CFB-D2: Gulf South Conference (GSC) Week 7 Release and Previews

0
88

WEEK 7 SCHEDULE

Saturday, October 19

Time (CT)

23 West Florida at Chowan*

(FloFootball) 1 pm

Erskine at North Greenville*

(FloFootball) 1 pm

Mississippi College at 3/3 Valdosta State*

(FloFootball) 2 pm

10/13 West Alabama at Delta State*

(FloFootball) 4 pm

CONFERENCE NOTES

CONFERENCE PLAY IN FULL SWING

• Through four weeks of conference action, two teams–Valdosta State and West Alabama –are tied atop the standings at 2-0. • Delta State’s conference-opener at Erskine and the top-25 matchup between Valdosta State and West Alabama from Week 4 were canceled due to the effects of Hurricane Helene and will not be rescheduled. • Due to the impact of Hurricane Helene on Due South, S.C., the Erskine-West Alabama Week 5 matchup was postponed and rescheduled to Week 11. The game will now be played in Livingston, Ala. • Week 7 will see all four GSC games with all teams in action–No. 23 West Florida visits Chowan; Erskine visits North Greenville; No. 3 Valdosta State hosts Mississippi College; Delta State welcomes No. 10 West Alabama.

GSC IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY

• Through Week 6 of the 2024 season, the GSC is 14-10 in non-conference games. • The GSC has a109-62 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 108-36 (.743) against Super Region 2 teams in all match-ups. • Week 7 will not feature a non-conference game.

THREE TEAMS IN THE COACHES POLL

• The GSC has three teams in the AFCA D2 Coaches Poll this week (Oct. 14)–No. 3 Valdosta State, No. 10 West Alabama and No. 23 West Florida. • This is the fifth consecutive week Valdosta State comes in at No. 3 and is among the top-5 since the Week 1 poll in 2022 (Sept. 5, 2022). West Alabama makes its first appearance among the top-10 this season and matching its highest ranking since Week 6 of the 2021 poll (Oct. 11, 2021). • This is the sixth time in seven poll releases this season two GSC teams are inside the top-15. • The GSC has had a team appear in 307 of 310 AFCA D2 Top 25 polls, dating back to 2000. Two or more teams have been among the D2 Coaches Top 25, 287 times. A GSC team has spent 66 weeks at No. 1 and among the top-five 215 times.

TWO TEAMS IN THE D2FOOTBALL.com POLL

• Two GSC teams were ranked in the D2Football.com poll this week (Oct. 14)–No. 3 Valdosta State and No. 13 West Alabama.

GSC, CONFERENCE CAROLINAS ANNOUNCE SCHEDULE PARTNERSHIP

• The GSC and Conference Carolinas announced a two-year football scheduling partnership, coordinating a total of 18 non-conference football games over the course of the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Offensive Player of the Week:

Marcus Stokes, R-Fr., QB, West Florida

Stokes had a career-day as he led West Florida to a convincing 40-28 win over No. 19/25 Delta State at home. The redshirt-freshman accounted for five touchdowns in the performance and racked up 378 total offensive yards, third most in the GSC this season. He threw for 326 yards, third-best performance of the season, while completing 17-of-21 passes with three touchdowns. Stokes also had eight carries for 52 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensive Player of the Week:

Delawrence Butler, Gr., LB, West Alabama

Butler logged double-digit tackles as he highlighted a dominating Tiger defensive which resulted in a 26-0 win at Mississippi College, 26-0. The graduate linebacker notched a career-high 13 tackles, all solo, the most by any player this season. He also tallied one tackle for loss as No. 11/13 West Alabama picked up its first shutout win 763 days.

Special Teams Player of the Week:

Trey Sullivan, Gr., P, West Alabama

Sullivan helped West Alabama to its first shutout win in two years with a notable performance against Mississippi College on Saturday. The graduate recorded five punts in the contest, totaling 201 yards, with a long of 52 yards, while averaging 40.2 yards per kick. During the showing, Sullivan pinned Mississippi College inside their own red zone on two occasions

Freshman of the Week:

Corey Scott, R-Fr., WR, West Florida

Scott had a career-day helping West Florida upend No. 19/25 Delta State, 40-28. The redshirt-freshman led the Argonauts with five catches for 139 yards and two touchdowns. His performance was the third-best by a GSC wide receiver this season.

Previous articleMLB 2024 NLCS Game 5 Notes
Next articleMLB 2024 ALCS Game Game 4 Pregame Notes
NCAAFB Editor
Profile: A dedicated college football analyst with a deep understanding of the sport’s tactical complexity, recruiting landscape, and conference‑wide dynamics. This columnist provides comprehensive coverage of the NCAA football season, blending film study, statistical insight, and historical context to explain how programs evolve from Week 1 through bowl season and the College Football Playoff. Background: With extensive experience covering Division I football, the columnist has contributed to national sports outlets, digital platforms, and radio segments focused on coaching trends, roster construction, and player development. A background in sports journalism and analytics supports a disciplined approach to evaluating performance, interpreting data, and tracking long‑term program trajectories across all major conferences. Signature Coverage Areas: Game previews and tactical matchups Film‑based breakdowns of offensive and defensive systems Recruiting analysis, transfer‑portal movement, and roster‑building strategy Coaching philosophies, scheme evolution, and conference‑wide trends Historical context, rivalry features, and postseason analysis Style & Approach: The writing emphasizes clarity, accuracy, and accessibility — translating complex schemes, advanced metrics, and recruiting data into insights that resonate with both long‑time college football fans and new followers of the sport. Each column reflects a commitment to balanced reporting, thoughtful evaluation, and a deep appreciation for the tradition, passion, and unpredictability that define NCAA football.