CLEVELAND, Miss. – The 16^th Ranked Delta State University Football Team (2-0, 0-0 GSC) will hit the road for the first time this season as they will travel to Pembroke, N.C., to take on the Braves from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
 
The Statesmen are currently 2-0 and are ranked no. 16 in the American Football Coaches' Association and no. 19 in the D2football.com poll. 

UNC Pembroke got their first win last Saturday in a 31-24 victory over nearby rival Fayetteville State in Pembroke.

The Coaches
Todd Cooley enters his 13th season as head coach at Delta State, where he holds a 77-46 overall record at the helm in Cleveland. With last weekend's win against the Trailblazers,

He was hired as the program's 20th all-time head coach on January 25, 2013. Thursday's action will mark Cooley and Delta State's first ever match-up against Central Missouri.  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.

Cooley's Statesmen wrapped up the  2021 season, demonstrating remarkable skill and determination on the field. The Statesmen's passing game was a key component of their offensive strategy. The team completed 164 out of 331 passing attempts, resulting in a total of 2,476 passing yards for the season. With an average of 7.48 yards per attempt and 225.09 yards per game, the passing attack was both efficient and effective. The team also recorded 22 passing touchdowns, showcasing their ability to capitalize on scoring opportunities through the air.

Delta State University director of athletics Mike Kinnison announced a four-year contract for head coach Todd Cooley on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2021. The new deal has Cooley signed through the 2024 season.

The Delta State University football team finished the 2022 season with an 11-2 overall record and a 6-1 mark in Gulf South Conference play. Delta State's offense was led by quarterback Patrick Shegogg, who threw for 2,970 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Statesmen also had a strong rushing attack for 1,825 yards and 15 touchdowns.

The Statesmen's defense was one of the best in the GSC, allowing just 23.08 points per game. Marlon Windham led the team with 5.2 tackles per game. The successful season secured them a ticket to the playoffs where they faced off against Fayetteville State in the first round.

The Statesmen finished the 2023 season with a 10-2 record, including a 7-1 record in conference play. The team had a strong defense, which allowed an average of 18.3 points per game.

Delta State secured its second GSC title in as many years with a 41-3 win over Mississippi College. The Statesmen earned the number two seed in Super Region Two for the NCAA Playoffs but will be continuing GSC play out of the gate having drawn West Florida in the first round.  Delta State football leads the GSC with 14 All-GSC team members for 2023.Eight Statesmen football team members were named on the first team list and six were named second team members.

 Delta State advanced to the second round of the NCAA Football Playoffs and avenged their only regular season win of the year with a one-sided win over West Florida. The Statesmen led 35-0 at the half with 385 yards of offense in two quarters. The Statesmen will be looking to build on their success in 2024. The team has a strong core of returning players and a talented group of newcomers.

Mark Hall was named the third head coach in the modern-day era of the UNC Pembroke football program on Dec. 14, 2022.

 Hall ventured to Pembroke after serving 15 years on the coaching staff at Chowan, including the last two seasons as the head coach of the Hawks. He also has a previous stint as the offensive coordinator for Urbana from 2005-08.

Hall instantly changed the culture of the UNCP program, leading the Black & Gold to a 7-3 record in his debut season in 2023. Hall made an immediate impact on the offense, taking over a unit that in 2022 averaged 121 rushing yards per game, 331 total yards per game, and 25 points per game and leading them to a top 12 finish in Division II in all three. The Black & Gold rushed for 220 yards per game, averaged 453 yards per game, and scored 40 points per game. The Black & Gold made big strides on the defensive side of the ball, as well, finishing third in Division II in sacks per game (3.8) and leading the country in tackles for loss per game (10.9). The massive improvement on the field led to 11 Braves picking up All-Mountain East Conference accolades, including running back Sincere Baines being named MEC Offensive Freshman of the Year and defensive end Jamae Blank earning MEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year. Blank would go on to be the first Brave since 2017 to be named to the Don Hansen All-American Team, while defensive lineman Raydarius Freeman became the first Academic All-American since the 2013 season.

