# 2022 Gulf South Conference football season

The 2022 Gulf South Conference football season was the season of college football played by the eight member schools of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) as part of the 2022 NCAA Division II football season.
West Florida and Delta State were GSC co-champions for the 2022 season. They were ranked No. 4 and No. 9, respectively, in the final 2022 NCAA Division II football rankings issued by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). A third conference member, West Georgia, placed at No. 19 in the final AFCA rankings.
Quarterback Patrick Shegog of Delta State was selected as the GSC Offensive Player of the Year. Linebacker Michael Anderson of West Alabama was named Defensive Player of the Year. Todd Cooley of Delta State won the GSC Coach of the Year award.

## Conference overview

| Conf. rank | Team | Head coach | Overall record | Conf. record | Points scored/game | Points against/game |
| 1 | West Florida | Pete Shinnick | 12–2 | 6–1 | 40.1 | 28.9 |
| 1 | Delta State | Todd Cooley | 11–2 | 6–1 | 45.9 | 27.7 |
| 3 | West Georgia | David Dean | 8–2 | 5–2 | 39.8 | 29.0 |
| 4 | West Alabama | Brett Gilliland | 5–6 | 3–4 | 25.7 | 24.7 |
| 4 | Mississippi College | John Bland | 4–7 | 3–4 | 30.4 | 39.3 |
| 6 | Valdosta State | Tremaine Jackson | 5–6 | 2–5 | 34.6 | 43.7 |
| 6 | North Greenville | Jeff Farrington | 3–8 | 2–5 | 30.3 | 37.1 |
| 8 | Shorter | Zach Morrison | 3–8 | 1–6 | 20.9 | 37.7 |

## Conference awards
### Individual awards

* Offensive Player of the Year - Patrick Shegog, Delta State
* Defensive Player of the Year - Michael Anderson, West Alabama
* Offensive Freshman of the Year - John Henry White, Mississippi College
* Defensive Freshman of the Year - Kendrick Clark, North Greenville
* Coach of the Year - Todd Cooley, Delta State

### All-conference team

First-team offense
* Quarterback - Patrick Shegog, Delta State
* Running backs - Shomari Mason, West Florida; Jaxton Carson, West Georgia
* AP - Seth McGill, Valdosta State; Bry Webb, West Alabama
* Tight end - Kyle Morlock, Shorter
* Wide receivers - David Durden, West Florida; Dohnte Meyers, Delta State; Caden Leggett, West Florida; Victor Talley, Valdosta State
* Center - Zac Elam, West Florida
* Offensive guards - Dalton Simpler, West Florida; Keshawn Jennings, Delta State
* Offensive tackles - Jacob Bruce, West Florida; Nicolas Melsop, Delta State
First-team defense
* Defensive line - Davonch Bryant, West Alabama; Pooda Walker, West Florida Timaje Porter, Delta State; Marzavion Dix, West Georgia
* Linebackers - Michael Anderson, West Alabama; Donald De’Iveon, North Greenville;; Willie Jordan, West Florida; Tamos Stevenson, Delta State
* Defensive backs - Shamar Lewis, West Alabama; Robert Carter, West Georgia; Deontae Overstreet, West Georgia#; Malik Jones, Delta State
First-team special teams
* Kicker - Nick Herber, Delta State
* Punter - Myles Prosser, North Greenville
* Return specialist - David Durden, West Florida
* UT - Da’Quan Bailey-Brown, West Florida; Cody Myers, Mississippi College

## Teams
### West Florida

The 2022 West Florida Argonauts football team represented the University of West Florida of Pensacola, Florida. In their seventh year under head coach Pete Shinnick, the Argonauts compiled a 12–2 record (6–1 against conference opponents), tied for the GSC championship, and were ranked No. 4 in the final of the AFCA poll. They advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, losing to Ferris State in a semifinal game.
West Florida played its home games at Pen Air Field in Pensacola. Before the 2022 season, the Argonauts played their home games at Admiral Fetterman Field.

#### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 6:00 p.m. | Warner* | No. 11 | Pen Air FieldPensacola, FL | FloSports | W 52–3 | 4,451 |
| September 10 | 6:00 p.m. | at Southwest Baptist* | No. 7 | Plaster StadiumBolivar, MO | GLVC Sports Network | W 49–10 | 2,040 |
| September 24 | 6:00 p.m. | Delta State | No. 6 | Pen Air FieldPensacola, FL | FloSports | L 42–45 $^{2OT}$ | 5,238 |
| October 1 | 4:00 p.m. | North Greenville | No. 14 | Pen Air FieldPensacola, FL | FloSports | W 34–31 | 4,219 |
| October 8 | 5:00 p.m. | at No. 15 West Georgia | No. 10 | University StadiumCarrollton, GA | FloSports | W 42–28 | 1,644 |
| October 15 | 11:00 a.m. | Shorter | No. 9 | Barron StadiumRome, GA | FloSports | W 50–26 | 1,426 |
| October 22 | 4:00 p.m. | Mississippi College | No. 9 | Pen Air FieldPensacola, FL | FloSports | W 45–17 | 5,503 |
| October 29 | 2:00 p.m. | West Alabama | No. 9 | Pen Air FieldPensacola, FL | FloSports | W 36–24 | 5,018 |
| November 5 | 6:00 p.m. | at Valdosta State | No. 8 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | FloSports | W 32–31 | 3,003 |
| November 12 | 2:00 p.m. | at Mississippi College* | No. 7 | Robinson-Hale StadiumClinton, MS | FloSports | W 56–21 | 2,879 |
| November 19 | 1:00 p.m. | Limestone* | No. 6 | Pen Air FieldPensacola, FL (NCAA Division II First Round) | UWF Sports Network | W 45–19 | 2,147 |
| November 26 | 1:30 p.m. | at No. 9 Delta State* | No. 6 | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS (NCAA Division II Second Round) | Statesmen Sports Network | W 38–27 | 1,059 |
| December 3 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 22 Wingate* | No. 6 | Pen Air FieldPensacola, FL (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal) | UWF Sports Network | W 45–14 | 4,247 |
| December 10 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 5 Ferris State* | No. 6 | Top Taggart FieldBig Rapids, MI (NCAA Division II Semifinal) | ESPN+ | L 17–38 | 5,105 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

#### Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Final |
| AFCA | 11 | 7 (1) | 6 | 6 | 14 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 4 |

### Delta State

The 2022 Delta State Statesmen football team represented Delta State University of Cleveland, Mississippi. In their tenth year under head coach Todd Cooley, the Statesmen compiled an 11–2 record (6–1 against conference opponents), tied for the GSC championship, and were ranked No. 9 in the final AFCA poll. they advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, losing to West Florida in the second round. They played their home games at Parker Field at Horace McCool Stadium.

#### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 1:00 p.m. | at Kentucky State* | | Alumni FieldFrankfort, KY | | W 33–10 | 1,476 |
| September 10 | 1:00 p.m. | at McKendree* | | Leemon FieldLebanon, IL | | W 58–34 | 3,500 |
| September 17 | 6:00 p.m. | at Mississippi Valley State* | | Rice–Totten StadiumItta Bena, MS | YouTube | W 28–17 | 3,208 |
| September 24 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 6 West Florida | | Pen Air FieldPensacola, FL | FloSports | W 45–42 $^{2OT}$ | 5,238 |
| October 1 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 13 Valdosta State | No. 25 | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS | FloSports | W 70–31 | |
| October 8 | 12:00 p.m. | at North Greenville | No. 13 | Younts StadiumTigerville, SC | FloSports | W 47–14 | 3,152 |
| October 15 | 6:00 p.m. | West Alabama | No. 10 | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS | FloSports | W 20–7 | 1,100 |
| October 20 | 7:00 p.m. | at Shorter | No. 8 | Barron StadiumRome, GA | FloSports | W 45–10 | 785 |
| October 29 | 6:00 p.m. | at Mississippi College | No. 8 | Robinson-Hale StadiumClinton, MS (rivalry) | FloSports | W 52–38 | 4,341 |
| November 5 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 19 West Georgia | No. 6 | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS | FloSports | L 42–52 | 3,000 |
| November 12 | 2:00 p.m. | West Alabama* | No. 12 | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS | FloSports | W 17–7 | 2,000 |
| November 19 | 1:00 p.m. | Fayetteville State* | No. 9 | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS (NCAA Division II First Round) | Statesmen Sports Network | W 51–0 | 509 |
| November 26 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 6 West Florida* | No. 9 | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS (NCAA Division II Second Round) | Statesmen Sports Network | L 27–38 | 1,059 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||

#### Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Final |
| AFCA | RV | — | — | — | 25 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 9 | 9 |

### West Georgia

The 2022 West Georgia Wolves football team represented the University of West Georgia of Carrollton, Georgia. In their sixth year under head coach David Dean, the Wolves compiled an 8–2 record (5–2 against conference opponents), finished third in the GSC, and were ranked No. 19 in the final AFCA poll. They played their home games at University Stadium.

#### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 7:00 p.m. | Carson–Newman* | No. 12 | University StadiumCarrollton, GA | | W 38–7 | 2,684 |
| September 10 | 6:00 p.m. | at Morehouse* | No. 10 | B. T. Harvey StadiumAtlanta, GA | | W 42–0 | 2,227 |
| September 24 | 3:00 p.m. | at West Alabama | No. 8 | Tiger StadiumLivingston, AL | FloSports | W 22–7 | 3,124 |
| October 1 | 6:00 p.m. | Mississippi College | No. 5 | University StadiumCarrollton, GA | FloSports | L 38–39 | 3,044 |
| October 8 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 10 West Florida | No. 15 | University StadiumCarrollton, GA | FloSports | L 28–42 | 1,644 |
| October 15 | 1:00 p.m. | at North Greenville | No. 25 | Younts StadiumTigerville, SC | FloSports | W 38–35 | 1,837 |
| October 22 | 6:00 p.m. | Valdosta State | No. 25 | University StadiumCarrollton, GA (rivalry) | FloSports | W 54–17 | 2,583 |
| October 29 | 6:00 p.m. | Shorter | No. 24 | University StadiumCarrollton, GA | FloSports | W 49–14 | 1,974 |
| November 5 | 3:00 p.m. | at No. 6 Delta State | No. 19 | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS | FloSports | W 52–42 | 3,000 |
| November 12 | 12:30 p.m. | at North Greenville* | No. 16 | Younts StadiumTigerville, SC | FloSports | W 43-36 | 2,843 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

#### Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Final |
| AFCA | 12 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 19 | 16 | 16 | 19 |

### West Alabama

The 2022 West Alabama Tigers football team represented the University of West Alabama of Livingston, Alabama. In their ninth year under head coach Brett Gilliland, the Tigers compiled a 5–6 record (3–4 against conference opponents) and finished fourth in the conference. The Tigers played all their home games at Tiger Stadium.

#### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 5:00 p.m. | at Morehouse* | B. T. Harvey StadiumAtlanta, GA | | W 24–16 | 5,168 |
| September 10 | 6:00 p.m. | at Miles* | Albert J. Sloan–Alumni StadiumFairfield, AL | boxcast.tv | W 31–0 | 4,411 |
| September 17 | 2:00 p.m. | Tuskegee* | Tiger StadiumLivingston, AL | FloSports | L 10-13 | 4,414 |
| September 24 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 8 West Georgia | Tiger StadiumLivingston, AL | FloSports | L 7–22 | 3,124 |
| October 1 | 2:00 p.m. | Shorter | Tiger StadiumLivingston, AL | FloSports | W 37-14 | 3,727 |
| October 8 | 6:00 p.m. | at Valdosta State | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | FloSports | W 34–31 | 2,248 |
| October 15 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 10 Delta State | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS | FloSports | L 7–20 | 1,100 |
| October 22 | 4:00 p.m. | North Greenville | Tiger StadiumLivingston, AL | FloSports | L 33–34 | 5,141 |
| October 29 | 2:00 p.m.*1 | at No. 9 West Florida | Pen Air FieldPensacola, FL | FloSports | L 24–36 | 5,018 |
| November 5 | 2:00 p.m. | Mississippi College | Tiger StadiumLivingston, AL | FloSports | W 38–16 | 2,117 |
| November 12 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 12 Delta State* | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS | FloSports | L 7-17 | 2,000 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time ||||||||
* 1 The October 29 game was originally scheduled for 4.00 p.m. but moved because of risk of inclement weather.

