CLEVELAND, Miss. - The #13 Statesmen (5-0 overall, 2-0 GSC) had a successful Pig Pickin' weekend as they welcomed then #13 Valdosta State (3-2, 1-1) to Parker-McCool with a 70-31 defeat. There's no place like home, but there's another bus ride coming up for the Road Warriors. Delta State will play its fifth road game in six weeks this Saturday in Tigerville, SC against the North Greenville Crusaders (2-3, 1-1). Michael Gross will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network. North Greenville will also broadcast home football games on FloSports (https://www.flofootball.com/live/42464).

This is the sixth meeting all-time between the two teams with the Statesmen leading the series 3-2. Last year's meeting at DSU was a convincing 42-34 win for the Crusaders in double overtime. The road team has actually had more success in the series, with NGU holding a 2-1 road record. DSU is 2-0 vs North Greenville as the visiting team.

Delta State stunned the Division-II world for the second week in a row last Saturday with the shellacking of Valdosta State following their double overtime win over then #6 West Florida. Quarterback Patrick Shegog was named GSC Offensive Player of the Week for the second straight week and Division II National Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Blazers.


SERIES NOTEBOOK: NORTH GREENVILLE
• This is the 6th meeting all-time between the Statesmen and the Crusaders. The teams have played every year since 2017 (except 2020 due to Covid-19) and once in the 2011 playoffs (12/3/2011 - DSU def. NGU 28-23). Delta State holds a 3-2 advantage in the series, but the Crusaders closed the gap to one game in last year's double overtime win at Parker-McCool.

• The Crusaders opened their season with a two-game skid with a 52-0 loss at Furman and a 29-22 loss to then #13 Newberry College. NGU quarterback Dylan Ramirez had a solid performance against Newberry, completing 15 of his 23 pass attempts for 316 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also led the team in rushing with 13 carries for 44 yards.

• North Greenville's first win was a 41-19 conference win at Mississippi College in week three. Ramirez was 18-for-28 in the contest for 171 yards. NGU rusher Corey Watkins carried the ball 16 times for 165 yards and a score in the win. Rusher Semaj Lakin only carried the ball three times, but found the endzone twice. The Crusaders also scored in all three facets of the game. Their defense scored on a 2-yard scoop-and-score and the on-side kick recovery team took one 47 yards to the endzone.

• The Crusaders picked up a home, nonconference 34-27 win against the University of Findlay before reopening GSC play last week at West Florida. The Crusaders led the Argonauts 23-10 at the end of the third, but were out-scored 24-8 in the final frame of their 34-31 loss. Ramirez was 23-for-41 passing for 295 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. Corey Watkins led NGU in rushing with 14 carries for 74 yards.


LUCKY 13: Delta State is currently ranked 13th by the AFCA poll a week after beating then #13 Valdosta State. The Statesmen are playing their fifth road game in the first six games of the season with this weekend's trip to North Greenville.

WEEKLY AWARDS: Quarterback Patrick Shegog was named GSC Offensive Player of the Week for the second straight week, bringing Delta State's GSC PotW award total to five for the year. He was also named Division II National Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Blazers.

THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE: The Statesmen as a team are in the top ten nationally in several statistical categories, including touchbacks (1st - 18), scoring offense (2nd - 46.8 PPG), total offense (5th - 483.8 YPG), 1st downs (T-4th - 121), 3rd down conversion rate (5th - 53.2%), 4th down conversion rate (T-2nd - 85.7%), and completion percentage (10th - 64.7%).

SHARING THE WEALTH: Seven different Statesmen found the endzone in Saturday's win over Valdosta State. Shegog rushed for three touchdowns and threw for four scores. Receiver Tremell Withrow caught one of those touchdown passes and one from Cole Kirk. Calvin Lockett, Todd Lee Battle, and Dohnte Meyers also had touchdown receptions. Eleven players recorded a catch for DSU and eight different Statesmen were credited with carries. Alfonso Franklin and Kelvin Smith each recorded a rushing touchdown as well.