GAME NOTES: No. 21 West Alabama @ No. 9 Delta State
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  CLEVELAND, Miss. - Two of the Gulf South Conference's founding institutions will meet for the 63rd time in series history Saturday, Oct. 7, as the No. 9 Statesmen (5-0, 3-0 GSC) of Delta State welcome the No. 21 Tigers (4-1, 3-0 GSC) of West Alabama to Parker Field-McCool Stadium in the 32nd Pig Pickin' Classic. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. DSU leads the series 35-24-3, including a 23-12-1 record at home, but UWA has claimed four of the last five meetings. Matt Jones, Philip Tang and Lane Quinton will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network.

Saturday's game between Delta State (35.4 ppg) and West Alabama (45.8 ppg), features the GSC's top two scoring offenses and teams playing markedly different styles this season. The Statesmen lead the GSC in rushing (261.6 ypg) while the Tigers operate the league's top passing attack (295.4 ypg). Both teams rank in the top four in the league in total defense and scoring defense. UWA's Harry Satterwhite is averaging 258.6 yards passing per game, while DSU's Chris Robinson is averaging 105.6 yards rushing per game.  

Delta State will be observing its inaugural "Hall of Fame Weekend." Two former Statesmen football standouts are a part of the 2017 DSU Sports Hall of Fame Class. Karl Balls (DE | 1983-86) and Rory Bell (SS | 1996-2000) join Meredith Coleman (SB), Shorlone Crockham (WBKB), Petya Petrova (WSWD), Brian Rea (BSB), Clark Richardson (Golf), Sean Spiegel (MSWD), Chris Sykes (MBKB), Joe Wun (MTN) and long-time Delta State men's and women's tennis coach Asa Atkinson in this year's induction class. Delta State Athletics and President William N. LaForge will recognize the 2017 DSU Sports Hall of Fame class during halftime.

The Statesmen rushed for 280 yards, including 124 by quarterback Breck Ruddick and 106 by Chris Robinson, in a 30-17 victory at Mississippi College, their  sixth straight over the Choctaws in the Heritage Bell Classic. Ovenson Cledanord led all defenders with 12 tackles while the Statesmen defense forced four MC turnovers, including interceptions by Keith Flanigan and Jamoral Graham, that led to 17 DSU points. 
 

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SERIES NOTEBOOK: WEST ALABAMA TIGERS

• 63rd MEETING WITH TIGERS: The Statesmen (5-0, 3-0 GSC) and Tigers (4-1, 3-0 GSC) are meeting for the 63rd time on the gridiron this Saturday, Oct. 7 in the annual Pig Pickin' Classic. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Delta State leads the all-time series 35-24-3, but the Tigers have held a 4-1 edge in the last five meetings between the two schools.

• UWA POTENT OFFENSIVELY: The Tigers enter Saturday's contest with Delta State pacing the Gulf South Conference in scoring (45.8 ppg), total offense (477.0 ypg), and passing offense (295.4 ypg). UWA scored a season-high in points and racked-up 654 yards of offense in a 62-0 shutout of Shorter last weekend in Livingston.

• TIGERS SOLID DEFENSIVELY: West Alabama will bring the GSC's third-ranked total defense (293.0) to Parker Field-McCool Stadium this Saturday, Oct. 7. UWA is also ranked fourth in scoring defense, allowing 17.2 points per game.

• IT STARTS WITH SATTERWHITE: Junior quarterback Harry Satterwhite has been outstanding for the Tigers this season, completing 139-of-193 passes for 1,291 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. The Mobile, Ala., native and former McGill-Toolen star is averaging 258.2 yards per game to lead the GSC. He threw for a season-high 401 yards in a loss at Samford, while tossing four scores in last week's throttling of Shorter.

• ARMSTRONG LEADING GSC: Donta Armstrong, a 2016 All-GSC and All-America selection, is leading the GSC heading into week six with 23 receptions for 361 yards and three touchdowns. The Bruce, Miss., native is averaging 72.2 ypg.

• SAMUEL A FORCE AT LINEBACKER: Junior outside linebacker Terry Samuel has been a force for the Tigers' defense this season, totaling 41 tackles with 3.0 sacks. The Brewton, Ala., native ranks third in the GSC in tackles and sixth in sacks.
 

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QUICK-HITTERS: DELTA STATE STATESMEN
 

• BALLS & BELL TO ENTER DSU SPORTS HALL OF FAME: Former All-Americans Karl Balls (DE | 1983-86) and Rory Bell (SS | 1996-2000) will be inducted into the DSU Sports Hall of Fame this weekend. Balls lettered for the Statesmen from 1983-1986 for coach Jimmy "Red" Parker, while earning All-American honors on the defensive line in 1986. In 1984, Balls finished with 9.5 sacks to rank second in single-season history, while his 19.5 career sacks still rank fifth in program history. Bell helped lead one of the greatest turnarounds in Mississippi football history and propel the Statesmen to the 2000 NCAA Division II National Championship. The New Orleans, La., native lettered for coaches Todd Knight and Steve Campbell from 1996-2000. A unanimous All-America selection as a senior in 2000 and a three-time All-GSC pick, Bell finished his career with 282 tackles, including the second most in a single season (138, 2000). He ranks fifth on the career tackles chart today.

