CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University football team is back on the road this weekend for a non-conference game with the Panthers from Ferrum College.
Kickoff is at 12:00 p.m. (CT)/1:00 p.m. (ET) from W.B. Adams Stadium on the campus of Ferrum College. Both teams are entering this weekend riding high on two game winning streaks.
The Statesmen are coming off a bye week but have won two in a row and have only given up six points during the winning streak. Last time out, the Statesmen defeated the Hawks from Shorter University 23-0 on Saturday October 3rd.
The Panthers have also won back-to-back conference games to improve to 2-1 in Conference Carolinas action. Ferrum defeated Shorter 17-10 last Friday night in Rome, Ga.
The Voice of the Statesmen Michael Gross will provide the call on the Statesmen Sports Radio Network on Majic 107.5 FM WMJW. The game will be streamed on the Conference Carolinas Digital Network.
The Coaches
David Dean enters his 1st season as head coach at Delta State.
He was hired as the program's 20th all-time head coach on February 6, 2026. Saturday's action against the Panthers will be Dean's 180th game as a head coach.
 
Dean arrives at Delta State with more than 35 years of collegiate coaching experience, including over two decades as a head coach, and a proven track record of sustained excellence at the national level. Over his career, Dean has compiled a 129–50 record as a head coach, captured three NCAA Division II National Championships, earned a national runner-up finish, and won seven Gulf South Conference championships. His success places him as the second-winningest head coach in GSC history, one of the most competitive leagues in Division II football.
 
Most recently, Dean served as head coach at the University of West Georgia from 2017–23, where he became the winningest coach in school history with a 48–20 record. Under his leadership, the Wolves reached the NCAA Division II playoffs three times, including back-to-back appearances in 2017 and 2018, and again in 2021. During the 2022 season, Dean's offense led all of Division II in total offense, showcasing his long-standing reputation as one of the most innovative offensive minds in the college game.
 
During his time in Carrollton, Dean and his team has produced 40 All-Gulf South Conference selections and 16 All-Americans. Two players from his 2019 squad, John Hurst and Azouyah Alufohai signed undrafted free agent contracts in the National Football League.
 
Dean is best known for his success at Valdosta State University, where he built a national powerhouse during two separate stints. As head coach from 2007–15, he posted a 79–27 overall record, led the Blazers to NCAA Division II National Championships in 2007 and 2012, and guided the program to six playoff appearances. Dean was named AFCA National Coach of the Year in both championship seasons and earned multiple regional and conference coaching honors during his tenure.
 
Beyond his individual success, Dean's VSU players captured the highest of honors. His VSU teams had 18 Division II All-America selections, while 10 players signed National Football League contracts. Dean also coached three players who earned GSC Freshman of the Year honors, two league players of the year, and a national defensive player of the year.
 
In addition to his time as head coach, Dean also played a key role in Valdosta State's 2004 national championship as offensive coordinator, helping guide one of the most prolific offenses in Division II history. His teams have been consistently known for explosive offensive production, disciplined special teams play, and a strong emphasis on academic accountability.
 
Kevin Sherman '92 returned to Ferrum as head football coach in January 2024. He came to Ferrum from the University at Buffalo, where he spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons as wide receivers coach. Sherman helped the Bulls to a 7-6 record, including an appearance and win in the 2022 Camellia Bowl.
 
Sherman is the ninth head football coach in Ferrum history since the program began in 1955. He played football four seasons under legendary Coach Hank Norton from 1987-90 and earned his Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Leisure from Ferrum in 1992. Sherman was Ferrum's 1990 Big Green Award recipient. Sherman served as the team captain and was named team MVP in 1990. He was later inducted into Ferrum's Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.
 
Sherman has over 30 years of coaching experience, coaching in four BCS bowl games and 11 bowl games total. He was wide receivers coach at Pittsburgh from 2015-18, and wide receivers coach at Purdue from 2013-14. Sherman also spent seven years at Virginia Tech as wide receivers coach from 2006-12. During his time there, the Hokies went a combined 60-22 with seven bowl appearances, including four BCS bowl bids (2007 Orange, 2008 Orange, 2010 Orange, 2011 Sugar).
 
