GAME NOTES: Delta State (6-3, 5-2 GSC) @ Miss. College (4-5, 3-4 GSC)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Statesmen (6-3, 5-2 GSC) of Delta State University are set to travel to Clinton on Saturday, Nov. 16 for the 40th Heritage Bell Classic, as the Choctaws (4-5, 3-4 GSC) of Mississippi College host DSU in a pivotal Gulf South Conference showdown. Kickoff is set for 2 PM at Robinson-Hale Stadium. Matt Jones, Philip Tang and Lane Quinton will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network (WMJW 107.5 FM) and online at GoStatesmen.com.

Delta State and Mississippi College are meeting for the 40th time on the gridiron this Saturday, Nov. 16 at Robinson-Hale Stadium, as the Choctaws host the Statesmen in the Heritage Bell Classic. The Statesmen hold a 22-15-2 edge in the series standings, including seven-straight wins over MC. DSU caged the Choctaws, 28-21, on Nov. 10, 2018 in last year's matchup. The Statesmen were also victorious in their last trip to Clinton, a 30-17 win in 2017.     

The Choctaws (4-5, 3-4 GSC) have dropped their last two games after falling, 35-21, at West Alabama in the GSC TV Game of the Week. MC rushed for 190 yards in the loss, including a game-high 63 by Jaylin Jones. Quarterback Detric Hawthorn completed 3-of-17 passes for 117 yards and Derric Hawthorn led the Choctaws with 9.0 tackles.

The Delta State University football team used three late touchdowns to defeat West Georgia on Saturday for a 35-20 Homecoming and Senior Day victory. The Statesmen (6-3, 5-2 GSC) opened the game with touchdowns on their first two possessions for the first time this season, but the Wolves (6-4, 4-3 GSC) answered with 20 straight points and held a six-point lead early in the third quarter. DSU took over from there with three straight scores, including a defensive touchdown by Marvin Terry, to move to 4-1 at home this year. Defensive back Junior Faulk highlighted the Statesmen victory with his third multi-interception game of the season. The Jayess native had two picks in the win, giving him eight this season to tie a DSU season record.

Marvin Terry was named the GSC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after recording 6.0 tackles, 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, a forced and a recovered fumble in DSU's 35-20 win over West Georgia. The Dallas, Texas, native, has totaled 45 tackles with 12.0 TFLs and 6.0 sacks in eight starts at linebacker. He ranks 4th in the GSC in TFLs (12.0) and 3rd in sacks (6.0).

Junior Faulk picked-off two passes in DSU's 35-20 win over West Georgia to tie the Delta State single season record for interceptions with eight. The Jayess, Miss., native, who  leads the GSC in interceptions (8) and passes defended (21) while ranking 1st in NCAA DII in passes defended and 2nd in INTs, tied former All-Americans Garrett Williams (2010) and Monterio James (2005) for the mark.


SERIES NOTEBOOK: MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE
• Delta State and Mississippi College are meeting for the 40th time on the gridiron this Saturday, Nov. 16 at Robinson-Hale Stadium, as the Choctaws host the Statesmen in the Heritage Bell Classic. The Statesmen hold a 22-15-2 edge in the series standings, including seven-straight wins over MC. DSU caged the Choctaws, 28-21, on Nov. 10, 2018 in last year's matchup. The Statesmen were also victorious in their last trip to Clinton, a 30-17 win in 2017.     

• The Choctaws (4-5, 3-4 GSC) have dropped their last two games after falling, 35-21, at West Alabama in the GSC TV Game of the Week. MC rushed for 190 yards in the loss, including a game-high 63 by Jaylin Jones. Quarterback Detric Hawthorn completed 3-of-17 passes for 117 yards and Derric Hawthorn led the Choctaws with 9.0 tackles.

• Mississippi College enters Saturday's Heritage Bell Classic averaging 24.6 points (5th) and 301.5 yards of total offense (7th) per game in Gulf South Conference play. The Choctaws are 2nd in the league in rushing, averaging 222.9 yards per game. MC is vastly improved on defense from a year ago, allowing 29.7 points (8th) per game and 374.7 yards (7th) a game.

• Dual-threat quarterback Detric Hawthorn is a master at running MC's triple-option offense. The Collins, Mis., native, has rushed 77 times for 607 yards and three TDs this season, including a career-high 186 yards versus North Greenville. He's also thrown for 507 yards and seven TDs.

• Linebacker Jonathan Jones has been a terror for opposing offenses this season, totaling 50 tackles and 8.5 tackles-for-loss.



