SETTING THE SCENE
The top-ranked Valdosta State football team heads on the road at North Greenville in the first matchup at NGU in program history.  The Blazers are 7-0 on the year and 5-0 in Gulf South Conference play, while North Greenville is 3-4 and 2-3 in GSC play.  VSU has won a school-record 22-straight games for the longest current streak in NCAA Division II heading into Saturday's game at 4 p.m. in Tigerville, S.C. 
 
STREAKS
The 22-game winning streak is one victory shy of tying the Gulf South Conference record set by former league member North Alabama from 1994-1995.  VSU would need two more victories in a row to move into the top 15 all-time in NCAA Division II for consecutive victories as Northwest Missouri State (1999-00), North Dakota State (1964-66) and Wesleyan (Conn./1945-48) each won 24 games consecutively.   Along with the 22-straight wins, VSU has won 12-straight home games with the game last Saturday, which is tied for first in Division II with Tarleton State (Texas) and Notre Dame (Ohio).  The Blazers also have won 18-straight regular season wins, tying for third all-time in the GSC with former league member Jacksonville State (1990-92).  VSU has the most all-time regular season wins in a row in GSC history with 35 from 2000-03. 
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BLAZERS
VSU won its 33rd Homecoming Game in 38 tries with a 55-28 victory over Florida Tech on Saturday behind a school-record 246 yards receiving from junior Brian Saunds.  He had ten catches and caught one touchdown, earning GSC Offensive Player of the Week honors.  The Blazers had over 600 yards of total offense for the second time this season and rushed for 304 yards, marking the third time this season of over 300 yards on the ground.  VSU broke open a 14-14 game through the first quarter, scoring 27 points in the second quarter and outscored FT 14-7 in the second half.  Saturday also marked the first time VSU had not led after the first quarter all season.  Defensively, VSU stymied the Panthers after allowing the 14 points in the first quarter as FT scored just 14 points over the final three frames.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH NORTH GREENVILLE
The Blazers own a 1-0 record against NGU after the 44-21 victory on Homecoming last season at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.  VSU has not played a game in the Palmetto State since Sept. 11, 2010, with a 45-17 victory at Newberry.  The Blazers are 4-1 all-time against teams from South Carolina as this will be the third time traveling to South Carolina (2-0) with wins in 2008 and 2010 at Newberry.
 
ON THIS DATE
The Blazers are 4-1 all-time on October 26, and dropped their last game on this date in a 57-7 loss to North Alabama in 2013.  Ironically, the previous five games on this dateall have been home games.  VSU has outscored the opposition 200-120 on this date.  The Blazers have scored 40 or more points in each of the four wins on this date.  
 
HOW TO CATCH THE GAME 
The game will be broadcast on 92.1 WDDQ in Valdosta with Spencer Van Horn and Wade Beale having the call.  Fans can access links to live stats and audio/video streaming of the game at vstateblazers.com on the football schedule page.   
 
RECAPPING HOMECOMING
The Blazers won their 33rd game in 38 seasons (33-5) on Homecoming with the 55-28 victory over Florida Tech last Saturday.  VSU junior wide receiver Brian Saunds set the school-record with 246 receiving yards in the game on ten catches and one touchdown.  The Blazers put up 641 yards of total offense in the game for the second game of over 600 yards of offense and the team had 303 yards rushing, marking the third time this season, and second straight game, of over 300 yards on the ground.  VSU was tested early as Florida Tech matched both VSU touchdowns in the first quarter, but the Blazers outscored FT 27-7 in the second quarter for a 41-21 lead at halftime.  Junior quarterback Rogan Wells went 20 of 29 for 338 passing and three touchdowns in the game.  It was Wells' first game over 300 yards passing this season and fourth of his career.  Wells was one of the Homecoming King candidates this year. 
 
OVER 40
For the first time this season, Valdosta State scored over 40 points in a half with 41 points in the first half against Florida Tech on Saturday.  VSU scored a season-high 27 points (for a quarter) in the second quarter of the game.  Last season, the Blazers scored 40 or more points in a half in two games in the 52-0 victory over Shorter and the 66-16 win over Bowie State.
 
SAUNDS RECORDS
Valdosta State junior wide receiver Brian Saunds had a career-high 246 yards receiving on Saturday against Florida Tech, including 194 yards on seven receptions in the first half alone.  He broke the previous school-record of 232 yards receiving set by Reggie Mosely on Nov. 11, 2002, versus West Georgia.  Saunds' 246 yards marked the tenth-most all-time in GSC history and was the third-most this season in NCAA Division II.  
 
MILESTONE VICTORY
Not only having the longest winning streak in Division II, VSU also won its 300th game in program history on Oct. 12 at Delta State.  VSU now is 301-126-4 (.702) since football began in 1982 for an average of 7.9 wins per year.  VSU has won double-digit games ten times and, with the win against DSU, ensured itself of its 30th winning season in program history.
 
STREAKS PART II 
Not only is the 22-game winning streak an outstanding feat, but it also is tied with Clemson for the second-longest winning streak in all divisions of the NCAA.  North Dakota State leads the way in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) with 28-straight victories, while Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) of NCAA Division III behind the Blazers and Clemson with 21-straight victories.   
 
LEADING 
VSU was the final team to trail in a game this season in all of NCAA Division II as Delta State jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the first possession of the game on Oct 12.  The deficit was short lived, however, as VSU marched down the field on its first offensive possession and tied the game with a field goal.  VSU needed just 4:12 minutes to tie the game and the score remained tied for just 4:42. The Blazers led for 51:06 minutes, marking the fifth time in six games VSU has led for 50 or more minutes this season.  Last week, VSU led for 43:57 minutes and the game was tied for 16:03.  Of the 420 minutes of football this season, VSU has led for all but 49:26 minutes this season, for a lead time of 370:34. 
 
