CLEVELAND — Delta State University will play six home football games at Parker Field-McCool Stadium in 2017, including the season opener on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. versus Lone Star Conference rival Tarleton State.

The schedule was announced Tuesday. Delta State will face three non-conference opponents in 2017, including TSU and Chowan University at home while playing North Greenville University on the road.

For a second-straight year, the University of West Georgia will serve as the Gulf South Conference opener on Saturday, Sept. 16. This year’s matchup will have the added benefit of being DSU’s annual “Pig Pickin’ Classic” contest. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.

The Statesmen will play at Mississippi College on Sept. 30.

Homecoming is set for weekend of Nov. 10-11, as the Statesmen host Florida Tech on Saturday, Nov. 11 at 4 p.m.

The complete schedule:

Sept. 1, Tarleton State, home; Sept. 9, Chowan University, home, Sept. 16, West Georgia, home; Sept. 23, at Shorter U; Sept. 30, at Mississippi College, Oct. 7, West Alabama, home; Oct. 14: at West Florida; Oct. 21, Valdosta State, home; Oct. 28, at North Alabama; Nov. 4, at North Greenville U.; Nov. 11, Florida Tech, home.

Rick Cleveland, a native of Hattiesburg and resident of Jackson, has been Mississippi Today’s sports columnist since 2016. A graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s in journalism, Rick has worked for the Monroe (La.) News Star World, Jackson Daily News and Clarion Ledger. He was sports editor of Hattiesburg American, executive director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame. His work as a syndicated columnist and celebrated sports writer has appeared in numerous magazines, periodicals and newspapers.
Rick has been recognized 12 times as Mississippi Sports Writer of the Year, and is recipient of multiple awards and honors for his reporting and writing.