STATESMEN DROP WOLVES 35-20 ON HOMECOMING: The Delta State University Statesmen football team used three late touchdowns to defeat West Georgia on Saturday for a 35-20 Homecoming and Senior Day victory. The Statesmen (6-3, 5-2 GSC) opened the game with touchdowns on their first two possessions for the first time this season, but the Wolves (6-4, 4-3 GSC) answered with 20 straight points and held a six-point lead early in the third quarter. DSU took over from there with three straight scores, including a defensive touchdown, to move to 4-1 at home this year. Defensive back Junior Faulk highlighted the Statesmen victory with his third multi-interception game of the season. The Jayess native had two picks in the win, giving him eight this season to tie a DSU season record.

DELTA STATE EARNS 5TH WINNING SEASON UNDER COOLEY: With Saturday's 35-20 win over West Georgia, the Statesmen have secured a winning regular season, the 5th winning season in the Todd Cooley era and the 51st winning season in program history.

TERRY NAMED GSC DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: Marvin Terry was named the GSC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday after recording 6.0 tackles, 3.0 tckles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, a forced and a recovered fumble in DSU's 35-20 win over West Georgia. The Dallas, Texas, native, has totaled 45 tackles with 12.0 TFLs and 6.0 sacks in eight starts at linebacker. He ranks 4th in the GSC in TFLs (12.0) and 3rd in sacks (6.0).

KING ON HIS THRONE: Senior linebacker Vada King continues to lead the Statesmen defense, ranking No. 1 in the GSC in tackles (76/8.4 pg) entering Mississippi College week. He totaled 13 tackles and 2.0 TFLs in DSU's 14-7 win over West Alabama. King posted back-to-back 13 tackle performances against Tusculum and No. 9 Grand Valley State earlier this year. The Smiths Station, Ala., native, also eclipsed the 100-career tackles plateau at West Florida and is currently 1st in the GSC in tackles (76) and 2nd in tackles-for-loss (13.5). In 18 career games, the two-year starter has tallied 133 tackles with 22.5 TFLs and 2.0 sacks.
 
FAULK TIES INTERCEPTIONS MARK: Junior Faulk picked-off two passes in DSU's 35-20 win over West Georgia to tie the Delta State single season record for interceptions with eight. The Jayess, Miss., native, who  leads the GSC in interceptions (8) and passes defended (21) while ranking 1st in NCAA DII in passes defended and 2nd in INTs, tied former All-Americans Garrett Williams (2010) and Monterio James (2005) for the mark.

FEROCIOUS DEFENSIVE FRONT: The Statesman defensive front has been filthy this season, racking up a conference-leading 27 sacks (168 yards) and 84 tackles-for-loss (348 yards).  Vada King (2nd/13.5), Zane Samuel (3rd/13.0), Marvin Terry  (5th/12.0) and Eric Sadler (6th/11.0) all rank in the top 10 in the GSC in tackles-for-loss. Sadler, Terry, & Samuel are all in the top five in sacks in the Gulf South Conference as well.

RUN AND TELL THAT: The Statesmen enter this week's game versus Mississippi College averaging 208.9 yards rushing per game, which ranks 3rd in the GSC. Delta State has topped 200 yards rushing in 6-of-9 games this season, including a season-high 280 yards at Shorter. The Statesmen had a previous high of 255 yards versus Florida Tech. DSU rushed for 230 yards at Grand Valley State, 224 yards at North Greenville, 200 yards versus West Alabama and 254 yards last week versus West Georgia.

AGAINST THE RUN: Delta State is allowing just 109.8 yards rushing a game to rank 1st the GSC. The Statesmen have held 7-of-9 opponents under 150 yards, with Shorter's 10 yards rushing a new season low. Florida Tech's 42 yards rushing was the previous mark. North Greenville tallied 100 yards on 37 carries, while DSU held the vaunted rushing offense of West Alabama to a mere 67 yards in its 14-7 victory over the Tigers. In last week's 35-20 win over West Georgia, DSU held the Wolves to 78 yards on the ground.

THUNDER & LIGHTNING: Deion Dampier, a junior from Pinola, Miss., and Rico Owens, II, a junior from Greenwood, have combined to give the Statesmen a dramatic 1-2 punch at running back. Owens has rushed fora team-best 627 yards and eight TDs this year while Dampier has totaled 520 yards. Both running backs rank in the GSC's top 10 in yards per game.

