VALDOSTA, Ga. - Head Coach David Dean has repeatedly referred to the second half of the 2015 schedule as a "new season", and one in which the Blazers must run the table in order to have hopes of a postseason appearance upon the conclusion of regular season play.
So far, the Blazers (5-2, 2-2 GSC) have responded in positive fashion with wins in each of their last two games. Valdosta State's last victory came against the Shorter Hawks on Thursday night in Rome, Ga., where the Blazers outlasted the Hawks in a fourth quarter shootout that included three 80-plus yard touchdown carries. Devante James and B.J. McCoy accounted for two of those carries, but Cedric O'Neal delivered the biggest blow to seal the win with a 91-yard touchdown dash in the closing minutes that marked the fourth longest rush in Gulf South Conference history and the second longest rush in Valdosta State history.
The victory was deemed all the more critical after Monday's release of the NCAA Division II Football Super Region II rankings, in which the Blazers found themselves in the No. 10 position. Valdosta State returned to the AFCA national rankings this week at No. 24 and represents one of five GSC teams with a position in the region's top 10. With upcoming opponent West Alabama outranking the Blazers at No. 9, many eyes will be on Bazemore-Hyder and ESPN3 this weekend for Saturday's important Gulf South Conference matchup.
West Alabama (6-2, 2-2 GSC) enters the contest riding high off of an important conference victory over Delta State in Cleveland, Miss. The Tigers trailed 35-17 entering the fourth and final quarter, but freshman quarterback Harry Satterwhite, in just his second collegiate start, stayed calm and composed to lead UWA to a 24-point fourth quarter. Satterwhite's three touchdown passes and 285 passing yards set the stage for Mark Grant's field goal, which lifted the Tigers to a 41-38 advantage in the closing seconds of UWA's victory.
The rivalry between the Tigers and the Blazers is one of the GSC's longest. The history between the two teams dates all the way back to Valdosta State's first year in 1982, when VSU defeated West Alabama in a thrilling 22-21 win. Since then, Valdosta State has been dominant in the all-time series, holding a 30-4 record against the Tigers. The pair last met on October 30, 2014, and Valdosta State escaped Livingston with a 24-17 victory.
Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. with live audio provided at www.talk921.com and GSC-TV broadcast coverage at the links below.
TICKET LOCATIONS: Tickets can be purchased on game day at three Bazemore-Hyder Stadium locations. Tickets are available at the southeast corner, the southwest corner of the stadium, and the northwest corner of the stadium. Tickets will go on sale at 10:30 a.m.
WILL CALL TICKET LOCATION: The Will Call Ticket location is at the southeast corner of the stadium. Will Call will open at 10:30 a.m.
TICKET PRICES:
$18 - Reserved Seat
$5 - General Admission
$5 - youth (5-17)
PARKING: All VSU parking lots are open for football game parking. The Bazemore-Hyder Stadium lots directly behind and to the south of the stadium are reserved lots and are not available for general public parking
HANDICAP PARKING: There are a limited number of first-come-first-serve handicap parking spaces located in the Superintendent Reserved lot directly behind the stadium. Enter this lot off Williams Street and show attendant your handicap pass.
CONCESSIONS: Concession stands at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium are located in the South Concourse and at the northeast corner of the stadium.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES:
-The Blazer Walk will begin at approximately 10:25 a.m.
-Saturday's game is VSU's Military Appreciation game, where Blazer Athletics will recognize our military, both active duty and veterans.
-KFC and Valdosta State Athletics have joined Second Harvest in an effort to beat hunger. Those who donate two canned goods to any local KFC restaurant will receive two free general admission tickets to Saturday's game in exchange.
-Ticket stubs from Saturday's football game can be used for free admission to both the volleyball and soccer contests later Saturday evening. Volleyball begins at 6:00 p.m. at The Complex, while soccer is scheduled to host senior night at 7:00 p.m. at the VSU Soccer Complex.
