GAME NOTES: North Greenville (1-1) @ Delta State (0-3)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Statesmen (0-3, 0-1 GSC) of Delta State University host the Crusaders (1-1, 0-0 GSC) of North Greenville University on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. inside Parker Field-McCool Stadium in the 33rd annual Pig Pickin' Classic. Delta State is 4-1 in Pig Pickin' match-ups under head coach Todd Cooley. The annual Pig Pickin' Festival brings over 10,000 alumni, fans and friends back to campus for two days of food, fun and football in the Mississippi Delta. For more information on the event, please visit DSUPigPickin.com.

Delta State and North Greenville are meeting for the third time in series history and the first as Gulf South Conference opponents on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Statesmen have won the previous two meetings, claiming a thrilling, 33-30 overtime, victory last season in Tigerville, S.C., and an impressive, 28-23, win in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship Playoffs on Dec. 3, 2011 in Cleveland under then-head coach Ron Roberts. In a twist of irony, former NGU head coach Jamey Chadwell, who led the Crusaders into that quarterfinal round match-up, would replace Roberts the next year. Chadwell spent the 2012 season patrolling the sidelines in Cleveland, posting a 3-7 overall record.  
 
Saturday's 33rd Pig Pickin' Classic will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network beginning at 5 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Association Game Day Report. Matt Jones, Philip Tang and Lane Quinton have the call on WMJW 107.5 FM and online at GoStatesmen.com. 

BEHIND ENEMY LINES: NORTH GREENVILLE

• Delta State and North Greenville are meeting for the third time in series history on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. and this year's game is featured as part of DSU's 33rd annual Pig Pickin' festival. The Statesmen have won the previous two meetings, claiming a 33-30 overtime victory last season and a 28-23 win in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II Football Championship Playoffs on Dec. 3, 2011 in Cleveland.
• Will Hunter, a 6-foot-1 senior quarterback, leads the Crusader offensive attack, averaging 251.5 yards passing per game. The Lexington, S.C., native has completed 52-of-79 passes for 503 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions in NGU's first two games.
• After Hurrican Florence forced the cancellation of last week's game with Mississippi College, the Crusaders enter Saturday's game at Delta State averaging 18.5 points and 294.0 yards per game. NGU currently ranks seventh in the GSC in scoring offense and sixth in scoring defense (27.0 ppg).
• Junior defensive back Matthew Thomas is currently tied for seventh in the GSC in tackles per game (6.5).
• Sophomore wide out Lucas Catalfomo enters Saturday's game fourth in the GSC inb receiving yards per game (66.0). The sophomore transfer from Presbyterian College has caught 11 passes for 132 yards and a pair of touchdowns through his first two games at NGU.
• Jeff Farrington is in his sixth season as head coach at NGU. The Citadel graduate has led the Crusaders to a 33-26 overall record, including an appearance in the 2016 NCAA Division II Football Championship Playoffs.

 

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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.

SHEGOG MAKES FIRST START: Freshman quarterback Patrick Shegog made his first career start for Delta State in last week's 30-12 loss at Florida Tech. The Batesville, Miss., native completed 15-of-33 passes for 112 yards, including his first touchdown, a 22-yard strike to Tyler Harrell. Shegog also rushed 21 times for 92 yards, but netted 46 after losses due to five sacks. The former South Panola standout is 34-of-72 passing for 271 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He has also rushed for 224 yards, netting 140.

TILLMAN RECORDS CAREER BEST: Senior safety Brandon Tillman recorded a career-high eight tackles versus Florida Tech in last week's match-up at Panthers Stadium. The Grenada, Miss., native is currently second on the team with 20 tackles. As a junior in 2017, the former Northeast Miss. CC transfer tallied 56 tackles, nine passes defended and forced two fumbles.         

CLEDANORD LEADING WAY ON DEFENSE: Ovenson Cledanord has picked up right where he left off last season, ranking in the top three in the Gulf South Conference in tackles (28), tackles-for-loss (2.5) and sacks (2.5). The 6-foot-2 senior from Greenacres, Fla., enters Saturday's game with North Greenville averaging 9.3 tackles per game. He turned in a season-high 13 stops, including one tackle-for-loss and one sack, in a 21-10 loss to No. 8 Grand Valley State earlier this season. Cledanord finished 2017 ranked in the GSC's top five in tackles (85), tackles-for-loss (13.0/71 yards) and sacks (7.5/50 yards).

