CLEVELAND, Miss. - The Delta State University Football team comes back to Parker Field at McCool Stadium for Senior day and Homecoming this Saturday as they host the Number One Ranked Valdosta State University Blazers for a 2:00 PM Kickoff.
The Statesmen are coming off their bye week while Valdosta enters the weekend undefeated after a 52-0 win against Chowan last weekend in Valdosta.
The Voice of the Statesmen, Michael Gross will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network and on the live stream on the FloFootball Network.
The Coaches
Todd Cooley enters his 11th season as head coach at Delta State.

He was hired as the program's 19th all-time head coach on January 25, 2013. In his first campaign as head coach, Cooley guided the Statesmen to a 7-3 overall record and a second-place finish in the Gulf South Conference. Inheriting a team that went 3-7 the year before, the high-energy Cooley built a cohesive family atmosphere in less than nine months. That energy helped feed a program's turnaround in just one season. In 2014, Cooley led the Statesmen to a 9-2 record, along with DSU's seventh Gulf South Conference title and a berth in the NCAA Division II Playoffs, the school's first since 2011.

For his efforts, Cooley was named Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year by his peers in the league. In all, 11 Statesmen were named to the All-GSC squad, including GSC Freshman of the Year Tyler Sullivan, who quarterbacked DSU to a 4-1 mark as a starter.

DSU averaged 40.0 points per game offensively, while averaging 472.2 yards per game. The Statesmen pulled off three victories over nationally ranked opponents after defeating No. 21 North Alabama 37-34, No. 14 Tarleton State 38-36 and No. 24 Valdosta State 63-55.  

In 2014, Cooley earned his second consecutive GSC Coach of the Year accolade, sharing the honor with Florida Tech's Steve Englehart. Twelve Statesmen were selected to the All-GSC squads, while Trey Shaw captured the league's Defensive Freshman of the Year honor. DSU put up an impressive 5,395 yards of total offense, outscoring opponents 491-215.

With expectations riding high entering the 2015 season, the Statesmen raced out of the gate to a 4-0 record and No. 5 national ranking. Unfortunately, the ride would be short-lived, as injuries began to mount and derailed a title run for DSU. The Statesmen finished the year 6-5 overall and 2-5 in GSC play.

The Statesmen finished the year leading the GSC in passing (312.4), while ranking second in scoring (36.4) and third in total offense (426.7).
In 2016, DSU finished its season ranked No. 3 in the GSC in scoring offense (36.9), total offense (446.8) and passing offense (287.7).

After an injury filled 2018 season that saw the Statesmen post a 2-8 mark, Cooley's Statesmen rebounded to finish 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the GSC in 2019. Overall, nine Statesmen earned All-GSC laurels and two were selected to the D2Football.com All-Americans.  Additionally, 13 Statesmen made the GSC Academic honor roll for a GPA of 3.0 or higher while four were selected to the GSC All-Academic football team.

In the 2021 campaign, the Statesmen posted a 5-6 overall record, finishing the season strong winning three out of their last four games. Nine Statesmen earned All-GSC honors including the 2021 GSC Defensive Player of the Year in Marvin Terry. The Statesmen ranked third in the nation in time of possession, possessing the ball for an average of 34:15 per game. The Statesmen defense led the GSC as they forced 26 turnovers on the season. The Statesmen Special Teams made it tough for opposing kickers and punters as they were third in the nation with eight blocked field goals and four blocked punts. 

The 2022 campaign saw the Statesmen winning their eighth Gulf South Conference Crown and their 10th Playoff appearance as they finished the season with an 11-2 overall record. Cooley earned Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year honors for the third time at the helm for the Statesmen. 12 Statesmen earned All-GSC honors including quarterback Patrick Shegog, who earned the GSC Offensive Player of the Year in 2022. The Statesmen offense ranked within the top 10 in the nation averaging 41.2 points per game, 230.1 yards per game on the ground, and 471.8 total yards per game. The Defense continued to give the Offense opportunities as they led the GSC forcing 27 turnovers in the 2022 GSC Championship season.    

In the 2023 season Cooley led the Statesmen to back-to-back GSC Championships for his first time as the Head Coach at DSU, the first time the Statesmen won back-to-back GSC championships since 2010-11. Cooley was named the GSC Coach of the Year for the fourth time at the Helm for the Statesmen Football Program. 14 Statesmen earned All-GSC honors including Offensive Player of the Year Patrick Shegog. Shegog was also the first Statesmen since Josh Bright in 2000 to win the C Spire Conerly Trophy. The Statesmen offense, averaging 42.9 points per game continued to be ranked amongst the top of the GSC averaging  451.3 total yards per game, and 224.2 rushing yards per game. The Statesmen Defense's four defensive touchdowns ended up leading the GSC along with being ranked in the top 10 in the nation.

Tremaine Jackson, in his third season leading the Blazers, is known for raising the bar both on and off the field and has done just that, impacting the total program in Titletown.

 In year two at the helm, Jackson led Valdosta State to the Gulf South Conference championship, becoming the first black coach in conference history to win the title, and was the only non-HBCU black coach to win a conference championship in 2023. The Blazers closed out the regular season with a 10-1 record, Jackson's first 10-win season as a head coach, which was capped off with a 58-28 victory over West Georgia in the final installment of the Peach Basket.

