VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Valdosta State football team was in desparate need of a victory on Saturday night in Valdosta, Ga., and the team answered the call in a big way with a 55-3 win over the visiting Mississippi College Choctaws at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

The Blazers (2-3, 2-2 GSC) stalled out on their first drive, and an attempt to convert on 4th-and-5 came up short at Mississippi College's 24-yard line. After a stop by the Black Swarm, however, Valdosta State made the necessary adjustments to reel off an 81-yard drive that ended with a sparkling 29-yard rush by freshman quarterback Rogan Wells to put VSU on top 7-0.

The Choctaws (0-7, 0-5 GSC) proceeded to eat up over seven minutes of time on the clock on their ensuing drive, and used over 15 plays to take the ball all the way down to Valdosta State's 4-yard line. VSU's defense held though, and MC was forced to settle for their only points of the game, a 19-yard field goal by Greg Nickles.

After a Dallas Baldner touchdown and a missed extra point, the Blazers received some good fortune when Lio'Undre Gallimore didn't give up on a deflected pass and claimed control of it before it hit the ground as he fell into the endzone for a 27-yard touchdown. The nifty grab gave the Blazers a 20-3 lead heading into the locker room for intermission.

The second half was a runaway job for the red and black, as the team began firing on all cylinders for a dominant half of football. Cedric Hollingshed took his first touch of the game 43 yards through the middle for a touchdown, and Travon Roberts added another 29-yard completion for a touchdown with just over one minute left in the third quarter.

Valdosta State really poured it on in the final frame, scoring three touchdowns to give the Blazers' their first 30-point half since the November playoff comeback win against Carson-Newman during the 2015 season.

The Black Swarm defense also came to play and held the Choctaws to just 3.0 yards per carry and 95 total passing yards, resulting in a grand total of 231 yards. Malik Slater led the way with nine tackles, while both Brandon Roe and Donte Taylor recorded interceptions.

Valdosta State accumulated 484 yards of total offense in the balanced performance, and the Blazers made a significant improvement in the penalty column. VSU committed just four fouls in the entire game, which cost the team just 29 penalty yards.

The red and black now turns their attention to a 3:00 p.m. EST time start next Saturday against the rival Statesmen of Delta State. The game will take place in Cleveland, Miss.