GAME NOTES: Delta State (1-0) @ No. 10 Grand Valley State (1-0)
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CLEVELAND, Miss. - Coming off a strong defensive showing in a 24-10 victory over Tusculum University (0-1) in the season-opener, the Statesmen (1-0, 0-0 GSC) of Delta State University travel to Allendale, Mich., on Saturday, Sept. 14 to face the No. 10-ranked Lakers (1-0, 0-0 GLIAC) of Grand Valley State University. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Lubbers Stadium. Matt Jones, Philip Tang and Lane Quinton will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network. GVSU will also broadcast the game on ESPN3.

Delta State and Grand Valley State are meeting for just the 3rd time on the gridiron and the 2nd time  at Lubbers Stadium. The Statesmen (1-0) are making their first trip to Allendale, Mich., since the NCAA Division II National Semifinals on Dec. 10, 2006, a game the Lakers (1-0) went on to win 49-30. GVSU claimed a 21-10 victory at Parker Field-McCool Stadium in last year's match-up.   

Delta State put on a defensive clinic under new coordinator Kelvin Green in its 24-10 season-opening victory over Tusculum on Thursday, Sept. 5 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Led by Vada King's 13 tackles and Junior Faulk's pair of interceptions, the Statesmen (1-0) held the high-powered Pioneers to 282 yards of total offense and did not surrender a touchdown until the final :11 seconds of the contest. DSU finished the night with 7.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks.

The No. 10-ranked Lakers (1-0) opened the season with a 35-10 victory over Edinboro last Saturday at Lubbers Stadium. Grand Valley State is 31-18 all-time in season-openers and have won 17-of-the-last-19 since 2001. GVSU amassed 572 yards of total offense, including 319 yards rushing. Aryuan Cain-Veasey rushed for a career-high 200 yards on 11 carries and a three TDs in the win. Cole Kotopka was also quite effective, completing 18-of-29 passes for 253 yards with two TDs and a pair of interceptions. GVSU's defense tallied 10 TFLs and 3.0 sacks in a dominating effort.

The Statesmen will face four ranked opponents in 2019, including defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Valdosta State.  DSU also squares off against No. 10 Grand Valley State, No.  14 West Georgia, and No. 20 West Alabama. Florida Tech is among schools receiving votes. Delta State is 11-12 against ranked opponents under coach Todd Cooley. 


SERIES NOTEBOOK: GRAND VALLEY STATE
• Delta State and Grand Valley State are meeting for just the 3rd time on the gridiron on Saturday, Sept. 14 at Lubbers Stadium. The Statesmen (1-0) are making their first trip to Allendale, Mich., since the NCAA Division II National Semifinals on Dec. 10, 2006, a game the Lakers (1-0) went on to win 49-30. GVSU claimed a 21-10 victory at Parker Field-McCool Stadium in last year's match-up between the clubs.

• The No. 10-ranked Lakers (1-0) opened the season with a 35-10 victory over Edinboro last Saturday at Lubbers Stadium. Grand Valley State is 31-18 all-time in season-openers and have won 17-of-the-last-19 since 2001. GVSU amassed 572 yards of total offense, including 319 yards rushing. Aryuan Cain-Veasey rushed for a career-high 200 yards on 11 carries and a three TDs in the win. Cole Kotopka was also quite effective, completing 18-of-29 passes for 253 yards with two TDs and a pair of interceptions. GVSU's defense tallied 10 TFLs and 3.0 sacks in a dominating effort.

• The Lakers are 34-11 in home openers at Lubbers Stadium, including an 18-1 mark since 2001.

• GVSU is the winningest team in Division II football history with a record of 402-147-3 (.730).

• Laker Football has a storied 48-year history of excellence, including four NCAA DII National Championships, six NCAA championship game appearances, nine NCAA Regional championships, 20 NCAA playoff appearances, and 17 GLIAC conference championships.

• GVSU will return 44 letterwinners to the mix for the 2019 campaign, including 18 starters.  



STATESMEN CORRAL PIONEERS: Delta State put on a defensive clinic under new coordinator Kelvin Green in its 24-10 season-opening victory over Tusculum on Thursday, Sept. 5 at Parker Field-McCool Stadium. Led by Vada King's 13 tackles and Junior Faulk's pair of interceptions, the Statesmen (1-0) held the high-powered Pioneers to 282 yards of total offense and did not surrender a touchdown until the final :11 seconds of the contest. DSU finished the night with 7.0 TFLs and 3.0 sacks.

SHEGOG SOLID IN STARTING SPOT: After being forced into the starting role two games into the 2018 campaign, sophomore quarterback Patrick Shegog led the Statesmen to a 24-10 win in the season-opener against Tusculum. The Batesville, Miss., native completed 15-of-28 passes for 165 yards with a pair of touchdowns. He also ran six times for 15 yards.

KING'S COURT: Senior outside linebacker Vada King had a career night versus the Pioneers, as the former Holmes CC star recorded a game-high 13 tackles with 2.0 TFLs. He was named GSC Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. The Smiths Station, Ala., native started all 10 games for the Statesmen in 2018, finishing with 57 tackles, 9.0 TFLs and a pair of sacks. His previous career-high for tackles was nine versus then-No. 3 West Georgia.  

