GAME NOTES: Mississippi College (2-2, 0-2 GSC) @ Delta State (2-2, 1-1 GSC)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Statesmen (2-2, 1-1 GSC) of Delta State University welcome in-state rival Mississippi College to Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 29, as they host the Choctaws (2-2, 0-2 GSC) in the 37th Heritage Bell Classic. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3 as the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week. Former DSU head coach Rick Rhoades will team-up with Don Russell to call the clash of in-state rivals.  
 

Featuring two of the Gulf South Conference's most tradition-rich programs, the annual battle between Delta State and Mississippi College was one of the most anticipated contests in the "Magnolia State" from 1973-1995. Following the 1995 season, MC left the GSC and NCAA DII to compete at the NCAA DIII level. The series began in 1935 with a 33-0 Choctaws victory and has always featured streaks by both teams. In fact, MC won the first four meetings between the two teams.

DSU ran off six straight wins from 1948-1969, with a 30-30 tie in 1970 sandwiched between another five-game win streak.

DSU and MC, which returned to NCAA DII in 2014, are meeting for the 37th time on the gridiron, with the Statesmen owning a 19-15-2 edge in the series standings. DSU has won the last four meetings in the series, including a 27-3 victory in the last game in Cleveland on Nov. 15, 2014 in which the Statesmen rolled up 532 yards of total offense en route to victory after a 19-year series hiatus.

Last year's matchup, a 37-29 Delta State victory, was a barn-burner at Robinson-Hale Stadium in Clinton. After trailing 23-17 at halftime, the Statesmen outscored the Choctaws 20-6 in the second half to claim the win. Tyler Sullivan completed 32-of-46 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns in the win. 

Coach John Bland is in his third season at Mississippi College where he led the Choctaws to a 2-2 start, including an 0-2 mark in  GSC play. MC's two victories this year have come against NAIA competition, including a narrow 27-26 win over Cumberland (Tenn.) last Saturday at Robinson-Hale Stadium in Clinton. Known as a triple-option coach, Bland's MC offense is averaging 387.3 yards per game, 174 rushing and 213.3 passing, while averaging 17.0 points per game. 

 

STATESMEN FOOTBALL GAME DAY
Date/Location:	• Sept. 29, 2016 | Parker Field-McCool Stadium | Cleveland, Miss.
Kickoff Time:	• 6:05 p.m. CST
Radio:	• Statesmen Sports Network | WMJW 107.5 FM • Talent: Matt Jones (PxP), Philip Tang (Color), Lane Quinton (Sidelines)
TV:	• ESPN3/GSC-TV Live Game of the Week • Talent: Don Russell (PxP), Rick Rhoades (Color)
Rankings:	• Delta State: NR - AFCA | NR - D2Football.com • Mississippi College: NR - AFCA | NR - D2Football.com
Series History:	• 37th Meeting | DSU leads series 19-15-2 Last Meeting: W, 37-29 - Nov. 14, 2015 (Clinton)
Coaches:	• Delta State: Todd Cooley (24-12, 4th season) • MC: John Bland (5-19, 3rd season | 80-45 overall)
Live Audio:	• Statesmen Sports Network (Click Here)
Live Stats:	• DSU Live Stats (Click Here)
Live Video:	• DSU Web Stream (Click Here)

NOTES, STORYLINES & STATS...
TELEVISED RESULTS: Thursday's clash with Mississippi College will mark the 33rd game televised by the GSC/NCAA/ESPN. The Statesmen are 21-11 all-time in televised contests, including a 2-0 mark again the Choctaws. In his three-plus seasons at DSU, coach Todd Cooley is 6-4 in televised games.

MR. BROWN TO YOU: Senior defensive end Erin Brown turned in his best performance as a Statesman, recording seven tackles, 3.0 sacks, 5.0 tackles-for-loss and two forced fumbles in DSU's 47-7 win over Shorter. The Monroe, La., native has made 17 tackles, 4.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles-for-loss in the first four games for DSU.



