CFB-D2: Gulf South Conference (GSC) Week 3 Release and Previews

Saturday, Sept. 21

3/3 Valdosta State at Erskine* 3:00 p.m.

North Greenville at Mississippi College* 5:00 p.m.

23/NR West Alabama at 12/13 West Florida* 6:00 p.m.

24/24 Delta State vs. Fort Valley State 6:00 p.m.

WEEKEND STORYLINES
Week 3 of the 2024 season will feature four games, including the start of conference play with three league games on the schedule. 

• Valdosta State will begin its GSC-title defense when it visits league-newcomer Erskine. This will be the first-ever meeting. Since 2010, the Blazers are 4-0 when playing in the Palmetto State and 9-0 against teams from South Carolina. 
• Mississippi College will host North Greenville as both teams continue to hunt for their first win of the year. Since 2019, the series is tied 2-2. NGU have won the last two meetings.
• West Alabama and West Florida go head-to-head in Pensacola in a battle of Top-25 unbeatens. The all-time series is tied, 4-4. UWA surprised the Argos last season, grinding out a10-6 win in Livingston. 
• Delta State will conclude its non-conference slate of games when it welcomes Fort Valley State. The Statesmen have won 3-of-5 meetings since 1998. Delta State hosted the last meeting in 2015, a 48-7 win.

GSC ON FLOSPORTS

• FloSports will be the exclusive home for all GSC games for the 2024-25 season. In August, the conference announced the addition of four sports (soccer, baseball, softball, lacrosse) to media package. Visit gscsports.org/flosportsFAQ for more info.

GSC IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY

• Through Week 2 of the 2024 season, the GSC is 10-9 in non-conference games.
• The GSC has a 106-61 record in the regular season non-conference games, since 2016. It has tallied 15 or more wins four times (19 in 2021, 16 in 2022, 15 in 2018 and 2016). 
• Since 2015, the GSC is 104-36 (.743) against Super Region 2 teams in all match-ups. 
• Week 3 features one non-conference game, which is also against a Super Region 2 opponent. 

FOUR TEAMS IN THE COACHES POLL

• The GSC has four teams in the AFCA D2 Coaches Poll this week (Sept. 16)–No. 3 Valdosta State, No. 12 West Florida, No. 23 West Alabama and No. 24 Delta State. 
• This is the first time Valdosta State is No. 3 and among the top-5 since the Week 1 poll in 2022 (Sept. 5, 2022). It also marks West Alabama’s return to the top-25 for the first time since the Week 9 poll in 2021 (No. 23; Nov. 1, 2021).
• Week 4 of the 2023 season (Sept. 26, 2023) was the last time the GSC had four teams in the coaches poll.
• The GSC has had a team appear in 303 of 306 AFCA D2 Top 25 polls, dating back to 2000. Two or more teams have been among the D2 Coaches Top 25, 285 times. A GSC team has spent 66 weeks at No. 1 and among the top-five 211 times.

THREE TEAMS IN THE D2FOOTBALL.com POLL

• Three GSC teams were ranked in the D2Football.com poll this week (Sept. 16)–No. 3 Valdosta State, No. 13 West Florida and No. 24 Delta State.

TOP-TIER QUARTERBACKS

• Delta State’s Cole Kirk and Valdosta State’s Sammy Edwards are tied 14th among D2 leaders with six passing touchdowns apiece. The duo are also among the top-25 leaders in passing efficiency, passing yards and points responsible for.

RUNNING WILD

• Five GSC players have rushed for 100 yards or more in a game this season with Chowan RB Maurice Smith leading the league with a 136-yard performance against Barton (9/14). Delta State’s Cole Kirk is second with 115 yards and the only QB on the list. 
• Kirk also leads the conference with the longest single carry–89 yards versus Missouri S&T (9/7).

SEE THE BALL, CATCH THE BALL

• Four GSC players have recorded 100 receiving yards in a game this season… West Alabama WR Tyler Walker leads the way with a 109-yard effort.
• Delta State WR Jaylen Green is 14th among D2 leaders in receiving yards (262). Valdosta State duo Rodney Bullard (38th) and Graeson Malashevich (41st) were also among the Top-50.
• Green and Erskine WR Rodshaun Dorsey are tied at 13th among D2 leaders with three TD catches this season.

GSC COACHING NOTES

• The GSC welcomes two new faces to the league for the 2024 season–Shap Boyd (Erskine) and Mike Kershaw (Mississippi College). Boyd is in his fifth season with the Flying Fleet as Erskine joins the GSC. This will be Kershaw’s season as a head coach with the Choctaws.