THE BASICS:
SCORE: #3 Valdosta State 30, #11 Notre Dame College (Ohio) 24
RECORDS: Valdosta State 13-0, Notre Dame College 13-1
LOCATION: Valdosta, Ga. (Bazemore-Hyder Stadium)
THE LEAD: In a hard-fought, back-and-forth NCAA Division II National Semifinal, the No. 3 Valdosta State Blazers continued their magical season with a come-from-behind win over No. 11 Notre Dame College (Ohio) Saturday afternoon at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. VSU advances to its fifth national championship game and first since 2012.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Blazers methodically moved down the field on the opening drive as they have all season as freshman Seth McGill scored from one yard out on a 4th and goal for a 7-0 lead 4:08 into the game.
- On the ensuing NDC drive, VSU freshman Walker Schwab blocked the Tanner Harding punt as it went out of the side of the end zone for a safety and 9-0 lead.
- After a VSU punt, Notre Dame began to get its offense in gear as it used a commanding 13-play, 6:23 minute, 85-yard drive as quarterback Chris Brimm found Markus Hood for eight yards and a touchdown for a 9-7 VSU lead with 14:46 left in the half.
- Following another VSU punt, the Falcons marched down field, but were stymied on a Brimm incompletion for a field goal attempt as the Harding 29-yarder came up short.
- Notre Dame College took over with 1:51 left in the half, converted two key third downs and Harding converted for a 39-yard field goal as time expired for a 10-9 Falcon lead at halftime.
- The Falcons started with the ball in the second half and moved down to the VSU 6, but Brimm's pass was intercepted in the end zone by senior David Brown and returned 100-yards for a score and a 16-10 VSU lead with 11:45 left in the frame as it fired the crowd of 4,672 up.
- After a NDC punt and a sophomore Brian Saunds return of 32 yards to the NDC 26, VSU took advantage of the good field position with Wells hitting sophomore Kenny Benjamin for a 29-yard strike and a 23-10 lead midway through the third.
- Following the Falcons being stopped at the VSU eight on 4th and four, VSU had to punt from its end zone and senior Gavin Wilson's punt was blocked by D'Niyae Morris as he recovered at the VSU one.
- Notre Dame scored for a 23-17 score, but the Blazers found the quick strike as redshirt freshman Jamar Thompkins rushed 84 yards on one play for a touchdown just 21 seconds later for a 30-17 score late in the third.
- Things got interesting with 4:16 left in the game as VSU had the ball and drove to the NDC 17, but Guam Lee recovered a Wells fumble and returned it 82 yards for a score with 2:17 left.
- McGill came up with a huge recovery on an onside kick by the Falcons as Harding had a great kick, but McGill made a leaping catch at the VSU 45.
- VSU iced the game on just the second converted third down of the day (2 of 10) with a run by Wells for six yards, followed by taking a knee to end the game.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Notre Dame College held a rare 209-130 lead in total offense in the first half on the Blazers as the Falcons got going after the initial drive.
- NDC had 16 rushes for 70 yards, while Brimm went 14 of 23 for 139 yards and a score.
- VSU had 17 rushes on 53 yards, while sophomore quarterback and Harlon Hill Finalist, Rogan Wells, was 8 of 9, but the Blazers were 0 of 5 on third down, while NDC was 4 of 7 on the pivotal down.
- NDC freshman Harlon Hill Finalist Jaleel McLaughlin had 16 carries for 70 yards in the first half.
- The 100-yard return gave VSU its seventh defensive touchdown of the season to lead the nation as it was tied with Florida Tech entering the game with six each.
- For the game, VSU had 329 yards of offense on 51 plays, while NDC had 371 yards of offense on 75 plays as both were well below their averages.
- The Blazers had 195 yards rushing on3 35 carries and was 11 of 16 passing for 134 yards. NDC had 178 yards rushing with 175 from McLaughlin on 32 carries, while Brimm was 22 of 38 for 193 yards, one touchdown and the costly interception.
- Thompkins paced the Blazers with 145 yards on 11 carries and a score for a 13.2 average per carry, while Benjamin had 81 yards on four receptions and a score.
- NDC's leading receiver Marvell Ross had six catches for 78 yards.
- Brown and senior Tyrell Lyons paced the Blazers with eight total tackles each, as VSU had one sack and nine tackles for loss for 16 yards, along with the 100-yard interception return.
- NDC had four players with six tackles each, led by Sha'haun Williams with one sack for four yards as the Falcons had three sacks for 15 yards and six tackles for loss for 22.
UP NEXT:
- The Blazers head to McKinney, Texas, next Saturday for the NCAA Division II Football National Championship against either Minnesota State or Ferris State (Mich.).
- Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPNU.
- Blazer fans can check back with vstateblazers.com for information on tickets, hotels and more as the information becomes available.
