September 4th, 2024 6:00am
The Gulf South turned in a perfect 4-0 record during Week Zero, including dominant performances from Top 25 powers Delta State and Valdosta State. Each GSC program will be in action this week, with a few Super Region 2 battles on the horizon for Chowan, Mississippi College, VSU, and West Alabama.
Week Zero Results (home team in bold)
No. 14 Delta State 47, Mars Hill 16
Erskine 52, Saint Andrews 0
West Alabama 16, Miles 15
No. 6 Valdosta State 42, Albany State 10
Week One Schedule (all times Eastern)
Mississippi College (0-0) at Shorter (0-0)
Wednesday, Sept. 4 | 7:00 pm | Rome, Ga. | Audio | Stats | Video
The Mike Kershaw era at Mississippi College is set to begin on Wednesday night, bringing in an uptempo offense that the Choctaw faithful haven’t seen in some time. Running back Marcus Williams is the unquestioned leader of the unit after totaling 1,381 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns last season. In his career, the White Castle, La. native has 3,360 all-purpose yards and 22 total touchdowns across 29 games.
Shorter will be an NCAA Division II Independent this season after spending the past decade in the Gulf South and will begin play in Conference Carolinas to start 2025. The Hawks struggled mightily in 2024, primarily on offense as the unit averaged just 322.3 yards per game. Add to that the loss of leading rusher Justis Durant and all-conference tight end John Dietl III and the Hawks will have to rely on the defense to stay in games. Trey Thomas spearheads the defense from the secondary in his senior season after compiling 90 total tackles, four interceptions, and 24 pass breakups through his first three years.
A new Choctaw offense may have to work out a few wrinkles early, but they have enough key playmakers on both sides of the ball to put the game out of reach in the first half. Shorter has shown in years past that they aren’t equipped to come from behind and that’s what they’ll have to do in this one.
My pick: Mississippi College
McKendree (0-0) at No. 14 West Florida (0-0)
Thursday, Sept. 5 | 7:00 pm | Pensacola, Fla. | Audio | Stats | Video
The big question for those of us following West Florida is: who will start under center? It’s a toss-up right now between redshirt junior Michael Rich, Charleston Southern transfer Tony Bartalo, and redshirt freshman Marcus Stokes. Second-year Head Coach Kaleb Noles has let it be known that the decision will come down to Stokes, the 11th-ranked dual-threat quarterback in the class of 2023, or Bartalo who threw for 884 yards and four touchdowns over the course of two seasons at the Division I level. The defense, which led the GSC in total defense (276.8 yards per game) and fewest points allowed (216), will hold down the fort as the Argo offense finds its rhythm.
McKendree is under the leadership of Interim Head Coach Jason Rejfek, who was elevated on Aug. 6 after five seasons as the team’s defensive coordinator. Last season, the Bearcats won their final five games after losing the first five, which included an opening-game loss to UWF in Illinois. McKendree returns its top passer, receiver, and rusher among 20-of-22 starters that are back from the 2023 campaign.
West Florida went on the road to open last season and came away with a 32-point victory over McKendree. This year, they open among the friendly confines of PenAir Field and should have no problem putting on a show for the home crowd.
My pick: No. 14 West Florida
Keiser (0-0) at North Greenville (0-0)
Thursday, Sept. 5 | 7:00 pm | Tigerville, S.C. | Stats | Video
The Seahawks enter Thursday’s game as the No. 1 ranked team in the NAIA after winning the program’s first national title in 2023. However, former head coach Doug Socha has taken over at Lenoir-Rhyne University leaving many to wonder how Keiser will respond. Myles Russ was named the new head coach in January after serving for six seasons as the team’s assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator. Keiser averaged 40.8 points per game last season while limiting its opponents to just 18.5 points per game, including less than 100 yards (91.1) on the ground with 46 sacks.
North Greenville is looking to leave its mark on the GSC during its final year before transitioning to Conference Carolinas. The newly branded Trailblazers return key returners on both sides of the ball, including experienced offensive playmakers in quarterback Dylan Ramirez (2,258 yards, 11 touchdowns) and wide receiver Dre Williams (35 receptions, 630 yards, six touchdowns). Defensively, De’Iveon Donald is the unquestioned leader of a unit that held opponents to just 186.9 passing yards per game last season but ranked 123rd overall in total defense after giving up 194.2 yards per game on the ground.
Keiser is no doubt a talented program, but they are 0-4 all-time against NCAA Division II schools. North Greenville’s speed and big play ability on offense should be the difference in this one as long as they eliminate the turnover bug that plagued them a year ago.
My pick: North Greenville
Chowan (0-0) at Elizabeth City State (0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 1:00 pm | Elizabeth City, N.C. | Video
Things can only look up for a Chowan squad that was winless in its first Gulf South season last year. The offense averaged just 15 points per game and will be looking for a leader under center as well as in the backfield after gaining just 682 total yards on the ground as a team. On defense, gone are many of the unit’s top performers across all three levels, however, the addition of defense coordinator Tony Gilbert signals a new identity. Gilbert brings over three decades of experience to Chowan, having most recently served in the same position for five years at Mississippi College.
Elizabeth City State’s second-half comeback effort against Shaw fell short last week as the Vikings had just 267 total yards on offense and turned the ball over twice. ECSU was 3-7 a year ago and are still looking to find their identity on offense. However, the defense gave up just over 22 points per game last season and will need to remain consistent for the Vikings to stay in games.
