College Sports Information Directors of America

By Mike Christensen Clarion-Ledger Sports Fred Sington's job title at Delta State now requires a slash. The Statesmen's sports information director took on added duties last week as DSU's kicking coach. In the first game under Sington's tutelage, place-kicker Bryan Walker doubled his previous field goal total and punter John Weaver averaged 45.2 yards a boot, 6 yards better than his average, as winless DSU upset West Georgia. Sington spent time pregame on the field with the kickers, then returned to the Parker Field press box for his usual game-day duties. "So far, so good - knock on wood," said Sington, who was a punter at Troy State under current DSU coach Rick Rhoades. "We've only made some minor adjustments. "I'm enjoying doing it. It's been fun to get back out there on the field with the team." Steve Vowell, the special teams coach/football operations director, relinquished those duties last week after a dispute with Rhoades. Sington said he mentioned to Rhoades that he would be interested in helping out, and Rhoades took him up on the offer. Former DSU kicker Blake Koenigsberger is also helping out as a volunteer. It wasn't just the rejuvenated kicking game that boosted DSU over West Georgia; all in all, it was the Statesmen's most complete game of the year. "Football games come down to making plays," Rhoades said after the game. "Five or six will determine the outcome. Today, we made them." Now 1-4, 1-2 GSC, and playing with a new sense of purpose, DSU meets Arkansas Tech at Russellville on Saturday. The Wonder Boys are 1-4, 0-3 GSC. Case for the defense Overshadowed by the big offensive numbers the Millsaps offense put up against Maryville last Saturday was the job the Majors' defense did, pitching a shutout in the second half of that 34-21 victory. "That quarterback (Nick Derry, a I-AA transfer) was the best one we've faced in my three years here," said Majors coach Bob Tyler. "He ran us ragged the first half. We finally figured out how to do some things to stop him the second half." One of those things was to turn loose linebacker Matt O'Bryant, the preseason All-America candidate. "Matt's played well all year, but Coach (Joe) Kinsella, our defensive coordinator, said that second half was his best of the season," Tyler said. "He blitzed, he ran guys down from behind - he just exploded." He could be busy again Saturday, when Centre quarterback Brian Behrendt (1,476 yards, 60.1 completion percentage, 12 TDs) comes to call. Ryan's hope East Central, just 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the South Division, doesn't march weaponless into tonight's game against No. 2-ranked Jones County in Decatur. After a 165-yard effort in a 34-31 loss to Copiah-Lincoln last week, ECCC freshman Titus Ryan is the state's leading rusher with a 118.0 yards per game average and a 7.5 yards per carry figure. Ryan has scored six touchdowns in the three games he has played in. Jones, 5-0, 2-0, counters with Bobby Keyes (75.7 ypg) and Greg Wash (68.6). The Bobcats also feature QB Aaron Leak (835 passing yards). Oh yes, and Jones boasts the state's No. 2 rush defense.