VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Valdosta State Blazer football team is very much looking forward to this weekend's return to the friendly confines of Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, as they welcome longtime rival Mississippi College to town for the ESPN3 Gulf South Conference Game of the Week.
Both teams will enter the weekend on the heels of tough GSC losses, with the Choctaws benefitting from an extra day of rest, thanks to a hurricane induced scheduling adjustment that led to a Friday night matchup last week against West Florida in Pensacola, Fla.
Mississippi College went down in heartbreaking fashion to the Argonauts last weekend, after allowing 21 unanswered second-half points in a 28-14 loss. The Choctaws were looking to tie the game up late in the showdown, but a 4th & Goal inside the three yard line was denied when UWF intercepted a pass and returned it the length of the field for a pick-six to seal the win.
In Carrollton, Ga., the Blazers suffered similar second-half woes against the West Georgia Wolves, which ultimately led to their 13-42 demise. The Blazers will aim this week to cut down on excessive penalty yardage and get freshman quarterback Rogan Wells in a rhythm. In addition, Valdosta State hopes to benefit from last week's return of 2016 GSC Freshman of the Year, running back Cedric Hollingshed. The sophomore, who has been plagued by injuries this season, picked up 51 rushing yards on just five carries last week in his 2017 debut. One of those carries was for 14 yards. Meanwhile, Wells showed off his versatility on the ground with a team-high 79 yards on 14 carries.
Saturday's matchup marks the 17th all-time between these two programs in a rivalry that dates all the way back to VSU football's first year in 1982. The two teams have competed just three times since 1995, with the Blazers having won each of those three matchups. Overall the record between the two programs stands at 8-8-1.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m., with live audio provided at www.talk921.com. Links for all other forms of coverage, including live stats and a live ESPN3 video stream, are available below and on the main event page at www.vstateblazers.com.
The contest will also serve as our annual Military Appreciation game. As always, military and their families will be admitted for free. Other gameday activities and information, including parking and tailgating info, can be found by clicking on the Gameday Central banner located at the top of the page.