OWENS, BROWDER MAKE IMMEDIATE MARK: Junior running back Rico Owens, II and junior wide receiver Jalen Browder made an immediate impact for the Statesmen in their debut versus the Pioneers. Owens rushed for 69 yards and seven carries with a touchdown while Browder hauled in three passes for 54 yards and a score. The duo transferred to DSU from Copiah-Lincoln CC, where they played for former Statesmen Glenn Davis and two-time All-American Micah Davis.

NOT ON JUNIOR'S ISLAND: Southwest Mississippi CC transfer Junior Faulk had an outstanding debut for the Statesmen, recording five tackles and intercepting a pair of passes in his first career start. The Jayess, Miss., native finished with one interception each against Pioneer quarterbacks Joaquin Collazo and Bruce Moore.

WILKERSON'S WORLD: Senior wide receiver Vincent Wilkerson scored the first touchdown of the 2019 season and the first of his career on an 18-yard reception in the 1st quarter versus Tusculum. The Milwaukee, Wisc., native finished the night with a blocked punt.  

NOT ON OUR WATCH: A year removed from giving up 27 quarterback sacks, the rebuilt Delta State offensive line did not give up a sack in Thursday's season-opener against Tusculum under new Run Game coordinator and OL coach Jonathan Fletcher. In total, eight Bullnecks played 68 snaps versus the Pioneers without giving up a sack. Two-time All-GSC selection Innis Claud, V led the way.             

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 and coordinators 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
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

ON THE BIG SCREEN: Delta State will appear three times this season on ESPN3 or ESPN+ in the GSC-TV Game of the Week, presented by Florida's Space Coast. DSU's televised contests include Florida Tech on Saturday, Sept. 21 for Pig Pickin' and West Alabama on Saturday, Oct. 19. Delta State's non-conference match-up at Grand Valley State on Sept. 14 will also appear on ESPN3. The Statesmen are 24-15 all-time on TV.   

AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS: The Statesmen will face four ranked opponents in 2019, including defending national champion and preseason No. 1 Valdosta State.  DSU also squares off against No. 10 Grand Valley State, No.  14 West Georgia, and No. 20 West Alabama. Florida Tech is among schools receiving votes. Delta State is 11-12 against ranked opponents under coach Todd Cooley. ainst ranked opponents under head coach Todd Cooley.

90TH SEASON ON THE GRIDIRON FOR DELTA STATE: The #DSUFamily is set to embark on its 90th year on the gridiron this season. Delta State opened the campaign with a 24-10 victory over Tusculum at Parker Field-McCool Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 5.  In its previous 89 seasons, Delta State is 471-396-23. The Statesmen have captured seven Gulf South Conference titles, made nine appearances in the NCAA DII playoffs, earned four Super Region II crowns, and defeated Bloomsburg, 63-34, to claim the 2000 NCAA DII National Championship. DSU is 48-38-4 all-time to open a season.

PARKER-McCOOL HOSTING 50TH SEASON: As the 2019 season gets underway, the Statesmen are set to begin their 50th season at Parker Field-McCool Stadium, the home of DSU football since moving over from Delta Field, the current site of Wyatt Hall. The Statesmen defeated Southeast Missouri State, 14-8, under one of the facility's namesakes Horace McCool in the first ever game played at the site in 1970. Since that time, DSU is 155-89-8 at Parker-McCool, including an 8-3 record in NCAA postseason play.  
 
SEASON-OPENERS UNDER COOLEY: The Statesmen are now 6-1 in season-openers, including a 4-0 mark at home, under head coach Todd Cooley after defeating the Pioneers of Tusculum on Thursday, Sept. 5. The lone opening loss came on the road last year at Tarleton State, 44-13, in Stephenville, Texas. DSU has outscored the opposition 156-62 in its four season-opening wins at home.

STATESMEN IN SEPTEMBER: DSU boasts a 148-87-6 record in the month of September, including a 17-9 record under coach Cooley after DSU's 24-10 victory over Tusculum.

DELTA STATE PICKED 6TH IN GSC COACHES POLL: The Statesmen were picked to finish sixth in the annual Gulf South Conference Preseason Coaches Poll released on Thursday, Aug. 1. Valdosta State, the defending NCAA DII national champion, was picked to repeat as the league's top team with 64 points followed by West Georgia (55), West Alabama (49), West Florida (44), Florida Tech (37), Delta State (28), North Greenville (24), Mississippi College (15) and Shorter (8). The 2019 GSC Preseason Coaches Poll and All-GSC Team were voted on by the league's head coaches.

TRIO OF STATESMEN NAMED PRESEASON ALL-GSC; FOUR TABBED TOP NEWCOMERS: Senior defensive end Eric Sadler, junior center Innis Claud, V and redshirt sophomore punter Sam Barge were all named to the Preseason All-GSC Team. Four junior college transfers were also named to the GSC's Top Newcomers team, including Deion Dampier (RB | Mendenhall | Co-Lin), Rodrick Jarrett (LB | Brandon | Co-Lin), Rico Owens (RB | Greenwood | Co-Lin) and Dayreke Snow (DB | Newton | Gulf Coast).