GAME NOTES: No. 8 Grand Valley State @ Delta State
Complete weekly release with notes, stats, rankings & more in PDF

CLEVELAND, Miss. - Two of NCAA DII's most successful programs since 2000 will square off at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 8, as the Statesmen (0-1, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University host the No. 8 ranked Lakers (1-0, 0-0 GLIAC) of Grand Valley State University. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the Statesmen Sports Network beginning at 5 p.m. with the DSU Alumni Association Statesman Game Day Report. Matt Jones, Philip Tang and Lane Quinton will have the call. Links to the radio broadcast and video stream are available on GoStatesmen.com.

Saturday's game marks the first contest of a two-year, home-and-home scheduling agreement between the schools, and just the second meeting all-time between the Lakers and Statesmen. Grand Valley State claimed a 49-30 victory over Delta State in the NCAA DII National Semifinals on Dec. 10, 2006 at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Mich., in the previous meeting. The Lakers, who were picked to win the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title, defeated No. 13 Indianapolis, 30-7, in last Thursday's season-opener, while the Statesmen fell, 44-13, at Tarleton State. 
 

FACE THE FOE: GRAND VALLEY STATE

• Delta State and Grand Valley State are meeting for the second time in the history of the series and the first at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. The Lakers defeated the Statesmen, 49-30, on Dec. 10, 2006 in Allendale, Mich., in the NCAA Division II National Semifinals in the last meeting between the two schools.
• The Lakers are one of NCAA Division II's most successful programs, having claimed four national championships and finishing runner-up three times. GVSU is the winningest FBS, FCS and NCAA DII program in the country, boasting a 391-142-3 (.732) record all-time.
• GVSU is 172-26 overall and 69-18 on the road since 2001 when ranked in the AFCA Top 25 or D2Football.com national polls.
• Led by Bart Williams' 243 yards passing on 18-of-36 completions, the No. 10 ranked Lakers defeated Indianapolis, 30-7, at Lubbers Stadium in Allendale, Mich., in the season-opener on Thursday, Aug. 30. Chawntez Moss also rushed for 135 yards on 15 carries to lead the GVSU ground game.  Taylor Bradfield and Isaiah Nkansah led GVSU defensively with seven tackles each.
• Last season, GVSU led the nation in pass defense (127.5 ypg) and ranked ninth nationally in scoring defense, allowing 13.0 points per game.
• Matt Mitchell is in his ninth season as head coach at Grand Valley State. The Cornell College alum is 78-23 during his tenure, ranking second in career wins at GVSU. Mitchell trails current Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, who won 118 games with the Lakers.  
 

INSIDE THE STATESMEN: NEWS, NOTES & SIDEBARS

HOME SWEET HOME: In arguably the biggest home opener in the 48-year history of Parker Field-McCool Stadium, the Statesmen will face perennial national power Grand Valley State (1-0) on Saturday in Cleveland. Coach Cooley and the Statesmen are 5-0 in their previous home openers.
 
STATESMEN FALL IN OPENER AT TARLETON STATE: Despite throwing for 253 yards last Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas, Delta State could not find any offensive rhythm en route to a 44-13 loss to Tarleton State. The Texans (1-0) took advantage of two interception returns for touchdowns while rushing for 252 yards in the win. Several newcomers made their debuts for the Statesmen in the loss, including freshman receiver Corintheus Edmonds, who led DSU with six receptions. Senior linebackers Chandler Ector and Ovenson Cledanord led the defensive unit with eight tackles each.

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS: The Statesmen are scheduled to play four ranked opponents in 2018, including No. 2 West Florida (1-0), No. 8 Grand Valley State (1-0), No. 12 West Alabama (1-0) and No. 19 West Georgia (1-0). Florida Tech and Valdosta State are also among opponents receiving votes in the AFCA's Top 25 Poll. Delta State went 2-2 against ranked opponents in 2017 and the Statesmen and 11-7 all-time under coach Todd Cooley against teams in the nation's top 25.

