GAME NOTES: No. 11 West Florida @ Delta State
Complete weekly release with notes, rankings stats & more in PDF

CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Statesmen (0-4, 0-2 GSC) of Delta State University host the No. 11 ranked Argonauts (3-1, 2-0 GSC) of the University of West Florida on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. in the 2nd annual Hall of Fame Game at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Delta State will induct its 2018 class into the Sports Hall of Fame during a special halftime ceremony. The 2018 Induction class includes Ken "Casey" Baker (Track & Field), Londale Bankston (Football), Weenonah Montgomery Dearing (Women's Tennis/Basketball), Scott Eyster (Football), Rodney Francis (Men's Basketball), Jay Hale (Men's Golf), Jasper Johnson (Men's Basketball), Trey LaBella (Men's Swimming & Diving), Leslie Pourciau Patten (Softball), Mike Rosamond (Baseball), Jennifer Rushing (Women's Basketball) and Marcus Van Every (Baseball).

Delta State and West Florida are meeting for third time in the series and the second time in Cleveland.  In the last meeting between the two schools, the Statesmen, who lead the series 2-0, defeated the Argonauts,  28-25, on Oct. 14, 2017 at Blue Wahoos Stadium in Pensacola.  DSU also claimed a thrilling, 55-51, win over UWF in the Argos last trip to Parker-McCool on Oct. 15, 2016.
 
The Statesmen have gotten off to an uncharacteristically slow start at 0-4 this season. It's the first time the Green-and-White have been 0-4 to start a season since Rick Rhoades' 2002 team. In the 84-year history of the program, Delta State has gone 0-4 to start a campaign six times, including the 1997 club that got off to the worst start in school history at 0-7 under Todd Knight before winning their last three games. Knight's 1998 squad would go on to win the program's first Gulf South Conference title. In 1958 with coach Gene Chadwick at the helm, DSU went 0-6 to start the year and in 1926 under coach W.J. Parks, the Statesmen lost their first five contests before defeating the Cleveland Independents, 6-0. In his third season as head coach, A.D. Dickson and DSU started the 1938 season 0-4.
 

BEHIND ENEMY LINES: WEST FLORIDA

• Delta State and West Florida are meeting for third time in the series on Saturday, Sept. 29 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Statesmen lead the series 2-0, including a 28-25 victory over the Argonauts on Oct. 14, 2017 in the last meeting between the schools. DSU claimed a thrilling 55-51 win over UWF in the Argos last trip to Cleveland on Oct. 15, 2016.
   
• Sam Vaughn, a 6-foot-3 senior quarterback, leads the GSC in passing entering Saturday's game at Delta State. The Fort Pierce, Fla., native and Georgia transfer has completed 89-of-148 passes for 1,218 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. He is averaging 304.5 yards per game.
   
• Tate Lehtio. a 5-foot-10 junior receiver, has caught a conference best 23 passes for 328 yards and a touchdown. Ishmel Morrow, a 5-foot-11 senior, is second on the club with 19 receptions for 267 yards and a touchdown.
   
• Gavin Burford, a 6-foot-2 senior transfer from Abilene Christian, paces the Argonauts with 31 tackles from his outside linebacker spot. He is currently tied for third in the GSC at 7.8 tackles per game.
   
• West Florida possesses one of the GSC's most dangerous special teams weapons in junior kicker Austin Williams. The Phelan, Calif., native has made a GSC best 8-of-10 field goals this season, including a long of 50. He is also 13-of-14 on PATs to average 9.3 ppg.
   
• Pete Shinnick is in his third season as head coach at UWF. He owns a 103-51 record, including a 19-11 mark at UWF, in 17 seasons as a head coach.       