The 2024 season saw the Braves finish 6-5 overall, with a 6-3 record in Mountain East Conference play. The Black & Gold finished the year ranked inside the top ten, nationally, in six different categories. The offense ranked fifth in scoring offense (43.5 PPG), seventh in passing offense (298 YPG), and eighth in total offense (467.4 YPG), while the defense was second in defensive touchdowns (six) and fumble recoveries (13), and fourth in takeaways (28). The Braves saw a record 13 players pick up All-MEC honors, including five first-teamers, while Jo Hayes was named to the D2CCA All-Region team, as well becoming just the second player in program history to be named to the AFCA All-America team.

Hall compiled a 14-7 record at the helm of the program at Chowan, including a 7-4 mark in 2022 that culminated in the program's first Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) North Division title, as well as an appearance in the CIAA championship game. He engineered a 4-game turnaround for the program in his first season as head coach in 2021 as the Hawks posted a 7-3 clip – the most wins for the program since 1983, and the best win-loss finish in the NCAA era for the squad.

 Across two seasons as skipper, Hall mentored a dozen all-conference selections, as well as a trio of all-region picks, while also seeing the program rake in 25 conference weekly laurels and a national player of the week nod. The Hawks showcased the country's 25th-best total offense (432.2 yards/game) during the run to excellence in his first season as head coach, and ranked second among the nation's 164 NCAA Division II squads with 9.2 tackles for loss per game in 2022, as well as the country's sixth-best sacks per game (3.55) tally. Chowan also averaged 38.5 points per game in 2022 – a number which ranked 12th, nationally.

 Hall joined the coaching staff at Chowan in 2008 as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator, and guided an offense that consistently ranked among the nation's top squads. The Hawks were one of just eight NCAA Division II teams to register more than 500 yards of offense and 40 points per game in 2018, and finished that campaign ranked sixth in total offense (511.7 yards/game) and seventh in scoring offense (41.9 points/game). Fueled by one of the nation's top running backs in 2019, Chowan registered NCAA Division II's sixth-best rushing offense (275.2 yards/game) and 15th-best total offense (475.1) the following season.

 As the offensive coordinator for Chowan, Hall also provided tutelage for a pair of CIAA Offensive Player of the Year selections, as well as 18 All-CIAA recipients and an all-American.

 Hall dove into the coaching world as a graduate assistant coach at Urbana from 2005-06, and later as offensive coordinator in 2007, and helped pace his alma mater to 17 victories across three seasons, including a pair of winning campaigns. The Blue Knights averaged better than 327 yards per game during Hall's tenure, including a 2006 campaign that watched the squad tack up nearly 350 yards a contest. The Blue Knights also tallied four wins over top 25 opponents with Hall on staff as well.

 A regular in the wide receiver rotation for the Blue Knights in 2004, Hall earned his bachelor's degree in sports and leisure activities from Urbana in 2003 and completed his graduate work in classroom management at Urbana in 2007. Hall and his wife, Amy, are the proud parents of two daughters, Avery and Makaylin.

STATESMEN In North Carolina
Delta State has compiled a 10-2 (.684) all opponents from the State of North Carolina dating back to 1926.

Last season, Delta State went 2-1 against all opponents from North Carolina and made two trips to Wingate and Mars Hill. This weekend will mark the first time Delta State will face off against the Braves.

The STATESMEN - on the road
Historically, Delta State is 198-249-7 (.436) on the road dating back to 1926 when the University started the football program. That record doesn't define how the Statesmen have performed while on the road in recent years. With Coach Cooley at helm, the Statesmen are 32-24 (.571) away from McCool Stadium. 

UNC Pembroke enters this Thursday with a 36-14 (.720) overall record in their last 50 road contests dating back to 2014. Currently, the Braves hold a 1-0 record at Grace P. Johnson Stadium this season after going 4-1 last season as a member of the Mountain East Conference.  

