VALDOSTA, Ga. - After a strong first half showing last week against the No. 2 ranked West Georgia Wolves in Carrollton, Ga., a pair of costly turnovers resulted in Valdosta State's second loss in as many weeks. This week, against Gulf South Conference foe Mississippi College, the Blazers look to bounce back and begin a push for the 2015 postseason.
The Blazers (3-2, 0-2 GSC), who are currently averaging 29.6 points per game this season, enter today's game still searching for their first GSC victory of the season. To get it, Head Coach David Dean's squad will need to overcome a Choctaws (2-3, 0-2 GSC) program that has also seen hard times as of late with losses in each of their last two contests.
Mississippi College has seen offensive success this season, especially in their rushing game. The Choctaws rank second only to the Shorter Hawks in average rushing yards per game with an average of 229.8 yards per game. The problem for the team has been their inability to slow down their opponents' rushing attack, which currently averages at over 200 yards per game.
With an average of just 84.2 passing yards per game, the Choctaws have also struggled to find success in the air. Four different quarterbacks have seen playing time for MC this season, with sophomore Kyle Smith serving as the primary option at the position. Smith has 350 total yards in five games played, 73 of which came on one play against North Alabama back on September 12th. Smith has yet to throw an interception this season, but his completion percentage sits at 50 percent with 21 completions in 42 attempts.
Meanwhile, fans can expect the Blazers to try and build off of a season-high 107-yard rushing performance of Cedric O'Neal last week in Carrollton. Despite the loss to the Wolves, the senior made the weekend a memorable one for Blazer Nation. O'Neal racked up 65 yards on the very first drive of the game for the red and black and put an exclamation point on the march downfield with a diving touchdown into the front corner of the end zone. Later in the second half, O'Neal punched through for his second touchdown of the day and the 37th touchdown of his career. With the score, he passed Dominique Ross and became the new school record holder for rushing touchdowns in a career.
Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. with live audio provided at www.talk921.com and 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 12:30 p.m.
WILL CALL TICKET LOCATION: The Will Call Ticket location is at the southeast corner of the stadium. Will Call will open at 12:30 p.m.
TICKET PRICES:
$18 - Reserved Seat
$10 - 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 12:15 p.m.
