CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University football team will look to improve to 2-0 in the 40th annual Pig Pickin' Game this Saturday (Sept. 6) against the Trailblazers from North Greenville University.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. (CDT) at McCool Stadium, as The Voice of the Statesmen
Michael Gross will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Network and the FloCollege Network.
The Statesmen started off strong in their home opener against the formerly ranked Mules from Central Missouri, winning 31-23 last Thursday in McCool Stadium.
North Greenville finished the 2024 season with a 6-5 overall record.
STATESMEN In Pig Pickin' Games
Delta State has compiled a
27-11-1 (.684) record in the annual Pig Pickin' game dating back to the 1985 season.
The Statesmen hold a
20-4 (.833) record in Pig Pickin' games dating back to the 2000 season. Under Head Coach
Todd Cooley, Delta State has built a
9-2 (.818) record in Pig Pickin' games.
The STATESMEN - At Home
Historically, Delta State is
287-147-15 (.638) at home dating back to 1926 when the University started the football program. At Parker Field at McCool Stadium, the Statesmen hold a
170-96-8(.620) overall record.
North Greenville enters this Thursday with a
22-28 (.440) overall record in their last 50 road contests dating back to 2015. Last season, the Mules went 2-3 in their road contests with their two wins coming to Mississippi College and Benedict.
Statesmen vs the Palmetto State
This Saturday will mark the ninth time that the Statesmen will be facing off against a team from the State of South Carolina and hold a 5-3 (.625)
The lone team that Delta State have faced from South Carolina has been North Greenville. The Statesmen will host Erskine College later in the season as the second program from the Palmetto State in program history.
The history of both programs
The Statesmen, who are embarking upon their 95th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a
507-415-23 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
North Greenville has a
141-179 (.441) record in 30 seasons of intercollegiate play.
Scouting the Statesmen
The Statesmen (1-0, 0-0 GSC) enter week one's matchup against the Trailblazers ranked 24th in the D2football.com poll and 22nd in the American Football Coaches' Association poll after defeating the Mules from Central Missouri 31-23 last Thursday in Parker Field at McCool Stadium.
Behind a fast start, quarterback
Cole Kirk and a resilient defensive effort, the Statesmen built an early cushion and held off a late rally by the Mules.
Central Missouri wasted no time on its opening drive, marching 75 yards in under three minutes. UCM's quarterback capped the possession with a 13-yard touchdown strike, giving the Mules a 7-0 lead.
Delta State answered immediately. Kirk ripped off a 51-yard run to set up the Statesmen in the red zone, then found
Carter Coullard on a 3-yard touchdown pass to tie the game. Minutes later, following a Central Missouri fumble, Kirk connected with
Curtis Rearden for a 31-yard score. Although the extra point was blocked, DSU surged ahead 13-7.
The second quarter swung heavily in Delta State's favor.
Nick Clark punched in a 3-yard rushing touchdown, and the DSU defense forced a safety after relentless pressure pinned the Mules deep. Kicker
Cade Mangum tacked on a 23-yard field goal before halftime. Central Missouri managed only a field goal and a late safety, sending the teams into the locker room with Delta State up 25-12.
Delta State extended its lead early in the third quarter when
Davion Alston barreled in from three yards out, pushing the margin to 31-12. Central Missouri wasn't finished, trimming the deficit to 31-23 entering the fourth.
Central Missouri controlled much of the fourth quarter offensively. Twice, the Mules drove deep into Statesmen territory, but the DSU defense stood tall. The most crucial stop came in the final minute, when Delta State denied Central Missouri on 4th-and-6 from the 12-yard line to secure the win, 31-23.
Scouting the Trailblazers
The Trailblazers (0-0, 0-0 GSC) kick off the 2025 campaign finished in a tie with UNC Pembroke to finish first in the Conference Carolinas preseason coaches' poll as the league prepares for the first season of conference sponsored football since 1974.
North Greenville's offense will return their signal caller in senior quarterback Dylan Ramirez. The Cowpens, S.C., native enters his senior season with over 7,000 total yards an 59 touchdowns in his career in Tigerville. Last season Ramirez saw his best season through the air as he completed 160 passes for 2,424 yards and 18 touchdowns in 10 games played for the Trailblazers. On the ground, Ramirez rushed for 216 yards and scored five touchdowns on 136 attempts.
Other skill positions returning for NGU include running back Reggion Bennett, along with Wide Receivers Ahmari Coats, Sam Washam and Cameron Walker. Bennett played in seven games in the 2024 season as he had 40 carries for 230 yards and a touchdown against Chowan. Coats is the top returning receiver for the Trailblazers from the 2024 season. In the 2024 campaign, the Greenwood, S.C. native caught 32 passes for 574 yards and three TDs. Returning with Coats is Washam, who played in all 11 games in the 2024 season. The Indian Trail, N.C. native reeled in 28 receptions for 395 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, NGU returns eight players who have seen action in 10 or more games last season highlighted by redshirt junior linebacker Dakoda Willard and defensive back RJ Glasgow. Willard led all returners with 43 total tackles with four TFLs and a sack. Glasgow had 35 total tackles with 3.5 TFLs and two interceptions and a pass breakup.
Special teams returns a key kickoff and punt returner in Jerrick Scott. the defensive back had 14 kickoff returns that went for 430 yards and a 99-yard kickoff return against West Florida last season.
