VALDOSTA, Ga. - The Valdosta State Blazers aim to close out the regular season schedule this weekend against the in-state rival Hawks of Shorter.
With an even 4-4 record on the season, the Blazers will enter Saturday's matchup with an opportunity to add to Valdosta State's current streak of 17 consecutive winning seasons.
On paper, the matchup against the Hawks is a favorable one for the red and black. The Blazer defense has held opponents to an 23.5 points per game, while Shorter's offense has struggled with an average of just 272.3 yards per game and 13.0 points per contest.
The history between the two teams goes back to the 2012 season, when Valdosta State took down the Hawks during their 2012 national championship run. The first ever matchup between the two teams saw the Blazers outscore Shorter 37-6, and VSU has outscored the Hawks 159-34 since that initial showdown.
Valdosta State enters Saturday's matchup on the heels of a tough loss to West Alabama Tigers last Saturday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Ga. The Blazers played the Tigers close in the first half and scored a late first half touchdown to pull to within a 7-17 deficit.
Big plays plagued the Blazers in the second half, starting with a 59-yard rushing touchdown on an early second-half UWA drive. The score sparked a 21-7 run for the Tigers in the second half, which ultimately led to Valdosta State's first loss in four weeks.
Shorter will enter the weekend coming off of a devastating loss at the hands of the Mississippi College Choctaws. Looking for their first win in two seasons, the Hawks overcame a 20-point deficit to take a 29-27 lead with just seven minutes remaining in regulation. The Choctaws dashed Shorter's hopes, however, thanks to a 25-yard game-winning field goal as the final seconds ticked away. The victory marked the first of the year for the Choctaws.
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., with live audio provided at www.talk921.com. Links for all other forms of coverage, including live stats and a video stream link, are available below and on the main event page at www.vstateblazers.com.
