Preview Week 8: Delta State

Delta State University, GSC (D2)

Broadcast: 10/21 FloSports 3 PM CST/4 PM EST

When We Last Saw Delta State

2023 Record: 7-0, 5-0 GSC

The Statemen have been a wagon in 2023, leading the league in scoring (46.6) and second in the GSC in scoring defense (19.1). Their closest call came last weekend against North Greenville, final score of 49-28, but Delta scored the final 14 points of the game after the Crudsaders made it an 8 point game early in the 4th quarter. The run game has been clicking this season, lead by star QB Patrick Shegog’s league leading 9 rushing TD and RB Kelvin Smith (510 yards 7 TD), and has put up at least 250 yards in four of their last five games, but the Senior has been one of the top passers in the Gulf South as well. Shegog has the most TD (19) and fewest INT (2) of any full time starter in the league and his 220 yards per game is 4th. It is an offensive attack that can really do it all, they can run with power, they have playmakers who can take it the distance (8 plays of 50+ yards), Shegog takes care of the ball and is a true dual threat, and they’ve kept the pocket clean (6 sacks 6 hurries). As good as the offense is, the defense is just about as good. There is talent and depth at all three levels, but they’re headlined by two All GSC DBs in Malik Jones and Marlon Windham who’ve hauled in a combined five interceptions holding teams to just 5 passing TD and a 9+ man DL rotation that has contributed 14 of the Statesmen’s 15 total sacks. They’ve been extremely opportunistic this season picking off opposing QBs 10 times (t-1st in GSC) and are in the top 25 nationally for turnovers with 15 total. With solid ball control on offense (3 INT 4 fumbles lost), they’re 16th nationally in turnover margin at +8. The Statesmen came into the season with GSC and National Title aspirations and so far they’ve lived up to the hype.

Three Players to Know

Senior Patrick Shegog, QB 6’0” 200

Stats: 106 of 161 (65.8%) 1540 yards (9.6 YPA) 19 TD 2 INT 56 carries 417 yards 9 TD

The reigning GSC OPOY is well on his way to repeating the award, with 28 total TD through 7 games. He’s an efficient passer, he’s a dangerous runner, and he is in total control of this offense. With 41 games under his belt in Cleveland, he is by far the most tenured QB in the conference and possibly the country.

UWF has been very good against the pass this year allowing just 168.3 yards per game and just 5 passing TD allowed, but Shegog has only been held under 210 yards passing twice this season. The Argos will have their hands full and with the wily Senior back there have to keep their eyes up at all times.

Senior Malik Jones CB 6’1” 185

Stats: 20 tackles (14 solo) 1.5 TFL 4 INT 2 PBU

Jones was a 1st Team All Conference member last year and has been as good as any DB in the GSC in conference play. His league leading 4 INT have come over the last four games, snagging a pick in each. A long and athletic Cornerback, he among the league’s leaders in passes defended.

This is the first DB this season that has been able to match size with size against UWF’s tall, athletic WRs. The battle between Jones and Argonaut pass catchers Jiles, Leggett, and Quillen will be one to watch all afternoon. If West Florida is going to be successful on offense, they’re gonna have to be able to make big plays in the passing game and Jones is a major obstacle.

Senior Marlon Windham, DB 6’1” 197

Stats: 30 tackles (19 solo) 2 TFL 1 INT 3 PBU 1 safety

The versatile Senior was a top playmaker for the Statesmen last season, finishing the season with 81 tackles 8 TFL 1 INT 4 PBU playing Safety and Nickel. This year is much the same, he was relatively quiet through the first three games (1 tackle 1 PBU) but the past four games he has had 9, 5, 10, and 5 tackles, along with 2 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU and the safety against UWA. Windham is great DB who can make plays in both phases of the game.

Last weekend the Argonauts had a hard time on the perimeter with UWA’s talented DB group. The Delta State room is built similarly, long, athletic, and willing to hit, and Windham is the leader of the pack. Peewee will have to account for Windham on every offensive snap.

Matchup of the Week

UWF Offensive Line vs Delta State Defensive Line

Delta State doesn’t rely on one or two Defensive Linemen to make plays, they’ve got a deep rotation of quality players who rotate through their front. Timaje Porter was an All GSC pick last fall and their two most disruptive front seven defenders from 2022, Demario Martin and Lamarcus Faulkner, both returned this season. But like I said this is true group effort, no individual has more than 4.5 TFL or 2.5 sacks, but nine DL have at least one sack and eight have at least 1.5 TFL. UWF really struggled against the two best Defensive Line groups they’ve faced this year, FAMU and UWA, and it really made all the difference last weekend in the West Alabama loss. The Argos starting five are going to have to come together in this one, they’re the key to getting this offense going, but they’ll have to tangle with another group of quality defenders, and they could be dealing with an injury if Colton Beesley isn’t back to 100%. This has to be a win for the Argonauts.

Prediction

Despite the results from last weekend, I still expect that this game is going to be a heck of a contest. These are two talented and experienced teams, two of the top QBs in the league, and teams that have been statistically near the top of the league on both sides of the ball this season. Not to mention two teams that met twice last year, playing eight quarters (plus two overtimes) splitting the contests with both games decided by 10 points or fewer. In fact this matchup has been a really evenly contested over the last 6 seasons with the Argos having a 4-3 overall edge in a series with four 1 score games. The big question is obviously can UWF bounce back from one of the worst offensive performances in school history? This defense is legit and I think will give UWF plenty of opportunities with the ball, so the offense is going to have to pull their weight this weekend. A lot can still happen this season, but this game is going to have major playoff ramifications. I want to pick the Argos, but Delta has been so tough and versatile this year, I think they’ll pull this one out at home, 28-20.