Prior to Virginia Tech, Sherman spent five seasons at Wake Forest University (wide receivers), four at Ohio (wide receivers), four at Virginia Military Institute (recruiting coordinator), one season at Methodist University (wide receivers) and one at his alma mater Ferrum College as a student assistant.
 
A native of Radford, Virginia, Sherman graduated from Radford High School in 1987 and is a member of Radford's Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
 
 
Statesmen Against the Conference Carolinas
This Saturday will mark the seventh time that Delta State will face an opponent from the Conference Carolinas, who jumpstarted Football in their conference in the 2025 season.
The Statesmen held a 5-1 overall record in the 2025 season against the five teams they played from the Conference Carolinas. At home, the Statesmen faced and defeated conference champions North Greenville 41-9, Erskine 52-0, and Ferrum 51-10. The lone loss came on the road last season in Pembroke against the Braves from UNC Pembroke.
Ferrum is currently in a three-way tie for second place in the Conference Carolina standings. The Panthers are tied with North Greenville and UNC Pembroke and are currently a half game behind the Hawks from Chowan.
The STATESMEN On the Road
On the road, Delta State has compiled a 25-25 overall record in the past 50 road contests dating back to the 2015 season. The Statesmen are 1-2 this season after being 3-2 in the 2025 season on the road. Last time on the road, the Statesmen defeated Mississippi Valley State in the Delta Classic 21-6 a month ago.
Head Coach David Dean has had an impressive resume when it comes to playing on the road. In 81 games, teams coached by David Dean have compiled a 58-25 (.703) overall record.
 
Statesmen vs. the Old Dominion
Delta State has compiled a 4-2 (.667) against a team from the State of Virginia in their 95 years of existence. Before last season, the Statesmen have not faced off against a team from Virginia since 1982.
This weekend will mark the first trip for Delta State to the Old Dominion since they defeated Liberty Baptist (Now Liberty University) 16-13 in the 1982 season opener in Lynchburg, Va.
Last season, the Statesmen defeated Ferrum 51-10 in front of a Homecoming crowd behind a solid 504 total yards on offense and led the game off with a pick six from former Statesmen linebacker Joshua Phillips.
The history of both programs and the matchup
 The Statesmen, who are embarking upon their 95th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 515-420-23 overall record, winning 55.0 percent of their 934 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
Ferrum has a 215-197-1 (.324) record in 41 seasons of intercollegiate play.
This weekend will mark the 2nd time Delta State and Ferrum will face each other in each of their program's prospective existence. This will mark the first time the Statesmen will make the trip to Ferrum Va., in program history.
In the history of the matchup, Delta State holds a 1-0 record. The Panthers recently became a member of NCAA Division II in the 2025-26 academic year, joining the Conference Carolinas after spending over 40 seasons in Division III as a member of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.
 
Scouting the Statesmen
Delta State enters this weekend after a bye week with a 2-3 record. Last time out, the Statesmen defeated the Hawks from Shorter University 23-0 on Saturday, Oct. 3rd at Parker-McCool Stadium.
 
The Statesmen used a dominant rushing attack and a suffocating defensive effort to even its record at 2-3.
 
After a scoreless opening quarter, the Statesmen broke through in the second as Price Nixon connected on field goals from 24 and 46 yards to take a 6-0 lead into halftime.
 
Delta State took control in the third quarter when Nick Clark capped a short drive with a nine-yard touchdown run. Nixon later added a 28-yard field goal to extend the lead to 16-0 entering the fourth.
 
Clark led the offensive effort with a career-high 139 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown, powering a ground game that finished with 241 yards. Emile Picarella added 51 rushing yards, while Qualon Farrar contributed 49 as the Statesmen controlled the tempo throughout.
 
