GAME NOTES: Delta State @ Bowie State - NCAA 1st Round
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Statesmen (8-3, No. 5 seed) of Delta State University will travel to Bowie State University on Saturday, Nov. 18, as the Bulldogs (9-1, No. 4 seed) host the opening round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship Playoff. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. EST/12 p.m. CST at Bulldogs Stadium.  Saturday's showdown will be the first meeting between the two schools in any sport. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for senior citizens/students and may be purchased at the gate. Philip Tang and Lane Quinton will broadcast the game on the Statesmen Sports Network (WMJW 107.5 FM).  

Delta State is making its ninth appearance in the NCAA DII Football Championship Playoff and its second under head coach Todd Cooley. Delta State, which owns a 14-7 all-time in eight previous NCAA postseason appearances, claimed the 2000 NCAA Division II National Championship and finished runners-up in 2010. The Statesmen are also 5-0 all-time versus teams from the CIAA, including a 3-0 mark, all on the road, in NCAA postseason play. In 2006, the Statesmen defeated Elizabeth City State (17-10) and North Carolina Central (24-17) in back-to-back weeks en-route to a national semifinal finish. DSU clipped Shaw 45-7 in the opening round of the playoffs in 2007.

West Alabama (9-2, No. 1 seed) received a first round bye and will face the winner of the Delta State-Bowie State next Saturday, Nov. 25 in Livingston, Ala. On the other side of the bracket, Virginia State (10-1, No. 2 seed) hosts West Georgia (8-3, No. 7 seed) while Wingate (9-1, No. 3 seed) squares-off against West Florida (7-3, No. 6 seed). The winners of those two games will also play in next week's second round. Delta State is 2-1 against Super Region II with victories over  West Georgia (17-7) and West Florida 28-25), while falling to UWA (29-26) earlier this season. Please visit NCAA.com for complete brackets and game information for other regions across the country.          
 

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QUICK-HITTERS: NEWS, NOTES, & SIDEBAR STATS

STATESMEN HAVE ENJOYED POSTSEASON SUCCESS: The Statesmen are making their ninth appearance in the NCAA DII Football Championship Playoff and their second trip under head coach Todd Cooley. Delta State, claimed the 2000 NCAA Division II National Championship and finished runners-up in 2010, is 14-7 all-time in eight previous NCAA postseason appearances. Delta State is also 5-0 all-time versus teams from the CIAA, including a 3-0 mark in NCAA postseason play.

DSU TRYING TO JOIN ELITE GROUP: The Statesmen are attempting to become the fourth Gulf South Conference school to win multiple NCAA Division II National Championships in football. North Alabama and Valdosta State have both won three titles each, and former GSC member Troy won two before making the move to Division I.
 
    • North Dakota State (5): 1983,1985,1986,1988, 1990
    • NW Missouri St (4): 1998, 1999, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016
    • Grand Valley State (4): 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
    • Valdosta State (3): 2004, 2007, 2012
    • North Alabama (3): 1993, 1994, 1995
    • Southwest Texas St. (2): 1981, 1982
    • Troy State (2): 1984, 1987
    • Northern Colorado (2): 1996, 1997
    • Minnesota-Duluth (2): 2008, 2010

GSC's FOOTBALL NATIONAL TITLES: The Gulf South Conference boasts 11 football national title and 51 national titles overall as a conference.  Valdosta State and North Alabama own three, Troy University (formerly Troy State) has two, with Delta State, West Alabama, and Jacksonville State claiming one apiece.
 
    • Delta State (2000)
    • North Alabama (1993, 1994, 1995)
    • Valdosta State (2004, 2007, 2012)
    • West Alabama (1971)
    • Jacksonville State (1992)
    • Troy State (1984, 1987)

TEN STATESMEN NAMED TO ALL-GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE TEAMS: After finishing the regular season 8-3 overall and 5-3 in GSC play, Delta State University placed 10 Statesmen on either the First or Second All-GSC teams. Innis Claud (OG), Ovenson Cledanord (LB), and Jamoral Graham (CB) were named to the All-GSC First Team. Three-time selection Landry Tullo (LB) headlines DSU's All-GSC Second Team selections. He is joined on the squad by Chris Robinson (RB), George Roberts (OL), Brandon Gaddy (DT), Vince Sciorrotta (K), Sam Barge (P), and LaDarion Peterson (RS). Robinson and Roberts were 2016 All-GSC First Team selections.

