Hello GSC and D2MB faithful:

I am very excited to be joining you as the new Gulf South Conference Blogger here on D2Football.com/D2MessageBoard.com!!

Although some of you already know me from here and by befriending me on social media, I'll briefly introduce myself. I'm a graduate of the University of North Alabama (founding GSC member) and the University of Montevallo (former GSC non-football member). I grew up in Florence and have followed UNA/GSC/D2 since 1985. I was a member of the UNA Pride of Dixie Marching Band during the Lions' 3-peat in the early 90's.

My profile name on D2 Message Board has been UNALions for the past few years, but I've been on the site for at least a decade now. Currently, I live in Pensacola, FL (home of the GSC's West Florida Argonauts) where I own a small media company and teach music. I am a past contributor to D2 Preview Magazine and have been a sportswriter off and on since 1990.

I'm looking forward to covering our great conference for the remainder of the season and plan to blog all the way through the championship game.

I mean, there'll be a GSC school involved, right!? Hopefully and quite possibly!!


GSC-TV GAME OF THE WEEK RECAP:

Delta State Statesmen 35
Shorter Hawks 20

Here we are just prior to the bulk of Week 6 match-ups, but what an interesting game last night in Cleveland before a Thursday crowd of 6,112.

"It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." This game was definitely The Tale of Two Halves for Shorter during the GSC-TV Game of the Week clash on ESPN3 (which I've really been enjoying this season).

Most of us, me included, didn't really give Shorter much of a chance in make this competitive on DSU's home turf. However, eyes were widened when the score at the half was 20-14 in favor of the Hawks. It was the first time DSU has trailed at the half this season.

The Hawks got off to a great start assisted by good execution of their triple option offensive attack. When run correctly, short gains set up big plays and this propelled Shorter to a surprising 17-0 lead early in the second quarter. The Hawk D held the Statesmen scoreless during the opening period of play, the only quarter they have been shut out all season. This unit was anchored by the INT-boss of D2, Jordan Shaw. He had two picks last night and leads the division with eight on the year so far.

Big plays and touchdowns from Eric Dodson, Kirk Wilson and Darius Turner along with a FG's by Kenny Langford gave the Hawks their lead. Yet, true to form, DSU rose to the occasion and answered with rushing scores from Eddie McCadney and D'Juan Bellaire and cut the lead to just six at halftime.

Then, a much different half. The Statesmen are the kings of the third quarter this year (outscoring opponents 80-0 so far) and it was no different last night as Justin Leavy and Tyler Sullivan scored 14 in the period to take the lead. Delta added another touchdown in the final period with a pass from Sullivan to Patrick Bethley to seal the win.

The most shocking stat of the game was DSU's turnovers: six fumbles (losing two) along with the two INT's. Turnovers plagued them some last season. Can they fix this issue before rolling into Carrollton next week? I'll bet it's the topic of every Statesmen practice session this upcoming week.