THE BASICS:

• Score: Valdosta State 45, Albany State 14
• Records: Valdosta State 1-0, Albany State 0-1
• Location: Valdosta, Ga. (Bazemore-Hyder Stadium)

The Lead: The Valdosta State football team opened the 2018 season with a convincing 45-14 thrashing of visiting Albany State Saturday evening.  The Blazers scored the first 38 points in the game and led 28-0 at halftime.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• ·         VSU quickly marched down field as redshirt sophomore quarterback Rogan Wells scored from three-yards out for a 7-0 lead with 12:12 left in the first half.  He, along with junior running back Quahlin Patterson, did most of the damage on the drive as Patterson opened the game with a 14-yard scamper. 
• ·         Wells had three rushes for 22 yards and the score on the drive.
• ·         Later in the quarter, the Blazers took over at their own two and marched 98 yards on just seven plays, using 2:11 as Wells found sophomore Brian Saunds for a score and a 14-0 lead.
• ·         VSU had 11 first downs in the first quarter, while the Golden Rams didn't reach the first down marker in the frame.  The Blazers had 189 yards of offense in the first quarter and held ASU to just 11 yards.
• ·         In the second quarter, Wells tallied his second passing score of the half as he found sophomore Kenny Benjamin for 24-yards and 21-0 lead. 
• ·         Redshirt freshman Jamar Thompkins made a name for himself as he took a punt back 31 yards midway through the second quarter and a personal foul penalty on ASU started the VSU drive at the ASU 34.  Wells hit Benjamin for 19 and Thompkins scored on the ground from 15 out for a 28-0 lead.
• ·         On the opening drive of the fourth quarter, ASU went for it on 4^th and four, but senior Pittsburgh transfer Rori Blair stuffed Stephon Masha behind the line of scrimmage turning the ball over on downs. 
• ·         Later in the quarter, senior Raymond Palmer had the second huge punt return as he broke free for 49 yards to the ASU 23 as the Blazers settled for a 39-yard field goal and a 31-0 lead.
• ·         Thompkins then rattled off another huge gain, this time for 41 yards to the ASU 15 as Wells then hit Saunds for his second score of the game and a 38-0 lead with 48 seconds left in the third.
• ·         ASU found some life early in the fourth as Kelias Williams hit Mike Green for 67-yard touchdown just seconds into the final quarter. 
• ·         Late in the quarter ASU scored once again on a 32-yard scamper from Scott Tracy for a 38-14 score, but VSU freshman quarterback Ivory Durham scored, calling his own number with three seconds left for the 45-14 margin.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• ·         The Blazers dominated the first half to the tune of a 285-25 lead in total offense.  VSU held ASU to -11 yards rushing, while only allowing 36 yards through the air and just two first downs. 
• ·         Thompkins had 87 yards on the ground and a score on six carries, while Wells was 9 of 14 for 139 yards and two scores. 
• ·         The only blemish for the Blazers in the half came on two lost fumbles. 
• ·         VSU dominated in all facets of the game as it held a 429-220 advantage in total offense, while holding the Golden Rams to just 68 yards rushing on 38 carries (1.8).
• ·         The Blazers ran 37 times for 243 yards, while the team passed for 186 yards on a combined 15 of 25.
• ·         Wells went 13 of 20 for 176 yards and three scores, while Saunds had four catches for 64 yards and two scores to lead the team.
• ·         Thompkins had seven rushes for 128 yards and a score. 
• ·         The defense and special teams also were impressive as VSU tallied three sacks for 23 yards and nine tackles for loss for 43 yards. 
• ·         Junior Jameel Padgett had four total tackles with one sack for seven yards and two tackles for loss for eight yards.

UP NEXT:

• ·         The Blazers head to Waycross, Ga., for the Okefenokee Classic, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. against Fort Valley State.  The game has been picked up by ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN APP, as part of the Division II Football Showcase.
• ·         VSU then travels to West Alabama to open Gulf South Conference play, Sept. 15, before returning home to host Shorter on Sept. 22 at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.