ROBINSON CONERLY TROPHY NOMINEE: Running back Chris Robinson is a nominee for the C Spire Conerly Trophy for the second straight year. The Bude, Miss., native topped 2,000 career yards rushing in a 52-20 win over Florida Tech last week, rushing for 210 yards and four touchdowns. Robinson has amassed 2,055 yards on 400 carries with 33 rushing touchdowns, 40 total touchdowns, moving past David Yeates (1,896) into eighth place on the DSU career rushing list. His 1,079 yards this season are 11th on the school's single season rushing list and he is the first Statesmen to top 1,000 in a season since Trevar Deed in 2011.  He has caught 21 passes for 698 yards and seven touchdowns in 21 games for the Statesmen. Robinson was a finalist for the 2016 Conerly Trophy after establishing a new school and GSC record for touchdowns scored with 24. Robinson led the GSC in rushing, carrying the ball 186 times for 976 yards and 19 touchdowns while catching 37 passes for 551 yards and five touchdowns in 2016.
 
SCIORROTTA TOPS GSC RECORD BOOK FOR KICKERS; SECOND ALL-TIME: With his seven points versus Valdosta State, Delta State senior Vince Sciorrotta became the career scoring leader in the Gulf South Conference by a kicker. His 323 career points scored broke the record held previously by former Valdosta State kicker Will Rhody (2002-2004), who accumulated 309 points (51 FG/158 PAT). Sciorrotta has connected on 43 career field goals and a GSC record 194 PATs. He ranks second all-time in the GSC record book in scoring overall, trailing only Demarcus Blount (UNA, 382).     

CLEDANORD A DISRUPTIVE FORCE: Heading into Saturday's showdown with Bowie State, junior linebacker Ovenson Cledanord has proven to be one of the GSC's most disruptive defenders, ranking fifth in the GSC in tackles (76) while sitting second with 7.5 sacks for minus 50 yards. The Greenacres, Fla., native, is also second in the GSC with 13.0 tackles-for-loss.

TULLO LEADING STATESMEN IN TACKLES; ECLIPSES 200 CAREER STOPS: Senior linebacker Landry Tullo's distinguished career at Delta State has been hampered at times by injuries, but despite the setbacks, the Hoover, Ala., has remained a highly productive member of the Statesman defense eclipsing the 200 career tackle mark this season with 239, which ranks 10th in DSU history. A three-time All-Gulf South Conference selection, the 6-foot-1, 225-pound middle linebacker ranks second in the GSC this year in tackles with 88, while his 11.0 tackles-for-loss are tied for fourth.

ELEVEN STRAIGHT UNDER 450 YARDS & 35 POINTS: Delta State's defense enters the postseason on a 11 game streak of holding opponents under 450 yards of total offense and 35 points. In fact, West Florida (443),  North Alabama (417) and North Greenville (438) are the only teams this year to top 400 yards of total offense against the Statesmen, while Valdosta State (34) and North Greenville (30) are the only opponents to eclipse 30 points in a game.

LOCKDOWN CORNERS: Seniors Jamoral Graham (6-0, 175) and Devontae Wilson (5-11, 180) have been two of the GSC's most successful shutdown corners this season. Both defensive backs enter Saturday's clash with Bowie State with three interceptions apiece, while Graham ranks third in the GSC in passes defensed with 13. Wilson returned an interception 100 yards versus Tarleton State for a touchdown, tying the GSC record earlier this year.  

NAUGHTY BY NATURE DEFENSIVELY: Delta State's "Green Shirts" defense has been naughty at times this season, leading the Gulf South Conference in sacks with 40 for minus 263 yards and tackles-for-loss with 96.0 for minus 412 yards. Defensive coordinator Jerry Partridge's Statesmen also rank fourth IN NCAA Division II in Red Zone Defense, allowing just a 60.5 percent conversion rate, sixth in sacks, ninth in tackles-for-loss, 17th in turnovers forced (26), 18th in rushing defense (98.5 ypg) and 21st in interceptions (14).

GROUND & POUND: Behind an offensive line that averages 6-foot-5 and 335 pounds, the Statesmen lead the GSC in rushing per game (214.3). Chris Robinson leads the GSC with 1,079 yards (98.6 ypg) with Breck Ruddick ranking 10th (49.4) and LaDarion Peterson 13th (34.5).       

WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE: Delta State is 25-2 under head coach Todd Cooley when winning the turnover battle, including a 7-0 mark this season.     
 
LEADING AT THE HALF: Delta State is 27-0 under head coach Todd Cooley when leading at half-time. The Statesmen are 4-16 when trailing and 0-2 when tied at the half.

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