FRESH FACES MAKE IMPACT FOR DSU: Several freshmen made their debuts for the Statesmen last week versus Tarleton State, including Robbie Evans, who started at running back and finished the day with five carries for 21 yards and two receptions for 15. Corintheus Edmonds led all receivers with six grabs, while Patrick Shegog completed 7-of-9 passes for 58 and engineered DSU's lone touchdown drive of the game in the fourth quarter. Damon Moore (OL), Jakaylen Jackson (WR), Stanley Talley (DE), Davieon Wilson (DT) and Rondey Luckett (OL) all contributed in some way for the Green-and-White.

WILSON SCORES FIRST CAREER TD: Sophomore running back Kelon Wilson scored his first career touchdown for Delta State, plunging in from 10 yards out late in the fourth quarter of last week's season-opener at Tarleton State. The Sachse, Texas, native rushed for 32 yards on six carries, all coming in the second half.

MILLS DELIVERS IN RETURN: Senior punter Cody Mills delivered in a big way for the Statesmen in his return to the gridiron, punting six times for 309 yards versus Tarleton State. The Oxford, Miss., native, who missed all of the 2017 season due to injury, averaged 51.5 yards per punt, including the fourth longest punt in school history, a 76-yard effort in the second quarter. He finished the evening with three touchbacks, two punts of 50-plus yards, and two kicks downed inside the 20-yard line. In all, Mills totaled 562 yards on punts (309) and kickoffs (253) while the Texans finished with just 53 return yards.  

CRABTREE CONNECTS IN DEBUT: Junior kicker Taylor Crabtree, a transfer from East Mississippi Community College, connected on two of his three field goal attempts versus Tarleton State, including a long of 39 yards. His lone miss, a 45-yard effort, was blocked in the first quarter. The Pascagoula, Miss., native was also 1-for-1 on PATs to finish the day with seven points.
 

LINEBACKERS PACE DEFENSIVE EFFORT: Senior linebackers Chandler Ector and Ovenson Cledanord led the defensive unit with eight tackles, one tackle-for-loss and one sack each in last week's loss at Tarleton State. David Herrington, a senior outside linebacker, turned in seven tackles and a tackle-for-loss as well.

LOFTON DISRUPTS TEXAN BACKFIELD: Senior defensive end Tramond Lofton recorded five tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss and a pair of sacks in last week's season-opener at Tarleton State. The Waynesboro, Miss., native tied his career-high for sacks in a game with two after totaling that number versus Florida Tech at Parker Field-McCool Stadium a year ago.

SPREADING THE WEALTH: In last week's loss at Tarleton State, the Statesmen offense threw for 253 yards after completing 30-of-51 passes to 12 different receivers. Corintheus Edmonds, a 6-foot-2 freshman from Hampton, Ga., led all pass catchers with six receptions. Brandon Rodgers had a team-high 54 yards on three grabs, while nine different receivers had at least two grabs.
 
THREE-HEADED MONSTER AT LINEBACKER: One of the most solidified positions on  defensive coordinator Jerry Partridge's depth chart this fall is at linebacker, where DSU returns three starters. Ovenson Cledanord, who was named to the All-GSC and All-Super Region II teams in 2017 at outside linebacker, closed last year with 85 tackles, 13.0 tackles-for-loss and 7.5 sacks. David Herrington anchored the outside linebacker spot, where he totaled 42 stops with 6.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.5 sacks. Chandler Ector, a three-year starter at middle linebacker, had a another banner year with 84 tackles, 9.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks.

GROUND & POUND: The Statesmen have been nearly unbeatable when out-rushing the opposition, posting a 26-2 record under head coach Todd Cooley. Delta State went 9-1 in 2017 when out-rushing its opponents.

LEADING AT THE HALF: Delta State is 28-0 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.
        
WINNING THE TURNOVER BATTLE: Delta State is 25-2 under head coach Todd Cooley when winning the turnover battle, including a 7-0 mark during the 2017 season.     

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

EYSTER, BANKSTON TO BE INDUCTED INTO DELTA STATE HALL OF FAME: Record-setting quarterback Scott Eyster (2003-2006) and former standout running back Londale Bankston (1986-1988) are among the 11 inductees to the 2018 class of the Delta State Athletics Hall of Fame. Eyster, a three-time All-American and Harlon Hill Trophy finalist, finished his career at Delta State as the GSC's all-time leader in passing yards (13,889), passing touchdowns (116) and total offense (14,342). Bankston ranks third on the career rushing yards list with 3,180, including a personal best 1,120 as a junior in 1987.