CLEVELAND, Miss. - Statesmen football (9-0 overall, 6-0 GSC) returns to Parker-McCool Stadium this Saturday for the first half of a two-game homestand to end the regular season. The Green and White will welcome the 19th-ranked West Georgia Wolves (6-2, 4-2) to Cleveland for the final conference game of the season, as well as the 2022 DSU Homecoming game. Michael Gross will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network. Delta State will also broadcast home football games on FloSports (https://www.flofootball.com/live/42489).

Delta State's 52-38 win at Mississippi College (4-5, 3-3) last Saturday never saw either team have a clear advantage over the other until the very end. The two teams traded the lead and tied each other multiple times before the Statesmen took a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter while also keeping the Choctaws off of the scoreboard in the frame. The Statesmen out-gained the Choctaws 555-393 in total yardage and also beat the MC flexbone 433-329 in rushing yards. 

The Delta State win also secured a share of the Gulf South Conference championship for Statesmen football. The Statesmen control their own destiny for an outright conference title, needing a win over West Georgia or a West Florida loss at Valdosta State on Saturday to claim the first out-right GSC title since 2011 (shared 2014 GSC Championship with North Alabama).


SERIES NOTEBOOK: WEST GEORGIA
• This is the 37th meeting all-time between Delta State and West Georgia. The teams have played every year since 2006 (except 2020 due to Covid-19), but the two schools had also met on the gridiron 19 times between the 1983 and 2003 seasons. Delta State owns the series record at 20-16, but the Wolves have won the last two meetings and 8 of the last 10 against the Statesmen. This series has been friendly to the home team with Delta State holding a 12-5 record against UWG at Parker-McCool Stadium. The two teams played each other twice last season. Both games were at West Georgia and ended in victories for the Wolves (9/18: 27-26 | 11/13: 44-7).

• West Georgia opened up their season with three wins against Carson-Newman at home and two road games at Morehouse and their first conference game at West Alabama, outscoring their opponents 102-14 in those games.

• The Wolves were ranked No. 5 in the country when they welcomed Mississippi College to Carrollton on October 1. The Wolves out-gained the Choctaws 450-382 in total yardage, but the Choctaws converted a two-point conversion attempt with just four seconds left to stun the UWG crowd and the Division II landscape at the time. UWG quarterback Harrison Frost completed 28 of his 40 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw 2 interceptions in the loss to MC. Running back Jaxton Carson carried the ball 20 times for 104 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Choctaws.

• West Georgia hosted a top-25 matchup the following week as the then 15th-ranked Wolves hosted #10 West Florida. The two teams were tied at 14 at the half, but the Argonauts out-scored the Wolves 28-14 in the final half of the 42-28 UWF win. The two teams were extremely close in the stat book with UWF only holding a 434-424 advantage in total yardage for the contest, but the Argonauts also ran 32 fewer plays than the Wolves (91-59).

• West Georgia is currently on a 3-game winning streak with GSC wins at North Greenville and at home against Valdosta State and Shorter. Frost was 22-for-33 for 240 yards and 3 touchdowns a week ago against Shorter. Carson carried the ball 16 times for 98 yards and 3 scores of his own.

ROAD WARRIORS: Arguably, the most impressive part of Delta State's run to begin the 2022 football season is the fact that 7 of their first 9 games were on the road. Various media outlets throughout the country have noted the early successes of "Division II's Road Warriors" and their ascension through the national polls. Pictures of the wrestling tag team with the same name are scattered all over the team's locker room and training areas with messages like "Burn The Boats" written on the message boards. Now the attention will return to Parker Field and McCool Stadium for the final two weeks of the regular season with the possibility of more home games on the horizon as the postseason draws nearer.

SUPER REGION POLLS: Delta State debuted at the No. 1 spot in the first D2 super region polls on Monday with two games left in the regular season. The top 7 teams in each region will make the playoffs while the first-seeded team earns a first-round bye and guaranteed home-field advantage until the semifinals. The selection show for the final poll is scheduled for Sunday, November 13.

GO GREEN: DSU fans are asked to wear green to all remaining home games this season. Get your official game day gear at www.StatesmenStore.com!

WHAT TO BRING: Only clear bags are permitted in McCool Stadium. Delta State logoed bags will be available for purchase between gates 4 and 5; pouches are $10 and totes are $15. No outside food/drink, no non-service animals, and no weapons are permitted.

TICKETS:  Visit https://deltastatetickets.universitytickets.com/ to purchase in advance or visit the ticket booths next to gates 3 or 4 on the west side, or gate 14 on the east side on game day.

GETTING THERE: Kickoff is at 2 pm. Gates open one hour pregame. As of 5 pm Friday, all Stadium Lots (1-7) are designated parking and can only be accessed with the appropriate placard. A limited number of Lot 6 parking spots will be available beginning three hours before kick-off Saturday for $15, or $10 in advance at https://deltastatetickets.universitytickets.com/. Additional parking will be available at Shumate Park, Walter Sillers Coliseum, Kent Wyatt Hall, and across MS Highway 8 on campus. Delta State student parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the grass lot next to Lot 1 for vehicles with current Resident or Commuter parking decals. All game-day traffic should enter via Statesman Boulevard.

TAILGATING: Register for FREE tailgating in Statesmen Park at https://forms.office.com/r/N87YW2dzPW.

FOOD AND DRINK: Concessions will be available on both the west and east sides of McCool stadium. Beer and wine will be available at kiosks on the west, north, and east concourses.

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: Kids can join the Statesmen Football team as they take the field at 10-minutes on the game clock. The Punkin' Patch KidsZone will open one hour before kickoff; admission is $10 but Future Statesmen Club members get into the KidsZone free so join today at www.StatesmenClub.com.

STAY IN THE KNOW: You can listen or watch along! Visit www.GoStatesmen.com > Sports > Football > Schedule and click the speaker (Magic 107.5) or screen (FloSports) and follow the prompts. Download the Statesmen Nation app where you can listen to or stream the event, see rosters and stats, receive notifications about promotions and partnerships, and much more!