Newberry Game Notes

Blazers, Newbery play Saturday at 7 pm

This Week's Game: Valdosta State kicks off its 2009 season as the Blazers host South Atlantic Conference foe Newberry College at 7:00 p.m. Saturday. The 2009 season marks the 28th year of Valdosta State football while the Newberry game will be the 311th game in school history. The Blazers have won 210 contests, lost 96 and tied four times, a winning percentage of .684.

The Newberry contest will allow the VSU coaches to get their first good look at a host of new Blazers, as Valdosta State 40 student-athletes will don the Red and Black for the first time in the game. The Blazer depth chart will also look significantly different from 2008 as the Blazer offense will feature five new starters, the defense six and special teams one.

Valdosta State, which returns 37 letterwinners from 2008, averaged 380.8 yards and 28.3 points while holding opponents to 304.6 yards and 18.6 points per game in 2008. Running back Ronnye Nelson (382 yards, one touchdown rushing, 33 receptions, 354 yards, two touchdowns receiving) and wide receiver Cedric Jones (57 receptions, 551 yards, one touchdown receiving) return as offensive leaders while Larry Dean (95 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, three fumbles forced) and Demario Jones (37 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, two fumble recoveries) pace the defensive unit.

Newberry returns 54 letterwinners and 14 starters, including eight on offense and six on defense, off of its 2008 squad. NC tallied 24.6 points and 348.8 yards per game last season while holding foes to 18.3 points and 329.0 yards of offense. Wide receiver Kelton Tindal (39 receptions, 745 yards, six touchdowns receiving) will lead the Newberry offense in 2009 while linebacker R.J. Reeder (44 tackles, two passes broken up, one fumble forced) paces the defensive unit.

All Home Games to be Webcast: All Valdosta State home games will be webcast on the internet during the 2009 season. Five of the six home games will be carried free of charge by VSU on www.vstateblazers.tv. These games include Newberry, Southern Arkansas, West Alabama, Henderson State and Edward Waters.

The North Alabama game, which will be televised nationally by CBS College Sports, will also be carried on the station's website.

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