This is truly a toss-up with neither team having an edge on either side of the ball. Neither side figures to put up many points on Saturday, but I think the slight advantage goes to the Vikings after having one game under their belt and Chowan adjusting to a new scheme on defense.
My pick: Elizabeth City State
Missouri S&T (0-1) at No. 12 Delta State (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 7:00 pm | Cleveland, Miss. | Audio | Stats | Video
Missouri S&T couldn’t stop the big plays last week en route to a 49-17 loss at the hands of Wayne State (Nebraska) in its season opener. Despite Missouri S&T dominating the time of possession (40:27 to 19:33), the Miners gave up scoring plays of 21-. 95-, 29-, 11-, 58-, 11-, and 80-yards to Wayne State. Two interceptions and a missed field goal didn’t help the Miners’ cause, although quarterback Tyler Gioia was a bright spot passing for 234 yards and rushing for 101 with two total scores.
It was a slow start last Thursday for the Statesmen, but Delta State overcame three interceptions by starting quarterback Cole Kirk to claim a dominant win in the season opener with 37 points in the second half.
Receiver Jaylen Green delivered on the preseason hype with five catches for 88 yards and two scores, while running back Kelvin Smith carried the ball eight times for 65 yards and a touchdown of his own. Not to be outdone, fellow running back Qualon Farrar also had eight carries and scored twice on the ground. Defensively, lineman Chris Bonner made the most of his increased playing time with three of Delta State’s six total sacks in the contest and his teammate on the line Ahmir Taylor led the charge with eight total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
Don’t expect Delta State to come out of the gates so slow this week in front of its home crowd. The hope is that Kirk’s turnovers can be attributed to shaking off the cobwebs and I expect more big plays from the Statesmen on both sides of the ball.
My pick: No. 12 Delta State
Tusculum (0-0) at West Alabama (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 7:00 pm | Livingston, Ala. | Stats | Video
Billy Taylor will be making his collegiate head coaching debut on Saturday for Tusculum as the Pioneers return 45 players from a 2023 squad that appeared in the South Atlantic Conference Championship game. Taylor’s prowess is on defense, having spent the last nine seasons at the defensive coordinator for NCAA FCS East Tennessee State, but he filled out his coaching staff with well-respected names including Wade Lang who led a powerful offense at Wofford College.
The Pioneers bring back last year’s starting quarterback and running back, with major holes to fill in the receiving core. TC will need to rely on its defense early in the season as they adjust to new schemes on both sides of the ball.
West Alabama opened the season with an exciting finish against Miles College as redshirt sophomore kicker Eijah Guyton sent a 20-yard field goal through the uprights as time expired. Guyton converted all three of his field goal attempts in another defensive battle for the Tigers as West Alabama held Miles to just 292 total yards. The Tigers’s offense didn’t fare much better, however running back Bry Webb (26 carries, 70 yards) and Kason Lincke (nine carries, 50 yards) paced a ground game that collected 184 yards and helped UWA control time of possession.
This one will be an old-fashioned slobberknocker with both sides relying on defense and the ground game. I think the Pioneers will have some wrinkles in their offensive scheme and the West Alabama defense will have to prove it can adjust on the fly.
My pick: Tusculum
Presbyterian (0-1) at Erskine (1-0)
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 7:00 pm | Greenwood, S.C. | Stats | Video
Presbyterian, an NCAA Division I member of the Pioneer Football League, suffered a 63-10 loss last weekend to Mercer University. The Blue Hose had -7 rushing yards and just 144 yards through the air as quarterback Ty Englehart struggled all game long, finishing 7-for-19 with 84 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Linebacker Alex Herriott was the lone bright spot for PC, totaling seven tackles with one tackle for loss and an interception on defense.
The Flying Fleet won over NAIA member Saint Andrews to open the season, putting up 52 points on just 312 total yards after holding SAU to 54 total yards. Quarterback Craig Pender was efficient with his arm (9-of-11, 100 yards, 2 touchdowns) and legs (42 rushing yards, one touchdown), while running back Rashad Luckey found the end zone twice on just eight carries.
Erskine has the momentum, but take last week’s dominance with a grain of salt based on the level of competition. Presbyterian’s size, especially on defense, should make the difference in this one.
My pick: Presbyterian
No. 5 Valdosta State (1-0) at Newberry (0-0)
Saturday, Sept. 7 | 7:00 pm | Newberry, S.C. | Stats | Video
Valdosta State wasted no time establishing its prominence last week, scoring 14 points in the opening quarter en route to a 42-10 stomping of Albany State at home. Quarterback Sammy Edwards had a strong start to his Harlon Hill campaign, completing 18-of-25 pass attempts for 306 yards and four touchdowns while adding another score on the ground. Rodner Bullard was his top target, catching four passes for 100 yards and two scores as West Virginia transfer Graeson Malashevich made the most of his first game in the red and black with six catches for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Newberry is looking to rebound from a 2023 season that saw them finish 4-7 overall after dropping six of its last seven games to end the year. Much of the team’s struggles were attributed to the lack of a passing game which saw the Wolves amass just 118.4 yards per game through the air with just four touchdowns. The lone bright spot, running back Dwayne Wright, is back after rushing for 893 yards and eight touchdowns a year ago.
The Blazers will have no trouble scoring at will on Saturday night and the defense, which held ASU to 318 yards, will feast on a Newberry offense still struggling to find consistency.
My pick: No. 5 Valdosta State