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The real games begin this week when undefeated Delta State travels to West Florida to open the GSC schedule for both teams at the Argos new on-campus home stadium where the Argos are 2-0. The weather forecast is perfect for the 6 p.m. kickoff with no rain, slight breezes and temps in the low 70's. This will be Delta's fourth consecutive road game (totaling over 2,600 round trip miles) to open the season and you have to wonder if the Okra are a little overcooked by this Saturday.
Delta has never seen this new home stadium, but the Argos know it well, having practiced and played on it for over 6 years. The stadium is a more conventional layout compared to Blue Wahoo, but the stands are a little unconventional in that the visiting stands behind the Delta bench will be filled with the Argo band and loud students and Argo fans. The student presence and numbers are larger and louder here than at Blue Wahoo and I don't know if the Statesmen will be expecting or prepared for a surround sound of loud Argo fans and students cheering and now booing in a coordinated fashion.
Delta won the first two games in this series with the Argos winning the last three including a school record comeback last year. The teams played twice at Blue Wahoo with Delta winning a nail biter 25-23 in 2017 and the Argos winning 48-3 in a near perfect performance in 2019. Both team have won easily over their over-matched opponents this season with the Statesmen using a balanced offense and the Argos going pass heavy in their first game and run heavy in their second game. Both have played a GLVC team (McEndree and SW Baptist) that were evenly matched last year (McEndree won 45-43) and possess a strong passing game. The Statesmen gave up nearly 400 yards passing to their opponent and the Argos limited theirs to under 200 yards. You can expect the Argos coaches will exploit this apparent weakness with the Argos strong passing game.
The Argos lost their championship QB Reed to D1 Western Kentucky, but his replacement Pee-Wee Jarret is bigger (6'3", 245 lbs.), has a bigger arm, runs over people and is actually more efficient as a QB than Reed. You can expect a lot more designed run plays with Pee-Wee and he is a better scrambler out of the pocket than Reed. The Argos coaches will remember being burned by the Delta QB Shegog last year for 450 yds. and I'm sure they will be better prepared this year.
So far this year the Argos have scored more and given up fewer points than the Statesmen, but they have played weaker opponents and one fewer game with one at home. A much easier schedule than the Statesmen 3 consecutive road games against stronger opposition. Stats wise the Statesmen run for 30 more yards and the Argos pass for 10 yards more, but the Argos run and pass for more per play. The Argo also give up less on D by over a hundred yards, but against lesser opponents. They are pretty equal on special teams and making sacks, but the Argos give up fewer sacks and have picked a couple of more balls in one fewer game.
The Argos roster has more upperclassmen (49 to 33) and more linemen (43 to 29) and the linemen have more upperclassmen (17 to 11) than the Statesmen. It will be interesting to see how this numbers and experience advantage plays out over the game. Everything points to an Argo victory, but Delta has shown in the past that they can beat the Argos at home and in Pensacola despite any apparent roster deficiencies. I think the road schedule, the new Argo stadium and Pee-Wee will be too much for the Okra to overcome this week and the Argos will open their GSC schedule with a 10 point win. Gooo Arrrgggooosss!!!
Delta has never seen this new home stadium, but the Argos know it well, having practiced and played on it for over 6 years. The stadium is a more conventional layout compared to Blue Wahoo, but the stands are a little unconventional in that the visiting stands behind the Delta bench will be filled with the Argo band and loud students and Argo fans. The student presence and numbers are larger and louder here than at Blue Wahoo and I don't know if the Statesmen will be expecting or prepared for a surround sound of loud Argo fans and students cheering and now booing in a coordinated fashion.
Delta won the first two games in this series with the Argos winning the last three including a school record comeback last year. The teams played twice at Blue Wahoo with Delta winning a nail biter 25-23 in 2017 and the Argos winning 48-3 in a near perfect performance in 2019. Both team have won easily over their over-matched opponents this season with the Statesmen using a balanced offense and the Argos going pass heavy in their first game and run heavy in their second game. Both have played a GLVC team (McEndree and SW Baptist) that were evenly matched last year (McEndree won 45-43) and possess a strong passing game. The Statesmen gave up nearly 400 yards passing to their opponent and the Argos limited theirs to under 200 yards. You can expect the Argos coaches will exploit this apparent weakness with the Argos strong passing game.
The Argos lost their championship QB Reed to D1 Western Kentucky, but his replacement Pee-Wee Jarret is bigger (6'3", 245 lbs.), has a bigger arm, runs over people and is actually more efficient as a QB than Reed. You can expect a lot more designed run plays with Pee-Wee and he is a better scrambler out of the pocket than Reed. The Argos coaches will remember being burned by the Delta QB Shegog last year for 450 yds. and I'm sure they will be better prepared this year.
So far this year the Argos have scored more and given up fewer points than the Statesmen, but they have played weaker opponents and one fewer game with one at home. A much easier schedule than the Statesmen 3 consecutive road games against stronger opposition. Stats wise the Statesmen run for 30 more yards and the Argos pass for 10 yards more, but the Argos run and pass for more per play. The Argo also give up less on D by over a hundred yards, but against lesser opponents. They are pretty equal on special teams and making sacks, but the Argos give up fewer sacks and have picked a couple of more balls in one fewer game.
The Argos roster has more upperclassmen (49 to 33) and more linemen (43 to 29) and the linemen have more upperclassmen (17 to 11) than the Statesmen. It will be interesting to see how this numbers and experience advantage plays out over the game. Everything points to an Argo victory, but Delta has shown in the past that they can beat the Argos at home and in Pensacola despite any apparent roster deficiencies. I think the road schedule, the new Argo stadium and Pee-Wee will be too much for the Okra to overcome this week and the Argos will open their GSC schedule with a 10 point win. Gooo Arrrgggooosss!!!
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