 On Selection Sunday, VSU was announced as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Division II Playoff and went on to win its first two games of the postseason, advancing to the quarterfinals. With a 38-31 win at Delta State in the second round, the Blazers ended the year with a perfect 6-0 record on the road, which also included a 31-28 come-from-behind victory at then- No. 8 West Florida.

 Several individual honors rolled in for the Blazers following the 2023 season, including Our Coaching Network GSC Coach of the Year accolades for Jackson. Quarterback Sammy Edwards was a finalist for the prestigious Harlon Hill Trophy and was named D2CCA Super Region Two Offensive Player of the Year, GSC Top Ten and a finalist for the GSC Commissioner's Trophy. Offensive lineman Devin Hannan was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association as a first team All-American and was joined on the Don Hansen All-America Team by punter Noah Botsford, defensive back Jacob Harris and Edwards. In total, seven Blazers earned D2CCA All-Region Team and All-GSC honors.

STATESMEN at Home 
 Delta State holds a 43-19 (.688) record in 62 games at Parker Field at McCool Stadium under Head Coach Todd Cooley. Delta State currently holds an unblemished 4-0 record at home in 2024 as they defeated No. 10 West Alabama 21-6, Chowan 54-9, Fort Valley State 27-24, and Missouri S&T 55-18.
Valdosta State holds a 39-11 (.780) record in their last 50 road games dating back to the 2013 season. The Blazers are currently entering this weekend with a 11-game road winning streak dating back to the 2022 season.

Statesmen vs. top 10 opponents
The Statesmen have faced against 17 opponents ranked in the top ten nationally since their national semifinal appearance in 2011. Out of those 17 opponents, three number one ranked opponents have come to McCool Stadium. Those opponents hold a 2-1 overall record. Last time the number one ranked team came to town was in 2021 when the Statesmen battled but fell to West Florida 39-33.
The Statesmen's lone win at home came in the year 2011 when Brant Botill scored a 4-yard touchdown run in overtime to lift the No.2 Delta State Statesmen over No. 1 North Alabama Lions 30-24.

The DELTA STATE-Valdosta State SERIES
This will mark the 44th matchup in the history of both programs. The Statesmen hold a 22-20-1 overall record in the series against West Alabama. The first meeting between both teams was in October of 1982 when the Statesmen shutout the Blazers tied 27-0. In the last 10 games, the Statesmen are 3-7 against the Valdosta State. At home, the Statesmen hold a 10-11-1 overall record against Valdosta State.

The history of both programs
 The Statesmen, who are embarking upon their 94th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 504-414-23 overall record, winning 53.5 percent of their 937 all-time games.
Delta State is one of just 38 NCAA Division II institutions to have recorded 500 all-time victories entering the 2024 season. The Statesmen have the second most program victories out of any Gulf-South Schools
Valdosta has a 341-136-3 (.710) record in 41 seasons of intercollegiate play.

Scouting the Statesmen
 The Statesmen enter this weekend with a 5-3 record and a 2-2 GSC mark after falling in a four-overtime shootout with North Greenville 47-45. In the overtime loss, junior quarterback Cole Kirk threw for 345 yards on 18-of-33 passing, finding Neno Lemay and Jaylen Green for touchdowns. Kelvin Smith led the rushing attack with 19 carries for 88 yards, while Lemay led the receivers with a career-high 105 yards and two touchdowns. Green is currently at the top of the leaderboard in the GSC with eight touchdown receptions in the 2024 season. Kirk currently is second amongst all GSC quarterbacks with 336 rushing yards.

On the defensive end, William Carter led the defense with 10 tackles, while Demetric Barnes, Tylenn Bridges, Carter Norrie, and Jacoby Franklin each added a sack. Sophomore defensive back Tye Holsey leads all Statesmen defenders with 46 tackles. Barnes currently is tied for fourth in the GSC with four sacks this season. Jarius McFarland currently leads all defensive backs in the GSC with his three interceptions.

On the Special Teams side, Parker Burleson currently leads the GSC with touchbacks as he has 36, which marks more than any other team in the conference. Nick Herber is currently tied for the conference lead as he is a perfect 34-34 on PATs this season. Herber is also 9-10 from inside of 40 yards. Sophomore running back Tamaj Hoffman currently leads all kick returners in the conference with 403 yards.
 
Scouting the Blazers
Valdosta State enters this weekend ranked no. 1 in the American Football Coaches' Association Top 25 Poll (AFCA) with an unblemished 8-0 record.
Last weekend, the Blazers defeated Chowan 52-0 last Saturday, Nov. 2 in Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
Despite a 0-0 score through the first quarter, the Blazers responded nicely in the final three frames with 14 points in the second, 17 in the third and 21 in the fourth en route to the victory.  VSU tallied 573 yards of total offense in the game, while the 339 yards on the ground marked a season-high.  The Blazer defense held Chowan to 292 yards of total offense with 141 on the ground and 151 through the air.
 
Individually, senior quarterback Sammy Edwards was 14 of 20 passing for 225 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while graduate student Blake Hester has a VSU career-high 121 yards on the ground on 12 carries and three rushing touchdowns.  Not to be outdone, senior running back Alfonso Franklin finished with six carries for 116 yards and a score.  Graduate student Rodney Bullard had 87 yards receiving on two catches and a touchdown.
 
The defense had seven tackles for loss and forced four turnovers by the Hawks in the game with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries leading to a 17-0 advantage in points off turnovers.  Graduate student Larry Elder paced the team with nine total tackles with five solo stops and 1.5 tackles for loss for 14 yards.