• DELTA DEFENSE CONTINUES GROWTH: Jerry Partridge has made an immediate impact in his first season as defensive coordinator for the Statesmen. Entering week six, the Statesmen rank No. 1 in the Gulf South Conference in rush defense (61.4 ypg), interceptions (9), sacks (19) and tackles-for-loss (49.0). The unit has made major strides in scoring defense, ranking third with a 14.6 points allowed per game average and fourth in total defense at 308.8 yards per game.

• ROBINSON'S HARLON HILL CAMPAIGN GAINING MOMENTUM: Senior running back Chris Robinson, a 2016 AFCA All-American, topped 100 yards for a fourth time this season, as the Bude, Miss., native amassed 106 yards rushing and a touchdown on 19 carries in DSU's 30-17 win at Mississippi College. The 5-foot-9 speedster ranks first in the GSC in touchdowns (8) and is currently second in rushing yards per game (105.6).  The Gulf Coast (Miss.) CC transfer led the nation in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game on 24 touchdowns in 2016.  

• PETERSON NEARING CAREER KICK RETURN RECORD: Senior running back and return specialist LaDarion Peterson returned four kicks for 89 yards on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Shorter to eclipse the 1,000 kick return yards mark at Delta State with 1,084. The Woodville, Miss., native, who was named All-GSC First Team last year as a returner, is the fourth member of the 1,000-Kick Return Yards Club.  Peterson (1,131 yards) needs 67 yards to break Jesse Jackson's (1974-77) school record 1,197 yards.

• CLEDANORD CAUSING A RUCKUS IN BACKFIELD: Outside linebacker Ovenson Cledanord (6-2/210/Jr.) has been a major thorn in the side of opponents this season, tallying 35 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 9.0 tackles-for-loss, three forced fumbles and an interception. He is currently leading the GSC in TFLs and forced fumbles while ranking second in sacks (5.0). In last week's 30-17 victory over Mississippi College, the Greenacres, Fla., native tallied 12 tackles, 1.0 TFL and forced a fumble.     

• MCBRIDE PACING THE GSC IN TACKLES: Senior Missouri Southern transfer JohnQuavious McBride enters week five of the season leading the GSC in tackles with 45, averaging 9.5 tackles per game. In last week's 30-17 win at MC, the Atlanta native recorded 11 tackles.   
 
• SCIORROTTA APPROACHING 300 CAREER POINTS & GSC RECORD: With Delta State's career scoring record firmly in his grasp, senior kicker Vince Sciorrotta is close to becoming the first Statesmen to score 300 points in a career. Only five players in the history of the Gulf South Conference have eclipsed the 300-point plateau. The Gainesville, Ga., native enters Saturday's game with West Alabama with 292 points, tied for second in GSC history, after making 35 field goals and 178 extra points in his four-year career. Sciorrotta is 5-of-8 on field goals and 22-of-23 on extra points this season for the Statesmen. Former Valdosta State kicker Will Rhody (2002-2004) owns the GSC record for points scored kicking with 308. Sciorrotta needs 17 points to become the GSC's all-time leading scorer by kick, and three PATs to become the league's all-time extra point leader.     

• GROUND & POUND: The Statesmen enter Saturday's contest with West Alabama leading the GSC in rushing, averaging a whopping 261.6 yards per game. Chris Robinson, who ranks second in the GSC, averages 105.6 yards per game and 6.1 yards per carry through the first five games of the season. Breck Ruddick (3rd) and LaDarion Peterson (14th) are also in the top 15 in the GSC in yards per game. Delta State ranks 11th in NCAA DII in rush yards per game. The Statesmen rushed for a season-best 394 yards versus Chowan (W, 42-13) and totaled 280 yards in the 30-17 win at Mississippi College.       

• WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE: Delta State is 23-2 under head coach Todd Cooley when winning the turnover battle, including a 4-0 mark this season.     
 
• LEADING AT THE HALF: Delta State is 26-0 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 28-5 all-time when scoring 30 or more points against an opponent under head coach Todd Cooley.

• TELEVISED RESULTS: Delta State will have three games featured this season on the Gulf South Conference's ESPN3 Game of the Week. The Statesmen are 24-11 all-time in televised contests. In his three-plus seasons at DSU, coach Todd Cooley is 9-4 in televised games.