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VALDOSTA, Ga. - Saturday's contest represents a matchup circled on Blazer Nation calendars since Valdosta State fell to the West Georgia Wolves in a tight Division II playoff showdown last November.
 
Each team enters the weekend with 1-1 Gulf South Conference record, and this, the 36th showdown between the two programs, marks the first time the two teams have met at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium since the 2014 season.
 
West Georgia (4-1, 1-1 GSC) enters the contest on the heels of a heartbreaking GSC loss to the league-leading Lions of North Alabama on Saturday. The Wolves took an early 7-3 lead in the contest and held the lead throughout a majority of the game. The Lions kept the contest close, however, and struck for a touchdown inside the two-minute mark to take a 24-23 lead. UWG's final opportunity came up short on a missed field goal from 22 yards out, and UNA escaped with the victory.
 
Offensively, the Wolves enter Saturday's game with two of the league's top-five running backs. Lemarcus Franks currently ranks second in the league with an average of 72.4 yards per game and 362 total rushing yards in five games played. Meanwhile, Devonta Jackson falls in not far behind with 348 total yards for an average of 69.6 yards per game.
 
On the defensive side, West Georgia leads the league in both scoring defense with 14.8 points allowed per game and total yards allowed per game with an average of 281.6. In addition, the defensive line is led by linebacker Dylan Donahue, who currently leads the league in both tackles for loss (10.5) and sacks. His sack total, in fact, represents  the second highest in all of Division II.
 
For the Blazers (3-1, 1-1 GSC), Valdosta State will aim to carry over from their most convincing win of the 2016 season, a 48-10 triumph over Kentucky State last weekend in Waycross, Ga. The Valdosta State quarterbacks came to life on Saturday, as Adam Robles and Roland Rivers teamed up for 575 passing yards to set a new school record.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., with live audio provided at www.talk921.com and a live video streat provided right here at www.vstateblazers.com or by using the links below.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES: Saturday's Coin Toss Ceremony will feature representation from the Hughston Clinic in the form of Dr. Kevin Collins, who is the physician in charge for the Valdosta Hughston Clinic and also the team physician for VSU Athletics. In addition, VSU Interim President, Dr. Kelli Brown and her husband Dennis, University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby and his wife Amy, State Senator Ellis Black from senate district 8, State Representative Amy Carter from house district 175, and State Representative John Corbett from house district 174 will also take midfield prior to the game for the coin toss ceremony.
 
In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, the Valdosta State Athletic Department is welcoming all evacuees from the affected areas outside of the Lowndes County/Valdosta area to each of our scheduled Athletic events this weekend. As our special guests, free admission will be provided to each of our attending evacuees. In order to claim a free general admission ticket, a driver's license will need to be shown at each event. Evacuees may claim their free ticket at the main entrance of The Complex for Blazer volleyball matches, and tickets for Saturday night's football game may be claimed at the red Will Call tent, located near the main ticket gate on Williams Street at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium across from the American Legion. Blazer volleyball matches are scheduled for Friday night at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., while Valdosta State football will host conference rival West Georgia at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night. Volleyball gates open one hour prior to the match, and football gates will open at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday.

Saturday's contest will be a "Black Out" game. The team will don their black uniforms with black pants and black socks, and all Blazer fans are encouraged to wear black to the game.