GREEN SHINES IN FIRST START: Redshirt freshman receiver Leon Green shined in first start for the Statesmen, grabbing six passes for 71 yards, including a 38-yard reception in the first half that set-up a DSU score.

EVANS EMERGING AS GO-TO RECEIVER: Senior wide out K'Shun Evans is starting to emerge as a go-to weapon for the Statesman offense. The Raleigh, Miss., native hauled in six passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in last week's 47-7 win over Shorter. Evans leads DSU with 20 receptions for 197 yards and a score this season.   

DEFENSE DIALING IN: It's taken a few weeks, but the Statesman defense is starting to gel under new defensive coordinator Raleigh Jackson. After giving up 40 points and more than 500 yards in a loss to No. 8 Texas A&M-Commerce, DSU surrendered 27 points defensively at No. 3 West Georgia and last week held Shorter to seven points and a mere 141 yards while forcing six turnovers including three interceptions. DSU enters the week allowing 27.5 points and 340.5 yards per game.

LEAGUE LEADERS: Running back Chris Robinson enters this week leading the Gulf South Conference in scoring (8 TD/12.0 ppg), rushing yards (398), and rushing yards per game (98.8). Punter/kicker Cody Mills also leads the league in average yards per punt (44.4).

FULL HOUSE BACKFIELD: Junior Chris Robinson  and seniors D'Juan Bellaire, Justin McArthur, and Tim Foy are powering a Statesman ground game averaging 163.8 yards per game and 3.5 touchdowns. Robinson enters the week leading the GSC in rushing touchdowns (8) and rushing yards per game (98.8). Bellaire has rushed for 179 yards a pair of scores, while McArthur and Foy have scored two touchdowns each.

TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE: Senior corner Romelo Wilson intercepted his ninth career pass and second of the season, returning it 80 yards for a touchdown in last week's 47-7 win over Shorter. 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. Wilson, who ranks fifth on the career interceptions chart, needs five more to tie the school record of 14 held by former All-American Dominique Davenport (2008-2011).

TULLO TOPS 100: Junior linebacker Landry Tullo finished Saturday's game with Shorter with eight tackles and 2.0 tackles-for-loss to top 100 tackles for his career. The Hoover, Ala., native, who sits third on the squad with 18 stops this season, has played in 28 games for DSU, recording 101 tackles, 19.0 tackles-for-loss with 6.5 sacks. He missed all of the 2015 season due to injury.    



SULLIVAN ALONE AT N0. 2: Senior quarterback Tyler Sullivan moved into second place in career passing yards (8,116) and completions (657) after completing 25-of-33 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown versus Shorter. Previously, the Louisville, Miss., native passed Micah Davis (8,238/29 games) to take over second place in career total offense with 8,551 yards. Sullivan has thrown for 8,116 yards and rushed for 435 more in 29 career games for the Statesmen. 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.  

MR. DO-IT-ALL: Junior Cody Mills has found himself in an odd spot this fall, as the Oxford, Miss., native is handling all of DSU's kicking assignments. Mills is 5-for-5 on field goals attempts, while averaging a GSC-leading 44.4 yards per punt. He has also kicked-off 20 times for an average of 55.6 yards per kick.

DANGEROUS RETURN MAN: Corner and return specialist Ken Hike, Jr. is giving opposing teams fits in the return game. The redshirt freshman from Atlanta, Ga., is averaging 24.0 yards per punt return and 20.3 yards per kick return. The Tuskegee transfer has also recorded 11 tackles in the secondary.       

GREEN ZONE EFFICIENCY: Delta State is 18-for-18 inside the "Green Zone" this season in scoring situations. In fact, the Statesmen have scored 13 touchdowns and converted five field goals inside the opposition's 20-yard line.

LEADING AT THE HALF: Delta State is 19-0 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 22-4 all-time when scoring 30 or more points against an opponent under head coach Todd Cooley.

PICKED FOURTH: 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).

STATESMEN PLACE FOUR ON PRESEASON ALL-GSC TEAM: 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.