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS: The Statesmen are scheduled to play four ranked opponents in 2018, including No. 5 Grand Valley State (3-0), No. 8 West Georgia (3-0), No. 10 West Florida (2-1), No. 16 Valdosta State (3-0) and No. 23 West Alabama (2-1). Florida Tech and Tarleton State are also among opponents receiving votes in the AFCA's Top 25 Poll. Delta State is 0-1 this season against ranked opponents, falling 21-10 to GVSU, and the Statesmen and 11-8 all-time under coach Todd Cooley against teams in the nation's top 25.

ECTOR, HERRINGTON & TILLMAN LEADING BY EXAMPLE: Seniors Chandler Ector, Brandon Tillman and David Herrington are providing leadership for defensive coordinator Jerry Partridge's unit this season. All three are ranked in the GSC's top 10 in tackles, as Tillman (6.7) is tied for sixth in tackles per game followed by Ector (6.3) in seventh and Herrington (6.0) in ninth.

MILLS PACING GSC PACK: Senior punter Cody Mills has been a major weapon for the Statesmen this season, nailing a GSC leading 1,090 yards on 24 kicks. The Oxford, Miss., native is averaging 45.4 yards per punt, including nine kicks downed inside the 20-yard line. He's also booted eight punts greater than 50 yards, including the fourth longest punt in school history, a 76-yard effort at Tarleton State.

KING CLIMBING STAT RANKINGS: Junior middle linebacker Vada King is currently tied for the GSC lead in tackles-for-loss with 4.5 for minus 10 yards. The Smiths Station, Ala., native has played in all three games for DSU, recording 14 tackles, 4.5 tackles-for-loss and three QB hurries.

TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE: Junior corner Darren Gardenhire scored Delta State's first defensive touchdown of 2018, returning an interception 15 yards for a score last week versus Florida Tech. In three games, the Los Angeles, Calif., native has recorded six tackles, intercepted two passes and defended three others.   

GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE OPENERS: The Statesmen traveled to Melbourne, Fla., to open the Gulf South Conference schedule this past Saturday, Sept. 15, falling 30-12 to Florida Tech at Panthers Stadium. Since 2000, Delta State is 12-7, including a 3-3 record under head coach Todd Cooley.  

ON THE BIG SCREEN: Delta State will appear three times this season on ESPN3 in the GSC-TV Game of the Week, presented by Florida's Space Coast. The Statesmen fell to Florida Tech, 30-12, in their first appearance on ESPN3 this year. DSU will also appear on ESPN3 at No. 8 West Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 13 and again versus Shorter on Thursday, Oct. 25 at Parker-McCool. The Statesmen are 22-12 all-time in televised contests, including a 11-5 mark under coach Cooley.          

GROUND & POUND: The Statesmen have been nearly unbeatable when out-rushing the opposition, posting a 26-3 record under head coach Todd Cooley. Delta State went 9-1 in 2017 when out-rushing its opponents. DSU rushed for a season-high 215 yards last week versus No. 8 Grand Valley State. Sophomore running back Kelon Wilson is ninth in GSC in rushing yards per game at 49.5 while freshman quarterback Patrick Shegog is 11th (47.0).

LEADING AT THE HALF: Delta State is 28-0 under head coach Todd Cooley when leading at half-time. The Statesmen are 7-20 when trailing and 0-2 when tied at the break.
        
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE: Delta State is 25-2 under head coach Todd Cooley when winning the turnover battle.     

RACE TO 30: The Statesmen are 31-5 all-time when scoring 30 or more points against an opponent under head coach Todd Cooley.

FIRST STRIKE: Delta State owns a 25-10 record when scoring first under head coach Todd Cooley.

EXTRA YARDAGE: Most coaches don't like for their teams to put up more penalty yardage than their opposition, but the Statesmen are 22-5 under head coach Todd Cooley when leading in that category.