CLEVELAND, Miss. - Statesmen football (8-0 overall, 5-0 GSC) will defend possession of the Heritage Bell Classic trophy on Saturday as they travel to Clinton, MS to take on the Mississippi College Choctaws (4-4, 3-2). Saturday is also homecoming for Mississippi College, adding yet another storyline for a rivalry game as fun and storied as this. Michael Gross will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network. Mississippi College will also broadcast their home football games on FloSports (https://www.flofootball.com/live/42482).

Delta State's 45-10 win at Shorter (2-6, 0-5) last Thursday saw the Statesmen defense keep the Hawks off the scoreboard in the first half while also out-gaining the Hawks 534-328 in total offense. DSU quarterback Patrick Shegog was 23-for-29 passing for 233 yards with one touchdown while also rushing for 2 scores. He was one of five different Statesmen who found the endzone, joined by Christian Malloy and Kory Gainewell with rushing touchdowns, Dohnte Meyers who caught one, and Joseph Barton who cashed in a 71-yard scoop-and-score.

The Heritage Bell isn't the only hardware on the line in this game, as a Delta State win or West Florida loss to West Alabama this Saturday would guarantee the Statesmen at least a share of the GSC conference championship.


SERIES NOTEBOOK: MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE
• This is the 43rd meeting all-time between the Statesmen and the Choctaws. The teams have played every year since 2014 (except 2020 due to Covid-19), renewing a rivalry that momentarily ceased after the 1995 season. Prior to the pause, the two teams played each other for 23 consecutive years beginning in 1973, but the rivalry stretches even further back to the first meeting on September 9, 1930 (0-0 Tie). It took a walk-off field goal in overtime to secure a Statesmen victory at Parker-McCool a season ago, but the rivalry has been very kind to Delta State since its resurgence. The Statesmen are 6-1 against the Choctaws since 2014 and own a 23-16-3 overall series record.

• The Choctaws opened their season with a 28-14 road non-conference loss to Albany State. MC outgained Albany State 386-350 in total yardage with the Choctaw flexbone offense collecting 322 rushing yards. Quarterback DeAnte Smith-Moore carried the ball 18 times for 39 yards and a touchdown, but was only 4-for-14 passing for 64 yards with a score and two interceptions, including a fourth-quarter pick-six.

• Mississippi College returned home for their week 2 contest against Keiser, a 26-8 non-conference win for the Choctaws. MC out-gained Keiser 370-282 with 261 yards on the ground this time. Smith-Moore only completed 3 of his 7 passes, but they were good enough for 103 yards and a score while also picking up 63 rushing yards himself.

• Mississippi College opened GSC play at home against North Greenville. The Crusaders out-gained them 373-321 in NGU's 41-19 victory, while still allowing 288 Choctaw rushing yards.

• The Choctaws then traveled to McNeese State for their final non-conference game (32-17 L) before resuming GSC action with a trip to then #5 West Georgia. The Choctaws, trailing 38-31 late, scored a touchdown with four seconds left and converted their 2-point conversion to stun the Wolves 39-38 for Mississippi College's first conference win. The Wolves out-gained MC 450-382, but it was another great night on the ground for the Choctaws who rushed for 283 yards and 3 touchdowns as a team. Smith-Moore completed 3 passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns. MC running back Marcus Williams carried the ball 17 times for 105 yards and 2 scores.

• Mississippi College extended its conference win streak to 3 with wins against Shorter (35-21) and Valdosta State (49-40). The wins saw the Choctaws record insane rushing statistics with 527 and 598 yards against the Hawks and Blazers respectively.

• Last Saturday, the Choctaws traveled to #9 West Florida for a one-sided Argonaut victory. West Florida scored 31 unanswered points between the latter part of the second and fourth quarters in their 45-17 win over the Choctaws. Mississippi College still rushed for over 200 yards, but their 211 rushing yards represented a new season-low for a game. Choctaw quarterback John Henry White, who took over the starting role in the Shorter game, completed 3 of his 5 passes for 102 yards and an interception while also rushing 15 times for 63 yards. Williams led the Choctaws in rushing with 8 carries for 68 yards and a score. Eight different MC recorded a carry against the Argonauts.

RING THE BELL: Beginning in 1979, the Heritage Bell Classic trophy has been awarded to the winner of this game and features the scores of every meeting between 1935 and 1995 on its face. A small bell sits at the top of the prize with statuettes of a Choctaw and a Statesmen flanking each side.

MAGIC NUMBERS: Delta State's magic number for a share of the GSC of the conference championship is one. A combination of a Delta State win OR a West Florida loss to West Alabama on Saturday would meet the requirements for a share of the crown. The magic number for an outright title is two and can be accomplished Saturday with a Delta State win AND a West Florida loss, or two Delta State wins this Saturday and next week against West Georgia.

GO ST8SMEN: The number 8 appears in some big spots when looking at the Statesmen in this game. Delta State enters the contest as the #8 team in Division II according to the American Football Coaches Association polls with an overall record of 8-0. A win over Mississippi College would also guarantee the Statesmen a share of the GSC championship for the 8th time in program history.