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VALDOSTA, Ga. - For the third consecutive season, the Valdosta State Blazers have earned the right to participate in the opening round of the 2016 NCAA Division II Playoffs and will compete in postseason play for the 15th time in program history this weekend on their home turf in Valdosta, Ga. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
 
The Blazers (8-2), ranked No. 19 nationally and No. 4 in the final NCAA Division II Super Region 2 poll, will square off against the Braves of UNC-Pembroke (9-1), who hold a national AFCA ranking of No. 16 and finished the regular season as the No. 5 team in the Super Region 2 rankings.
 
Twice in Valdosta State Football history have the Blazers faced the Braves, with each team having claimed one victory. Oddly enough, neither team claimed their respective wins at home, which means Valdosta State will enter Saturday's matchup seeking their first-ever win over UNCP at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. The last matchup between the two squads took place in Pembroke, N.C. and ended in VSU's favor, 36-7. With the help of current senior Larry Murphy, the Black Swarm held the Braves to just 225 total yards.
 
Valdosta State looks to carry the momentum of their late season success into the playoffs, particularly from the  Blazer defense, which has been the picture of consistency for VSU throughout the entirety of the 2016 season. A key matchup of interest will be UNCP's quarterback, Patrick O'Brien, against the Black Swarm secondary. Under the leadership of All-GSC honorees Donatello Brown and Kenny Moore, VSU's defensive backs have recorded 22 interceptions on the season and have held opposing passers to an average of fewer than 200 yards per game. With 2,485 passing yards on the season, 20 touchdown tosses, and an average of 248.5 yards per game, O'Brien will serve as a true test for VSU's defensive unit.           
 
The two teams will compete for the opportunity to advance to the second round, where the Super Region 2's top team, No. 7 North Alabama (8-1), will await the winner.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., with live audio provided at www.talk921.com and a live video stream provided right here at www.vstateblazers.com or by using the links below.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

- Four Blazers were honored by the Gulf South Conference this week as All-Gulf South Conference honorees. Defensive back Donatello Brown joined offensive lineman Brandon Kemp for First-Team recognition, while Kenny Moore and Jamar Simpkins rounded out the honors for Valdosta State as members of the Second Team. Brown, Kemp, and Simpkins each made the first appearances of their career on the list, while Moore scored his third consecutive All-GSC honor.

- With VSU, FIT, and UNA each playing for this year's Super Region 2 crown, a Gulf South Conference school is in position to attempt to claim the title for the 14th time in the last 16 seasons. In fact, since Division II went to regionalization in 1990, a GSC school has advanced to the national semifinals 21 times in 25 seasons.

- Cedric Hollingshed was named the 2016 GSC Freshman of the Year in an announcement by the GSC office at the end of the 2016 regular seaosn. The honor marked the first GSC Offensive Freshman of the Year accolade for a Blazer since Cedric O'Neal, Valdosta State's all-time leading rusher, kicked off his career in 2012 with the same recognition. The Macon, Ga. native scored seven rushing touchdowns on the season, marking the fifth-highest total in the GSC. In addition, Hollingshed ranked sixth in the league with an average of 66.2 yards per contest, and he also served as an influential receiving target with 25 catches, 182 receiving yards, and one touchdown reception.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES: Student life has purchased 2,000 tickets to cover the cost of VSU students who would like to attend the game. The first 2,000 students to swipe their Student ID card at the student gate will be admitted free of charge

TICKET PRICES:.Reserved seats are available for $18 each, while general admission seats will sell for $10. Seniors (65+) and youth (5-College w/ Student ID) can purchase general admission seats at a discounted rate of $5.

BLAZER FOOTBALL GAME DAY
UNC Pembroke vs. Valdosta State NCAA DIVISION II PLAYOFFS (FIRST ROUND) Saturday, November 19th, 2016 / 1:00 p.m. Valdosta, Ga. / Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
Valdosta State Game Notes	UNC-Pembroke Game Notes
Valdosta State Radio Broadcast	UNC-Pembroke Radio Broadcast
Live Stats	Live Video