### Mississippi College

The 2022 Mississippi College Choctaws football team represented Mississippi College of Clinton, Mississippi. In their ninth year under head coach John Bland, the Choctaws compiled a 4–7 record (3–4 against conference opponents) and finished fifth in the conference. They played their home games at Robinson-Hale Stadium.

#### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 18 Albany State* | Albany State University ColiseumAlbany, GA | | L 14–28 | 3,500 |
| September 10 | 12:00 p.m. | Keiser* | Robinson-Hale StadiumClinton, MS | FloSports | W 26–8 | 4,347 |
| September 17 | 2:00 p.m. | North Greenville | Robinson-Hale StadiumClinton, MS | FloSports | L 19–41 | 3,972 |
| September 24 | 7:00 p.m. | at McNeese State* | Cowboy StadiumLake Charles, LA | ESPN+ | L 17–32 | 10,105 |
| October 1 | 5:00 p.m. | at No. 5 West Georgia | University StadiumCarrollton, GA | FloSports | W 39–38 | 3,044 |
| October 8 | 2:00 p.m. | Shorter | Robinson-Hale StadiumClinton, MS | FloSports | W 35–21 | 3,847 |
| October 15 | 2:00 p.m. | at Valdosta State | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | FloSports | W 49–40 | 3,782 |
| October 22 | 4:00 p.m. | at No. 9 West Florida | Pen Air FieldPensacola, FL | FloSports | L 17-45 | 5,503 |
| October 29 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 8 Delta State | Robinson-Hale StadiumClinton, MS (rivalry) | FloSports | L 38-52 | 4,341 |
| November 5 | 2:00 p.m. | at West Alabama | Tiger StadiumLivingston, AL | FloSports | L 16-38 | 2,117 |
| November 12 | 2:00 p.m. | No. 7 West Florida* | Robinson–Hale StadiumClinton, MS | FloSports | L 21-56 | 2,879 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

### Valdosta State

The 2022 Valdosta State Blazers football team represented Valdosta State University of Valdosta, Georgia. In their first year under head coach Tremaine Jackson, the Blazers compiled a 5–6 record (2–5 against conference opponents) and finished sixth in the GSC. They played their home games at Bazemore–Hyder Stadium.

#### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 7:00 p.m. | Keiser* | No. 3 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | | W 36–21 | 5,381 |
| September 10 | 5:00 p.m. | Virginia Union* | No. 3 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | FloSports | L 40–45 | 4,001 |
| September 17 | 7:00 p.m. | at Miles* | No. 15 | Albert J. Sloan–Alumni StadiumFairfield, AL | | W 55–7 | 1,142 |
| September 24 | 12:00 p.m. | at Shorter | No. 15 | Barron StadiumRome, GA | FloSports | W 34–30 | 1,107 |
| October 1 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 25 Delta State | No. 13 | McCool StadiumCleveland, MS | FloSports | L 31–70 | |
| October 8 | 7:00 p.m. | West Alabama | | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | FloSports | L 31–34 | 2,248 |
| October 15 | 3:00 p.m. | Mississippi College | | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | FloSports | L 40–49 | 3,728 |
| October 22 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 25 West Georgia | | University StadiumCarrollton, GA (rivalry) | FloSports | L 17–54 | 2,583 |
| October 29 | 3:00 p.m. | at North Greenville | | Younts StadiumTigerville, SC | FloSports | W 58–37 | 2,875 |
| November 5 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 8 West Florida | | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | FloSports | L 31–32 | 3,003 |
| November 12 | 3:00 p.m. | Shorter* | | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | FloSports | W 30-28 | 2,288 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

#### Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Final |
| AFCA | 3 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 13 | RV | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |

### North Greenville

The 2022 North Greenville Crusaders football team represented North Greenville University of Tigerville, South Carolina. In their tenth year under head coach Jeff Farrington, the Crusaders compiled a 3–8 record (2–5 against conference opponents) and finished seventh in the conference. They played their home games at Younts Stadium.

#### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 7:00 p.m. | at Furman* | Paladin StadiumGreenville, SC | ESPN3 | L 0–52 | 9,264 |
| September 10 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 13 Newberry* | Younts StadiumTigerville, SC | FloSports | L 22–29 | 3,117 |
| September 17 | 3:00 p.m. | at Mississippi College | Robinson-Hale StadiumClinton, MS | FloSports | W 41–19 | 3,972 |
| September 24 | 1:00 p.m. | Findlay* | Younts StadiumTigerville, SC | FloSports | W 34–27 | 2,374 |
| October 1 | 5:00 p.m. | at No. 14 West Florida | Pen Air FieldPensacola, FL | FloSports | L 31–34 | 4,219 |
| October 8 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 13 Delta State | Younts StadiumTigerville, SC | FloSports | L 14–47 | 3,152 |
| October 15 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 25 West Georgia | Younts StadiumTigerville, SC | FloSports | L 35–38 | 1,837 |
| October 22 | 5:00 p.m. | at West Alabama | Tiger StadiumLivingston, AL | FloSports | W 34–33 | 5,141 |
| October 29 | 3:00 p.m. | Valdosta State | Younts StadiumTigerville, SC | FloSports | L 37–58 | 2,875 |
| November 5 | 12:00 p.m. | at Shorter | Barron StadiumRome, GA | FloSports | L 14–31 | 1,187 |
| November 12 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 16 West Georgia* | Younts StadiumTigerville, SC | FloSports | L 36–43 | 2,843 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

### Shorter

The 2022 Shorter Hawks football team represented Shorter University of Rome, Georgia. In their fifth year head coach Zach Morrison, the Hawks compiled a 3–8 record (1–6 against conference opponents) and finished eighth in the conference. They played their home games at Barron Stadium.

#### Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 1:00 p.m. | at Brevard* | Ives-Lemel Family FieldBrevard, NC | | W 45–6 | 1,372 |
| September 10 | 12:00 p.m. | Catawba* | Barron StadiumRome, GA | FloSports | W 34–21 | 1,750 |
| September 17 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 21 Albany State* | Barron StadiumRome, GA | FloSports | L 20–42 | 1,325 |
| September 24 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 15 Valdosta State | Barron StadiumRome, GA | FloSports | L 30–34 | 1,107 |
| October 1 | 3:00 p.m. | at West Alabama | Tiger StadiumLivingston, AL | FloSports | L 14–37 | 3,127 |
| October 8 | 3:00 p.m. | at Mississippi College | Robinson-Hale StadiumClinton, MS | FloSports | L 21–35 | 3,847 |
| October 15 | 12:00 p.m. | No. 9 West Florida | Barron StadiumRome, GA | FloSports | L 26–50 | 1,426 |
| October 20 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 8 Delta State | Barron StadiumRome, GA | FloSports | L 10–45 | 785 |
| October 29 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 24 West Georgia | University StadiumCarrollton, GA | FloSports | L 14–49 | 1,974 |
| November 5 | 12:00 p.m. | North Greenville | Barron StadiumRome, GA | FloSports | W 31–14 | 1,187 |
| November 12 | 3:00 p.m. | at Valdosta State* | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | FloSports | L 28-30 | 2,288 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||