. 3 West Georgia are meeting for the 31st time on the gridiron dating back to a 35-3 Statesmen victory on Sept. 17, 1983 Cleveland at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Statesmen own an 18-12 edge in the series standings, but the Wolves have claimed the last four meetings between the two schools. DSU is 9-4 all-time versus UWG in Carrollton.

DSU vs. UWG SERIES FAST FACTS:
• 31st meeting in series history
• Overall: Delta State leads 18-12
• GSC Record: Delta State leads 18-11
• Postseason: West Georgia leads 1-0
• In Cleveland: Delta State leads 9-5
• In Carrollton: Delta State leads 9-7
• Last Five: West Georgia has won 4-of-5
• Last 10: Series tied 5-5

NOTES, STORYLINES, SIDEBARS STATS:
• Delta State enters the season picked to finish fourth in the Gulf South Conference race. The Statesmen received 46 poll points to finish behind preseason favorite and defending champion West Georgia (62). 2015 co-champion North Alabama finished second, while  Florida Tech earned its highest-ever ranking, claiming the final two first-place votes en route to 48 points.  Delta State finished a close fourth-place with 46 points, followed by Valdosta State (40) and West Alabama (26). Led by Harlon Hill Trophy candidate quarterback Tyler Sullivan, the Statesmen placed four student-athletes on the Preseason All-GSC Team.  Defensive end Erin Brown, linebacker Jamel Dennis and punter Cody Mills joined Sullivan on the squad selected by a vote of league's head coaches.

• The Statesmen fell to No. 8 Texas A&M-Commerce, 40-28, last Saturday at Parker-McCool, while the Wolves claimed a 29-0 victory at Miles. The loss dropped DSU to 11-2 versus non-conference opponents under Cooley.

• Senior middle linebacker Jamel Dennis is pacing the Statesmen defense with 14 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss and 1.0 sacks. The Oxford, Miss., native has totaled 62 tackles, 8.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks in 10 career games.

• Delta State is averaging 39.0 points per game and 495.0 yards of total offense.            

• The Statesmen have enjoyed tremendous successes under Todd Cooley in the month of September. Delta State is 11-2 in September with Cooley at the helm.

 

• Junior running back Chris Robinson stole the show, rushing for 162 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries to pace the Statesmen in their 50-29 win over Kentucky Wesleyan. The Bude, Miss., native scored on runs of 67 yards, 15 yards and five yards while becoming the first back to top 150 rushing yards since 2011. He enters the week leading the GSC in rushing yards per game (113.5) and rushing touchdowns (5).

• Senior receivers K'Shun Evans and Casey Osborne are tied for third in the GSC with 5.0 receptions per game. Running back Justin MacArthur is averaging 4.0 grabs as well.

• The Statesmen defensive line has forced the opposition to account for the linebacker Jamel Dennis (3.5),  nose guard Jaterrian Wren (3.0), defensive tackle Eric Sadler (3.0) and defensive end Cole Baker (2.5) on every snap. All four Statesmen rank in the top 10 in the GSC for tackles-for-loss.

• Senior return specialist Kam Myers is leading the GSC in kickoff return yardage with 177 through two games. The Charleston, Miss., native is averaging 25.3 yards per kick return and 10.0 on punt returns to rank third in the league in both categories.    

• Senior quarterback Tyler Sullivan inched closer to over-taking Micah Davis (2010-11) for second on the total offense and passing charts. The Louisville, Miss., native needs 68 yards of total offense and 173 yards passing to move into second place. Sullivan has thrown for 7,713 yards and rolled up 8,174 yards of total offense in his time at DSU.  

• Senior corner Romelo Wilson intercepted his eighth career pass in last week's 50-29 win over KWC. The Ewa Beach, Hawaii native grabbed one as a freshman in 2013, led the GSC with four interceptions in 2014, had two picks in 2015. He needs six more to tie the school record of 14 held by former All-American Dominique Davenport (2008-2011).     

• Delta State is 17-0 under head coach Todd Cooley when leading at half-time. The Statesmen are 5-8 when trailing and 0-2 when tied at the half.

• The Statesmen are 21-4 all-time when scoring 30 or more points against an opponent under head coach Todd Cooley.

• Delta State's Tyler Sullivan (QB) and Vince Sciorrotta (PK) are considered among the top student-athletes at their positions and are listed on several awards watch lists. Sullivan, a 2014 Harlon Hill Trophy national finalist as a sophomore, is a strong contender for the nation's top NCAA DII award. Sciorrotta is chasing the Freddie Mitchell Award, presented annually to NCAA DII's top place kicker.