RUDDICK APPROACHING 4,000 YARDS: Senior Breck Ruddick has been solid since taking over the quarterbacking duties. The Marion, Ark., native, topped 2,000 career passing yards at West Florida and eclipsed 1,000 career rushing yards versus No. 1 Valdosta State. In 22 games, Ruddick has completed 310-of-522 passes for 2,607 yards while rushing 263 times for 1,287 yards. He joined an exclusive club of former DSU quarterback's with at least 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing with his 170 yards passing and 123 yards rushing versus the Blazers. Josh Bright (1998-2001) totaled 4,027 yards passing and 2.336 yards rushing during his career. Ruddick needs just 106 yards to top 4,000 in his career.

CRABTREE HAVING SPECIAL SENIOR CAMPAIGN: Taylor Crabtree has made a league-best 13-of-17 field goals and 24-of-24 PATs this season for the Statesmen. His 1.4 FGs per game average ranks 10th in NCAA DII while he ranks 2nd in the GSC in scoring at 7.0 points per game. The Pascagoula, Miss., native was named GSC Special Teams Player of the Week after outstanding performances versus Florida Tech, where he tied the GSC record for FGs in a game (5-of-5), and North Greenville (2-of-2 FG).  He has made 20 field goals in his two-year career, including 47 PATs.

NEGATIVE PLAYS: Under new defensive coordinator Kelvin Green, the Statesmen have been relentless in their pursuit of the opposing quarterback, racking up a league-leading 27.0 sacks for 168 yards through nine games. DSU has also recorded 84 tackles-for-loss, accounting for 348 negative yards.

CRADLE OF COACHES: Delta State 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. A list of head coaches, coordinators and key coaches is below. This past summer, former All-GSC safety Pete Golding, who also served DSU as DC under Ron Roberts, was named defensive coordinator at the University of Alabama for Nick Saban. 
 

COACH	SCHOOL	POSITION
Steve Campbell	South Alabama	Head Coach
Mark Hudspeth	Austin Peay	Head Coach
Mike Bloomgren	Rice	Head Coach
Jay Hopson	Southern Miss	Head Coach
Chris Willis	North Alabama	Head Coach
Ron Roberts	Louisiana	Defensive Coordinator
Pete Golding	Alabama	Defensive Coordinator
Dave Aranda	Louisiana State	Defensive Coordinator
Brian Brown	Louisville	Defensive Coordinator
Jerry Mack	Rice	Offensive Coordinator
Greg Stewart	South Alabama	Defensive Coordinator
Tim Edwards	Memphis	Defensive Line
Reed Stringer	Southern Miss	Tight Ends
Mike Kershaw	Rice	Wide Receivers
Karl Scott	Alabama	Cornerbacks
Chad Huff	South Alabama	Tight Ends

COOLEY COLLECTS 40TH CAREER VICTORY: Delta State head coach Todd Cooley became the fourth coach in the program's 90-year history to record 40 victories when he led the Statesmen to a 34-9 win at North Greenville on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Younts Stadium in Tigerville, S.C. The Nashville, Ark., native has led the Statesmen to two NCAA postseason appearances and a share of the 2014 Gulf South Conference championship during his seven seasons as head coach. He trails Horace McCool (76), Gene Chadwick, and Ron Roberts (47) in career wins while only Roberts (2007, 2008, 2010, & 2011) and Cooley (2014) have led the Statesmen to a league title.
 

COACH (Minimum 15 Wins)	YEARS	RECORD
Horace McCool	14	76-48-3
Gene Chadwick	13	67-46-1
Ron Roberts	5	47-16
Todd Cooley	7	43-31
Rick Rhoades	4	38-20
Jim "Red" Parker	6	34-26-4
Todd Knight	6	28-32-2
Steve Campbell	3	27-8-0
Herman Zimonski	7	27-30-5
Robert McGraw	4	22-19-1
Don Skelton	5	21-27-3
A.D. Dickson	6	16-38-3

ON THE BIG SCREEN: Delta State appeared for the final time this season on ESPN3 or ESPN+ in the GSC-TV Game of the Week, defeating West Alabama, 14-7, on Saturday, Oct.  DSU's previously televised contests included Florida Tech on Saturday, Sept. 21 and a non-conference match-up at Grand Valley State on Sept. 14.  DSU is 26-15 all-time on TV, including a 15-7 record under coach Cooley.

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS: The Statesmen faced their third ranked opponent of the year in top-ranked Valdosta State on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Parker-McCool, falling 34-13. Delta State is 11-15 against ranked opponents under coach Todd Cooley.