CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Delta State University football team will hit the road this weekend as they travel to Warrensburg, Mo., to take on the Mules from the University of Central Missouri.

The Voice of the Statesmen, Michael Gross will have the call on the Statesmen Sports Radio Network on Radio Cleveland Majic 107.5 WMJW the pregame show will be a 6:00 p.m., as kickoff is set for 7 p.m. (CDT) at Walton Stadium/Kennedy Field on the campus of the University of Central Missouri. The game will be telecasted on pay per view via the MIAA Digital Network.

Delta State enters this weekend looking to bounce back from their home opener last weekend where they lost 36-13 to the Bulldogs from Wingate University.

Central Missouri got their first win of the season last Thursday night with a 49-10 statement over conference foe Missouri Western in Warrensburg.
 
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 Mules will be Dean's 177th 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 127–49 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, displaying 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.
 
Former University of Central Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Lamberson was named the 30th head football coach of the Mules football program in February 2022 and is in his fifth season as head coach in 2026.
 
Last season in 2025, UCM posted a top-five finish in the MIAA, tying for fourth in the final standings with a 5-4 overall record while going 5-6 overall and playing one of the toughest schedules in NCAA Division II Football.
 
Wide receiver Hogan Wasson became the 24th Mule to earn First Team All-America honors and was one of 11 Mules who earned All-MIAA accolades.
 
UCM was stellar in the classroom, as five players earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors in Luke Karns, Ethan Brown, Drew Kaufman, Michael Harris, and Cooper Zwart. In addition, Harris earned First Team College Sports Communicators Academic All-America accolades.
 
In 2024, he guided Central Missouri to an overall record of 9-3 and a 6-3 mark in the MIAA. UCM earned a spot in the Heritage Bowl powered by Riot, defeating the University of Texas-Permian Basin, 39-37 in double overtime on Dec. 7 in Corsicana, Texas. The Heritage Bowl appearance marked the Mules' second straight postseason showing. Combined with UCM's 11-2 mark in 2023, Central Missouri won 20 games in back-to-back seasons for just the second time in program history.
 
UCM quarterback Zach Zebrowski won his second consecutive Harlon Hill Award as the Division II National Player of the Year, becoming just the fifth player in the award's history to win the trophy multiple times. He was the first-ever MIAA football player to win the award in back-to-back seasons.
 
Lamberson has had previous stops at Abilene Christian, Southeastern Oklahoma State, and at his alma mater Northwest Missouri State where he led the Bearcats to a NCAA Division II National Championship in 2005 as the Quarterback.

STATESMEN Against the MIAA
This Saturday will mark the seventh time that Delta State will face an opponent from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, otherwise known as the MIAA. Last season, Delta State opened the season at home on Thursday, August 28th when they defeated the Mules 31-23.

The Statesmen hold a 4-2 overall record in the programs 95 seasons of competition against the MIAA. Before DSU's 31-23-win last season, the last regular season contest was in 2005 when the Statesmen opened their season with a 44-31 win on the road at Pittsburg State. Last year was the first time in 32 seasons that an institution from the MIAA traveled to Cleveland.

DSU has also ran into a MIAA opponent in postseason play, the Statesmen traveled to Pittsburg, Kansas in the 2011 NCAA Division II Semifinals.  

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 0-1 this season after being 3-2 in the 2025 season on the road.

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 57-24 (.703) overall record.

Statesmen vs. The show-me state
Delta State has compiled a 28-5-1 (.823) overall record against a school from the state of Missouri in the program's 95 years of existence.

Last time Delta State traveled to the Show-Me State was in the 2023 GSC Championship season when they traveled to Rolla to face the Miners from Missouri S&T. The Statesmen rolled to a 48-20 win behind a solid outing from Conerly Trophy winner Patrick Shegog. Shegog completed 16-21 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns.

This weekend will mark the first time that the Statesmen travel to Warrensburg to take on the Mules.

The history of both programs
The Statesmen, who are embarking upon their 95th season of intercollegiate competition, have compiled a 513-420-23 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

Central Missouri has a 601-543-51 (.524) record in 128 seasons of intercollegiate play.
 
Scouting the Statesmen
Delta State enters this weekend with a 0-2 record after falling 36-13 to Wingate this past Saturday at the 41st Annual Pig Pickin' game.
 
Wingate struck first with a 10-yard touchdown pass midway through the opening quarter, but the Statesmen answered early in the second. Quarterback Emile Picarella III connected with Lawrence Armstrong on a 41-yard touchdown strike to even the score at 7-7 after a 10-play, 73-yard drive.
 
The Bulldogs regained the lead just before halftime with a 22-yard field goal and carried a 10-7 advantage into the break. Despite a strong defensive effort early, Delta State struggled to slow Wingate's rushing attack in the second half.
 
Wingate took control in the fourth quarter, scoring 26 points behind four rushing touchdowns to extend its lead. The Bulldogs finished with 251 yards on the ground and 413 total yards of offense.
 
Delta State found the end zone once later in the contest when Picarella III hit Jekerious Williams for a 26-yard touchdown pass with just over a minute remaining.
 
Picarella III completed 12-of-19 passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, while Armstrong led the receiving corps with 47 yards on two catches, including his second-quarter touchdown. Williams added 41 receiving yards and a score.
 
Defensively, Alonzo Jackson II paced the Statesmen with 10 total tackles, while Austin Collins recorded a sack and multiple tackles for loss.
Last season, the Statesmen defeated the Mules 31-23 to open the 2025 season. 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 was not 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 Mules
The Mules earned their first win of the season last weekend in Warrensburg, Mo., taking down conference foe Missouri Western 49-10.
 
MoWest (0-2, 0-1 MIAA) led 10-7 after a touchdown with 11:58 in the second quarter before Central Missouri scored three touchdowns in the final 10 minutes of the quarter to take a 28-10 lead into halftime.
 
Jack Pospisil reeled in an eight-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Pachot for the go-ahead touchdown with just under 10 minutes on the clock before Jake Weber snagged a 30-yard touchdown feed from Pachot at the 6:26 mark, upping the UCM lead to 21-10.
 
Marlon Lindsey, Jr., caught a five-yard pass from Pachot in the end zone with 29 seconds to go, wrapping up the 21-point second quarter for the home team.
 
Central Missouri kept rolling in the second-half. Running back DJ Brown posted two rushing touchdowns in the third quarter, before tight end Cole Watson put an exclamation point on the contest with eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, reeling in Pachot's fourth TD pass of the game, sealing the 49-10 win.
 
Pachot went 21-of-31 with four passing touchdowns and 254 yards, Weber had six catches for 95 receiving yards with one TD, DJ Brown rushed for three touchdowns, and Kamrin Cox had 74 rushing yards on nine carries, leading UCM offensively. Pachot earned MIAA Player of the Week honors announced by the conference office earlier this week.
 
Marcus Williams had 12 tackles and a forced fumble, Kyan Franklin compiled nine tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss for 13 yards, and 1.5 sacks for 11 yards, and Abraham Hoskins III had two pass breakups, pacing the Mules defensively.
 
For the game, Central Missouri outgained MoWest, 436-270, including a 182-125 rushing and 254-145 passing advantage. UCM also bested MWSU in first downs, 26-16, and went a perfect 6-for-6 inside the red zone with six touchdowns.
 
Isaiah Tate was 12-of-24 with 115 yards, leading the Griffons.