GAME NOTES: Delta State University @ University of West Georgia
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - A week removed from winning it's first game of the 2018 campaign, Delta State University will face its toughest test of the season on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, as the Statesmen (1-7, 1-5 GSC) travel to Carrollton, Ga., to face the No. 3-ranked Wolves (9-0, 6-0 GSC) of the University of West Georgia. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. at Ra-Lin Field at University Stadium. The Statesmen claimed a thrilling 46-20 victory over Shorter University in the GSC-TV Live Game of the Week on Thursday, Oct. 25, while the Wolves are coming off a 36-21 win at Mississippi College.     

Saturday's match-up is the 33rd meeting between the schools on the gridiron and the 15th at Ra-Lin Field at University Stadium. The Statesmen lead the series 19-13, including a 9-5 mark in Carrollton. Delta State defeated West Georgia, 17-7, on Sept. 16, 2017 in the last meeting between the schools. Breck Ruddick threw for 195 yards, while Chris Robinson rushed for 106 yards and a touchdown. West Georgia claimed a 34-24 victory over DSU on Sept. 17, 2016 in the last match-up in Carrollton.   

The Delta State football team scored on offense, defense, and special teams to record its first win of the season, a 46-20 victory over Shorter University at home on Thursday, Oct. 25 in the Gulf South Conference TV Game of the Week. In addition to four offensive touchdowns, the Statesmen also put points on the board with a field goal, a punt return for a touchdown, an interception return for a touchdown, and a safety. Freshman quarterback Patrick Shegog tallied career-highs in passing yards (319) and passing touchdowns (three), while Tony Daggett caught a career-high nine passes for 102 yards. Defensively, Darren Gardenhire finished the night with four tackles, three pass break-ups, a 73-yard interception return for touchdown, and a 35-yard punt return for a score.              
 

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BEHIND ENEMY LINES: WEST GEORGIA

• Delta State and West Georgia are meeting for 33rd time in the series on Saturday, Nov. 3, as the Statesmen (1-7, 1-5 GSC) travel to Carrollton, Ga., to face the No. 3-ranked Wolves (9-0, 6-0 GSC). The Statesmen lead the all-time series 19-13 after claiming a 17-7 victory on Sept. 16, 2017 in the last meeting between the programs. DSU is also 9-5 against UWG at Ra-Lin Field.
   
• David Dean, who is 18-4 in two seasons at UWG, is in his 11th season as a college head coach, posting an impressive 97-31 overall record. In nine seasons at Valdosta State, Dean went 69-27 while leading the Blazers to the 2007 and 2012 NCAA Division II national championships.
   
• The Wolves have one of NCAA Division II's stingiest defenses, allowing a Gulf South Conference low 278.2 yards per game (15th NCAA). UWG is also tops in scoring defense, as opponents are scoring a mere 16.2 points per game (11th NCAA).
   
• Senior running back Devontae Jackson  leads the GSC in rushing at 117.8 yards per game. The Marietta, Ga., native is UWG's all-time leading rusher and currently has 1,060 yards on 168 rushes with 11 touchdowns this season. Jackson, who ranks 10th in NCAA Division II in total rushing yards, is the only rusher in the GSC to top 1,000 yards this season.
   
• Montrell Pardue (S/Tenn.-Chattanooga) and Korie Rogers (LB/Clemson) spearhead the Wolves defensive attack. Pardue leads UWG with 52 tackles, while Rogers has recorded 46 tackles, 5.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks and one interception.  

 

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SHEGOG NAMED GSC OFFENSIVE/FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK; LEADS ALL FRESHMAN QBS IN GSC: Patrick Shegog, a 5-foot-11 freshman from Batesville, Miss., was named the Gulf South Conference's Offensive Player and Freshman of the Week after leading the Statesmen to a 46-20 victory over Shorter University on Thursday, Oct. 25 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Batesville, Miss., native completed 22-of-29 passes for a career-high 319 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. His 319 passing yards are the most for a DSU quarterback since Tyler Sullivan threw for 382 at West Alabama on Oct. 8, 2016 (22 games). The three touchdown tosses are the most since Breck Ruddick matched the total at Shorter on Sept. 22, 2017 (16 games). In eight games, Shegog has completed 134-of-234 passes for 1,476 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has also rushed for 277 yards and three additional scores to account for 219.1 yards of total offense per game.

CLEDANORD & HERRINGTON PACING STATESMEN DEFENDERS: Senior linebackers Ovenson Cledanord and David Herrington are pacing the Statesmen defense this season in tackles, ranking fourth and fifth respectively in the GSC tackles per game. Cledanord has totaled 59 tackles (7.4 TPG) this season despite a broken hand, while Herrington has 51 (7.0 TPG).  

ON THE BIG SCREEN: Delta State appeared in its final game this season on ESPN3 in the GSC-TV Game of the Week, presented by Florida's Space Coast, this past Thursday, Oct. 25, defeating the Shorter University Hawks, 46-20, at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Statesmen fell to Florida Tech (30-12) and West Alabama (17-14) in their first two appearances on ESPN3 this year. The Statesmen are 23-13 all-time in televised contests, including a 12-6 mark under coach Cooley.          

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS: The Statesmen have faced four ranked opponents thus far in 2018 after falling to  No. 10 Valdosta State University, 59-28, on Oct. 6. DSU is 0-4 this season against opponents in the AFCA Top 25 Poll after losses to No. 3 Grand Valley State (21-10), No. 11 West Florida (30-21), No. 21 Tarleton State (44-13) and the result versus VSU. Delta State is scheduled to face No. 3 West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 3. The Statesmen and 11-11 all-time under coach Todd Cooley against teams in the nation's top 25.

MILLS PACING GSC PACK: Senior punter Cody Mills has been a major weapon for the Statesmen this season, nailing a GSC leading 2,472 yards on 55 kicks. The Oxford, Miss., native is averaging a career-high 44.9 yards per punt, including 22 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line. He's also booted 17 punts greater than 50 yards, including the fourth longest punt in school history, a 76-yard effort at Tarleton State.  

WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE: Delta State is 26-2 under head coach Todd Cooley when winning the turnover battle.     

RACE TO 30: The Statesmen are 32-5 all-time when scoring 30 or more points against an opponent under head coach Todd Cooley.

CRADLE OF COACHES: Delta State University has more than 300 alumni coaching football at every level of the game? In fact, Cleveland has become a "Cradle of Coaches" as several high-profile jobs have been filled recently by Statesman alums or former assistants. This summer former Delta State standout Pete Golding was hired by Nick Saban as his co-DC at the University of Alabama. From 2002-2005, Golding anchored the Statesman secondary, racking-up 285 tackles with five career interceptions. The two-time All-Gulf South Conference selection ranks fourth in school history in career tackles. He began his career as a graduate assistant under former head coach Rick Rhoades and thrived as DC for four-time GSC champion head coach Ron Roberts at DSU and SE Louisiana before heading to UT-San Antonio.