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SETTING THE SCENE: 
The Valdosta State Blazers return to the Okefenokee Classic in Waycross, Ga., this weekend as they battle Fort Valley State at 7:05 p.m. at Waycross Memorial Stadium. The game last season was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma.  The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the Watch ESPN App as part of the Division II Football Showcase. Darren Goldwater and Trai Essex will have the call of the game.  

Fans can access the link to watch the game at www.vstateblazers.com on the football schedule page, along with links to live stats, tickets and more.  The game also will be broadcast in Valdosta on 92.1 FM with Spencer Van Horn and Scott James having the call for the Blazers.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for a complete wrap up after the game with a recap story and stats and more.

VSU is 1-0 on the season following a 45-14 win over Albany State last weekend in  TitleTown.  The Blazers raced out to a 28-0 lead in the first half and scored the first 38 points of the game before ASU scored twice in the final quarter.  VSU added a late touchdown with three seconds left in the game for the 45-14 margin.  Fort Valley State is 0-1 on the year after a 41-7 loss at Football Championship Subdivision  (FCS) foe Florida A&M.  FVSU's touchdown came after a lightning delay in the second quarter on a 92-yard strike from Slade Jarmon to Lorenzo Smothers.                              
 
QUICK NOTES:

• Valdosta State is in its 37th year of intercollegiate football and owns an overall record of 281 wins, 126 losses and four ties.
• This is the first of three regular season games VSU will be featured on ESPN3 and the ESPN App.  The other two are part of the ten-game GSC schedule: the Blazers' game at West Florida (5 p.m. ET/Nov. 3) and the regular season home finale, Nov. 10, at 7 p.m., against rival West Georgia at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. 
• VSU head coach Kerwin Bell is 14-7 at Valdosta State and is in his third season after enjoying a strong start in 2016 with an 8-3 record in his initial campaign and a berth in the NCAA playoffs. 
• Hosted by the city of Waycross, Ga., at Memorial Stadium, the Okefenokee Classic is in its third year with the cancellation of the game last season.  In 2016, the Blazers won the inaugural game on October 1st with an impressive 48-10 win over Kentucky State. In that game, Adam Robles and former Blazer Roland Rivers teamed up for a school record 575 passing yards. Robles accounted for three touchdowns and 408 of those yards. The Ocala, Fla. native completed 31 of the teams' 41 successful passes. 
• The Blazers and the Wildcats have squared off 21 times in VSU football history. Fort Valley took down VSU in the first contest in series history back in 1985. Since then, the Blazers have posted an 18-3 record against the Wildcats, with wins in each of the last 10 contests. The last matchup between the two teams took place on September 7, 2013, when VSU claimed a 36-21 victory in Macon, Ga.
• Tonight's contest marks the final non-conference matchup of the 2018 regular season, which leads the Blazers into next weekend's GSC opener at nationally ranked West Alabama.  
• The Gulf South Conference Preseason poll saw the Blazers picked fifth, released by the league office earlier this month. West Alabama was tabbed league favorite with 62 total points and six-of-nine first place votes.  
• The Blazers had five players named to the All-GSC Preseason Team in sophomore Kenny Benjamin, senior Jeremy King, senior Raymond Parker, senior Stewart Spence and sophomore Jairus Jones. 

 
 
BLAZER BITS: 

• VSU's .688 winning percentage all-time in 37 years of football is second nationally in Division II history.  The Blazers are 281-126-4 all-time since 1982, while Grand Valley State leads in 48 years of football with a 389-138-3 record for a .737 percentage.  
• The Blazers own the Division II record for most consecutive games without being shutout as they have not been blanked in 315 games dating back to Sept. 14, 1991, in a 12-0 loss to Central Florida.
• Since 2000, the Blazers are an impressive 169-46 (.786) ranking third in NCAA Division II in total wins during that span. Northwest Missouri State leads the way with a 201-34 record since the turn of the century, followed by Grand Valley State (200-36) and VSU at third.
• Valdosta State has had great success in non-conference games as the Blazers are 97-39-1 (.710), while going an impressive 58-14 at home in non-league games. 
• In 2017, the Blazers went 5-4 overall, but completed their 18th consecutive winning season and have had just five losing seasons in the history of the program dating back to 1982.  The last losing season came in 1999 (4-7).  
• VSU looks to get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing for the first time in 2017 since 2013.  The Blazers are 22-12 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with national championships in 2004, 2007 and 2012.
• Following Saturday's matchup, the Blazers will look forward to a matchup with Fort Valley State Sat., Sept. 8 at 7:05 p.m. in Waycross, Ga., for the Okefenokee Classic. Last year's classic was cancelled due to Hurricane Irma.
• The Blazers dominated ASU in all facets of the game last week, including holding ASU to just 229 yards of offense and just 73 yards passing.
• Offensively, VSU put up 252 yards rushing at 7.6 yards per carry and three rushing scores, while throwing for 186 yards and three touchdown passes.  
• Sophomore wide receiver Brian Saunds hauled in two touchdown passes in the game on four catches for 64 yards as it marked his second consecutive season of two touchdown receptions against Albany State.
• Sophomore quarterback Rogan Wells went 13 of 20 for 176 yards and three touchdowns.  He ran for 16 yards on seven carries and a score against Albany State.  Freshman quarterback Ivory Durham went 2 of 5 for 10 yards and tallied six carries for 57 yards and a score on the ground.
• Redshirt freshman running back Jamar Thompkins had a career day in his first outing, rushing for 128 yards on seven carries and one score.
• The defense tallied 11 tackles for loss in the game and five sacks, while allowing ASU just 11 total first downs and just one by penalty.  VSU held Albany State to 4 of 15 on third down, while the Blazers were 3 of 8 on the pivotal down.
• Both VSU head coach Kerwin Bell and FVSU head coach Kevin Porter competed against each other in the Southeastern Conference. Bell was a quarterback at Florida, while Porter played defensive back at Auburn both in the 80's. 
• VSU returns 12 starters and 29 letterwinners from last season, including both quarterbacks in redshirt senior Adam Robles and redshirt sophomore Rogan Wells.
• Valdosta State has a long history playing against schools from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. VSU has played 48 games versus the SIAC for a 43-5 record overall and a .895 winning percentage against the conference.