Larry GSC Defensive Player of the Week
With his performance last Saturday, Junior Defensive Tackle Alex Larry was named the Gulf South Conference Defensive Player of the Week.

Larry lived in the North Greenville backfield as he posted nine tackles, 2.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks, including a sack on a crucial fourth down in the third quarter that led to a Statesmen scoring drive to extend their lead to 34-9.

The history of both programs
 The Statesmen, who are embarking upon their 95th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 508-415-23 overall record, winning 54.8 percent of their 944 all-time games.

Delta State is one of just 38 NCAA Division II institutions to have recorded 500 all-time victories. The Statesmen have the second most program victories out of any Gulf-South Schools

UNC Pembroke has a 111-89-1 (.554) record in 20 seasons of intercollegiate play.

Scouting the Statesmen
The Statesmen (2-0, 0-0 GSC) enter week two's matchup against the Braves ranked 19th in the D2football.com poll and 16th in the American Football Coaches' Association poll after defeating the Trailblazers from North Greenville 41-9 last Saturday in Parker Field at McCool Stadium.

The win cemented Todd Cooley's name in the football record book, becoming Delta State football's winningest coach with 77 career victories.

From the start, quarterback Cole Kirk set the tone for the Statesmen. The senior accounted for five total touchdowns, throwing three and running for two more, as Delta State built a commanding lead and never looked back.

Delta State struck first midway through the opening quarter when Kirk capped a six-play, 75-yard drive with a five-yard scoring toss to Davion Alston. After North Greenville managed a safety on the next possession, Kirk answered with another quick drive, finishing with a four-yard strike to Curtis Rearden that made it 14-2 after one quarter.

The Statesmen stretched the lead in the second quarter when Kirk showed off his legs, breaking free for a 42-yard touchdown run. Later in the half, he punched in another score from one yard out to give Delta State a 27-2 halftime advantage.

North Greenville found its only touchdown early in the third quarter, but the Statesmen wasted no time responding. Kirk connected with Marlon Palmer on a 21-yard touchdown pass to restore momentum, then Palmer added a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put the finishing touches on the rout.

Delta State's offense finished with 487 total yards, balancing 261 through the air and 226 on the ground. Kirk led the charge with 258 yards passing, connecting with 10 different receivers.

The Statesmen defense was equally impressive, holding North Greenville to just 75 rushing yards on 42 attempts (1.8 yards per carry) and limiting the Trailblazers to a single red-zone conversion. Alex Larry paced the unit with nine tackles, including 2.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, while Josh Phillips and Jacquez Tucker chipped in six tackles apiece.
 
 
Scouting the Braves
The Braves (1-1, 0-0 CC) enter this weekend after winning their first game of the season last weekend with a 31-24 against Fayetteville State in the Two Rivers Classic.

The Braves registered 424 total yards of offensive and limited Fayetteville State to 258 offensive yards. Sophomore Quarterback Tre Robinson completed 13 of his 20 passing attempts for 234 yards and threw for three touchdowns. The sophomore also ran the ball eight times for 20 yards.

In the first quarter last week, Fayetteville State capitalized on a fumble recovery by Marcus Thompson at the UNC Pembroke 17-yard line, setting up a 6-yard scoring drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Caden Davis with 9:52 on the clock. The Braves responded with an offensive drive, highlighted by a 23-yard pass from Tre Robinson to JaQuan Albright, leading to a 4-yard touchdown pass to Que Kennedy at the 6:07 mark to tie the score at 7. Later in the quarter, Tre Robinson connected with Que Kennedy again for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 1:32 remaining in the period, and would hold a 14-7 lead after the opening quarter.

The Braves got production from their wide receiver room as Malik Brown caught three passes for 111 yards and one touchdown, while JaQuan Albright caught seven passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.

On Defense, Jadin Baptist tallied a team-high 10 tackles and had one tackle for a loss of three yards, while Donovan Woods had six tackles, four of which were solo tackles.

With their performance from last week, Tre Robinson and Jadin Baptist have been named as the Conference Carolinas Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, presented by Athletic Solutions.