IN THE HUDDLE: DELTA STATE

• DELTA STATE SET FOR HALL OF FAME WEEKEND: A "dandy" dozen former Statesmen and Lady Statesmen are set to be inducted into the Delta State University Athletics Hall of Fame as part of Hall of Fame Weekend on Saturday, Sept. 29. This year's class represents the best of what Delta State Athletics has to offer on and off the field. The 2018 Induction class includes Ken Baker (Track & Field), Londale Bankston (Football), Weenonah Montgomery Dearing (Women's Tennis/Basketball), Scott Eyster (Football), Rodney Francis (Men's Basketball), Jay Hale (Men's Golf), Jasper Johnson (Men's Basketball), Trey LaBella (Men's Swimming & Diving), Leslie Pourciau Patten (Softball), Mike Rosamond (Baseball), Jennifer Rushing (Women's Basketball) and Marcus Van Every (Baseball). DSU Athletics will also present Dr. Bob Ferguson (Football) with the prestigious Distinguished Statesman Award. The award is presented annually by the DSU Athletic Alumni Association to a former Delta State University Statesmen or Lady Statesman who has distinguished themselves through contributions to the programs in which a situation, institution, or movement has been changed for the better.The 2018 Coaches Hall of Fame also includes a pair of inductees, Barbara Varner (Tennis) and Dominic Bevelaque (Football | 1949-52). Coach Varner was a pioneer, as Delta State's first female tennis coach. Coach Bevelaque enjoyed a distinguished career as a football coach.
   
• 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 (40) and sacks (2.5). The 6-foot-2 senior from Greenacres, Fla., enters Saturday's game with West Florida averaging 10.0 tackles per game to rank second in the GSC. 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, while recording 12 tackles and a TFL versus North Greenville last week. 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).
  
  
• SHEGOG GROWING INTO QB ROLE: True freshman quarterback Patrick Shegog set career-highs for completions (23), attempts (44) and passing yards (295) in last week's start versus North Greenville. The Batesville, Miss., native also rushed for 30 yards and touchdown in the 33-20 loss. His 295 passing yards were the most by a true freshman since Tyler Cameron threw for 491 yards versus West Alabama on Oct. 24, 2015. The former South Panola HS standout has completed 57-of-116 passes for 568 yards and a touchdown this season. He has also rushed 62 times for 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
   
• DOUBLE-H: Senior receiver Tyler Harrell and junior tight end Ty Harris recorded career performances versus the Crusaders of North Greenville. Harrell caught six passes for 137 yards, while Harris grabbed four passes for 82 yards. 
   
• AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS: The Statesmen are scheduled to play five ranked opponents in 2018, including No. 3 Grand Valley State (4-0), No. 6 West Georgia (4-0), No. 11 West Florida (3-1), No. 13 Valdosta State (4-0),  No. 21 West Alabama (3-1) and No. 25 Tarleton State (3-0). Delta State is 0-2 this season against ranked opponents, falling 44-13 at Tarleton State and 21-10 to GVSU, and the Statesmen and 11-9 all-time under coach Todd Cooley against teams in the nation's top 25.
   
• ECTOR APPROACHING MILESTONE: Outside linebacker Chandler Ector needs five tackles to eclipse 200 in his career at Delta State. The Decatur, Ga., native enters the week with 195 career stops, 24.5 tackles-for-loss and 7.0 sacks in 35 games. He's averaged 5.7 tackles per game during his career. He is currently second on the team this season with 26 tackles, including 3.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks.  
   
• MILLS PACING GSC PACK: Senior punter Cody Mills has been a major weapon for the Statesmen this season, nailing a GSC leading 1,372 yards on 30 kicks. The Oxford, Miss., native is averaging 45.7 yards per punt, including 13 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line. He's also booted 10 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 third in the GSC in tackles-for-loss with 5.5 for minus 11 yards. The Smiths Station, Ala., native has played in all four games for DSU, recording 20 tackles, 5.5 tackles-for-loss and six QB hurries.
   
• PICKETT'S FIRST: Redshirt sophomore defensive back Chris Pickett intercepted his first career pass in last week's clash with North Greenville. The Fort Walton Beach, Fla., native also recorded a career-high seven tackles against the Crusaders.   
   
• 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.  
          
• 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 25-11 record when scoring first 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.