Delta State Game Notes

Blazers, Statesmen play Thursday at 8 pm

Today's Game: For the first of three times in 2009, Valdosta State plays in front of a television audience as the Blazers travel to Cleveland, Miss. to face Delta State in the Gulf South Conference Thursday Game of the Week. VSU, which defeated West Alabama 35-6 last week, is 2-2 on the season, including a 2-1 mark in GSC play, while the Statesmen are also 2-2, including a 1-1 mark against league competition after a 38-14 loss at Ouachita Baptist last week.

The game features the first time the Blazers have visited Cleveland and Travis Parker Field since the 2006 season, when Delta State claimed a 35-28 victory, the first of three straight wins in the series for DSU.

One storyline of the game will be VSU's Cedric Jones and the senior's pursuit of the Gulf South Conference career receiving record. Jones enters the game third in career receptions in conference history, one behind DSU's Robert Davis, who played from 2003 to 2006, and three behind VSU's Sean Pender, who starred for the Blazers from 1992 through 1996. Jones has caught 22 passes in his three previous games agains the Statesmen, including nine for 151 yards and a touchdowns as a freshman in 2006, his only other appearance on Delta State's home field.

VSU averages 403.2 yards of total offense on the season while surrendering 310.5 yards per game. Running back Ronnye Nelson leads the offense with 137 rushing yards and 17 receptions. Quarterback Kellen Lewis has completed 93-of-142 passes for 934 yards while linebacker Larry Dean leads the defense with 34 total tackles, including 5.5 for loss.

Delta State is averaging 406.2 yards per game while surrendering 376.5 per outing. Running back Trevar Deed ranks among the top 10 in the GSC in both rushing and receiving, totaling 156.5 all-purpose yards per game while Lardester Hicks-Green leads the Statesmen defense with 44 tackles, 18 of which came last week at Ouachita Baptist.

The 2009 season marks the 28th year of Valdosta State football while the West Alabama game will be the 314th game in school history. The Blazers have won 211 contests, lost 98 and tied four times, a winning percentage of .681.

Television: The game will be broadcast live as part of the GSC Game of the Week package on Comcast SportSouth and Cox Sports. In Valdosta, the game will be carried by Mediacom Channel 77.

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