Delta State Football Hosts Wingate in 41st Pig Pickin’ Matchup
Delta State University’s football team is set to host Wingate University on Saturday at 6 p.m. in the 41st annual Pig Pickin’ game at Travis E. Parker Field at Horace McCool Stadium. The game follows a season-opening loss to Northeastern State last Friday night in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, according to university sources.
David Dean, the program’s new head coach, will lead the Statesmen into the matchup. Dean, hired in February, brings more than 35 years of coaching experience, including three NCAA Division II national championships and seven Gulf South Conference titles. He previously coached at West Georgia and Valdosta State, where he earned multiple national and regional honors. Dean’s first season at Delta State marks his 176th as a head coach.
Wingate enters the game with a 0-1 record after a 21-13 loss at UNC Pembroke last Thursday. The Bulldogs, led by head coach Rashaan Jordan, finished last season with a 9-2 record and a trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Jordan, who returned as head coach this season after serving as defensive coordinator, was named SAC Coach of the Year following his team’s successful opening game.
Wingate’s standout player, defensive end Marquise Fleming, earned multiple awards, including SAC and Region Defensive Player of the Year and the Gene Upshaw Award. The Bulldogs have a strong history in Pig Pickin’ games, holding a 28-11-1 record since 1985, and are aiming to improve their road record this season.
Delta State’s overall record at home is 290-148-15 in its 95-year history, with a 174-97-8 record at Travis E. Parker Field since 1970. The team has a 38-12 record on the road over the past 50 games. The Statesmen, who have a 5-1 record against South Atlantic Conference schools since 2012, are looking to rebound after a 52-0 loss to Northeastern State last week.
Despite the setback, Delta State remains one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, with a 513-419-23 overall record. The team is seeking its first win of the season against Wingate, which has a 237-190 record over 40 seasons of competition.
Source: Original Article
