ATLANTA, Ga. - Statesmen football (7-0 overall, 4-0 GSC) has to make a quick turnaround after last Saturday's slobber knocker against the West Alabama Tigers (4-3, 2-2). The Statesmen are spending the night in Fulton County, Georgia tonight as they prepare for tomorrow's kickoff in Rome, Georgia against Shorter (2-5, 0-4). Michael Gross will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network. Shorter will also broadcast their home football games on FloSports (https://www.flofootball.com/live/42472).

Delta State's win against West Alabama last week saw the Statesmen offense overcome one of the stingiest defenses in the country while their defense held the Tigers to only seven points, keeping them off the scoreboard entirely in the second half. DSU quarterback Patrick Shegog was 15-for-31 passing for 197 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions while also rushing for 118 yards. The Tigers had rushed for 300+ yards in their prior two games, but were outgained 297-132 on the ground last Saturday.


SERIES NOTEBOOK: SHORTER
• This is the 10th meeting all-time between the Statesmen and the Hawks. The teams have played every year since 2012 (except 2020 due to Covid-19). The Hawks won the first meeting, but it has been all Delta State since. The Statesmen own the series record at 8-1, but last year's meeting didn't see the Green and White take the lead until midway through the fourth quarter in Delta State's 14-13 win.

• The Hawks opened their season with a two-game winning streak with a 45-6 win at Brevard College and a 34-21 win against Catawba College. Shorter quarterback Aeneas Dennis was 16-for-23 passing for 228 yards and 4 touchdowns in the win at Brevard.

• Shorter has since dropped five straight, beginning with their final non-conference game against Albany State. Albany State outgained Shorter 517-401 in their 42-20 win at Shorter. 

• The Hawks started GSC play by hosting Valdosta State in a 34-30 win for the Blazers. Valdosta State scored the go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. Dennis was 15-for-27 for 231 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

• Their most recent conference game saw the Hawks host West Florida in a 50-26 win for the Argonauts in which Shorter allowed 33 points in the second half. Dennis was 18-for-31 passing for 220 yards and two scores. Shorter quarterback Harold Cook also threw one pass, which he completed for a 69-yard score. Shorter rushed the ball 24 times for only 49 yards (1.9 yd avg) against West Florida.

THURSDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Delta State has historically played well on Thursday games. They enter their 48th Thursday game with a 30-17 (.638) record.

WHEN IN ROME: Delta State is 4-1 against the Hawks in Rome, Georgia. The lone Shorter win came in the first meeting between the two schools in 2012, a 32-21 win for the Hawks. Curiously, the Statesmen have scored exactly 38 points in three of their four wins at Shorter (2013: 38-17, 2015: 38-17, 2017: 54-20, 2019: 38-6).