Defensively, Delta State delivered one of its most complete performances of the season. The Statesmen held Shorter scoreless and limited the Hawks to just 269 yards of total offense, including only 120 on the ground. Delta State forced three interceptions, consistently disrupting drives and winning the field position battle throughout the night.
 
Tavian Moore led the way for the Statesmen with seven tackles (4 solo) with 1.5 TFLs and a sack.
 
The unit also produced key stops on third down, holding Shorter to just 2-of-14 conversions, and allowed just one red-zone opportunity.
 
Jordan Bradley provided the exclamation point in the fourth quarter, returning an interception 88 yards for a touchdown to seal the shutout victory.
 
The Statesmen forced three interceptions produced by the pass rush one by Drake Fowler and the other by Xavier Havis.
 
Delta State totaled 306 yards of offense and controlled possession for more than 31 minutes in the win.
 
Graduate Kicker/Punter Price Nixon earned GSC Special Teams Player of the week for his efforts in the 23-0 win against Shorter.
 
Nixon's 46-yard field goal in the win marks the longest field goal made by a Statesmen since 2017.
 
Scouting the Panthers
                Ferrum enters this weekend on a two-game winning streak. Just like DSU, the Panthers defeated the Hawks from Shorter University last Friday night 17-10 on the road in Rome, Ga.
 
Ferrum College used a defensive touchdown and a fourth-quarter field goal to secure a 17-10 victory over Shorter University Friday afternoon in Conference Carolinas football action at Barron Stadium.
 
The Panthers took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Rashaud Cherry returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. Ferrum added a rushing touchdown by Jycen Anciso in the second quarter to build a 14-0 advantage before Shorter scored a field goal just before halftime. The Hawks cut the deficit to four points in the third quarter, but Cooper Wolfe's 30-yard field goal in the fourth quarter provided the final margin.
 
Ferrum opened the scoring with 3:43 remaining in the first quarter when Cherry intercepted a pass by Shorter quarterback Jeb Walls and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown. Jon Davis added the extra point to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead. The Panthers extended their advantage to 14-0 with 3:47 remaining in the second quarter when Anciso scored on a 4-yard touchdown run, capping a 12-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 7:29. Shorter answered with a 34-yard field goal by Carlos Lopez with 1:29 remaining in the half to make it 14-3.
 
Shorter pulled within four points at 14-10 with 6:30 remaining in the third quarter when David Hill broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run. The Panthers' defense kept the Hawks from scoring again, and Ferrum added an insurance score in the fourth quarter.
 
With 5:02 remaining, Wolfe connected on a 30-yard field goal to cap a nine-play, 29-yard drive and extend Ferrum's lead to 17-10. Ferrum's defense produced another interception in the fourth quarter, as Aidan Mansfield picked off a Walls pass to help the Panthers preserve their advantage. Ferrum recorded two interceptions and three sacks while limiting Shorter to 10 points.
 
The Panthers finished with 252 yards of total offense, including 148 rushing yards and 104 passing yards. Shorter totaled 348 yards of offense, including 175 rushing yards and 173 passing yards, but Ferrum's defense forced two turnovers and held the Hawks scoreless in the fourth quarter.
 
Offensively, the Panthers were led by junior quarterback Eli Foutz. Foutz was 11-20 for 104 yards and had 51 yards on the ground. Sophomore running back Jycen Ancisco led the way for the Panthers with 17 attempts for 64 yards on the ground. In the air, sophomore wide receiver Omarza Gray had seven catches for 78 yards.
 
On the ground, Ancisco leads the Panthers with 100 attempts for 461 yards and two touchdowns on the season. In the air, Foutz has surpassed the 1,000-yard mark last weekend as he currently has completed 97-164 for 1,086 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions.
 
The Panthers on the defensive side forced two key turnovers and were led by freshman linebackers Josiah Johnson and Avery Fleet, who both had six tackles each.
 
So far this season, the tackling leaders for the Panthers are sophomore linebackers Deandre Watson and Emory Womack. Watson leads FC with 5 TFLs for a total of 25 yards.