RUSHING WELLS
Blazer junior quarterback Rogan Wells scampered for a 70-yard run for the final touchdown in the 34-13 win over Delta State on Oct. 12, marking the longest run from scrimmage for a Blazer this season.  He then followed that with 69-yard scamper for a score last weekend versus Florida Tech.  He finished last week's game with six receptions for 83 yards and the score.  Wells had a career-high 81-yard rushing score at West Florida on Nov. 3, 2018.  Wells is third on the team in rushing yards this season with 422 with five rushing touchdowns and a 60.3 average per game.  
 
MCGILL SEEING TRIPLE 
For the first time in his career, sophomore Seth McGill had three rushing touchdowns in the 55-28 victory over Florida Tech on Saturday.  He had 12 rushes for 89 yards.  McGill is the second VSU running back to have three rushing scores as sophomore Jamar Thompkins had three rushing TDs against Mississippi College on Oct. 5.  It marked McGill's first career game of three rushing scores at VSU and fourth game of multiple rushing touchdowns in his career.
 
ONSIDE MCCOY 
Late in the game on Saturday versus Florida Tech, senior Bryndan McCoy took an onside kick and returned it 29-yards, setting the Blazers up at the Florida Tech 13 as VSU scored its final touchdown of the game.  
 
STRONG IN THE SECOND HALF
This season, the Blazers have outscored the opposition 120-48 in the second half and have held the opponents scoreless in the final half twice, including Sept. 28 at Shorter and Albany State in the season-opener Sept. 7.    The Blazers have scored 305 points for the season and average 43.6 points per game for eighth nationally and first in the league.  Conversely, VSU is 21st nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 16.7 points per game for second in the GSC behind West Florida at 10.0 points allowed per game.
 
EFFICIENT BLAZERS 
The Blazers are ninth nationally in passing efficiency at 170.97 for first in the GSC, while holding teams to a 105.09 clip for 27th nationally and second in the league.  Wells leads the GSC and is sixth nationally in passing efficiency at 175.70. 
 
GOOD ON THIRD
The Blazers have been better than 45 percent in each game this season on the pivotal down and are 43 of 78 for the season for a 55% clip, ranking fifth nationally and first in the GSC.  VSU is holding teams to 28 of 89 on third down for a .315 average for 41st nationally and third in the GSC.  On fourth down, the red and black is 4 of 6 for 67% for 20th nationally and second in the GSC.
 
GETTING THE FIRST
The Blazers are fourth nationally in first downs with 179 for first in the GSC, while the Blazers are holding teams to 111 first downs for 29th nationally and second in the GSC.  Ironically, VSU head coach Gary Goff's former team, Tiffin University, leads the nation in first down offense with 184.
 
GROUND ASSAULT 
The Blazers have been outstanding this season on the ground as they are seventh nationally in rushing offense at 288.6 yards per game.  The Blazers have rushed for over 300 yards three times this season, with a school-record 446 yards at Shorter (Sept. 28) and has over 200 yards on the ground in six of seven games thus far.   
 
CARRYING THE LOAD
Sophomore running back Jamar Thompkins leads the nation in rushing yards per carry at 8.43, while he is 20th nationally in rushing yards (666), 23rd in rushing yards per game (95.1) to lead the GSC.  He is third in the conference in rushing touchdowns with seven for 36th nationally.  Thompkins also is 30th nationally in all-purpose yards at 133.57 per game to lead the league.   
 
RETURN OF THE SAUNDS 
Junior punt returner Brian Saunds is 14th nationally and first in the league averaging 12.9 yards per punt return this season.  He has nine returns for 116 yards and long of 26 this season.
 
STRONG TOTALS
The Blazers are third nationally and first in the league in total offense at 543.1 yards per game, while ranking 21st in total defense, holding teams to just 282.0 yards per game.  VSU quarterback Rogan Wells is 14th nationally in total offense at 284.3 yards per game to lead the GSC.        
 
HITTIN' THE TARGET
VSU is third nationally in completion percentage at a 72.1 clip for the season as it is 147 of 204 passing this season.  Wells is second nationally in completion percentage at a 75.1 clip for the season, while he is averaging 18.57 completions per game for 31st nationally and third in the GSC.  
 
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
The Blazers recorded three interceptions and five total turnovers of West Alabama on Sept. 21, leading to a 17-7 lead in points off turnovers.  Sophomore Aaron Dawson had the first defensive touchdown for the Blazers this season with an 80-yard pick-six, while junior Cory Roberts and senior Stanley Dye also had interceptions.  This season, the Blazers have five interceptions through seven games for third in the GSC.  VSU has a 38-14 lead in points off turnovers for the season. 
 
NO SHUTOUT
VSU leads all of NCAA Division II in the most games without being shutout at 335 games.  The Blazers last were blanked on Sept. 14 1991, in a 12-0 loss at Central Florida.  VSU has been shutout just five times in the history of the program in 431 games.   
 
FEW INTERCEPTIONS
The Blazers have thrown interceptions in back-to-back games for the first two picks of the season.  Despite that, VSU is fourth nationally in fewest interceptions this season as Ouachita Baptist and GSC foe Mississippi College haven't thrown an INT this season to lead the nation.  
 
WELLS MOVING UP 
Valdosta State junior quarterback Rogan Wells continues to move up the charts as he is 25-2 all-time as a starter, while playing in 30 games with 27 starts.  He is fourth all-time in school history in passing touchdowns (64) and needs three to tie Lance Funderburk (1992-96).  Wells is ninth all-time in rushing yards (1,652), tied for fifth with Tyran Robinson (2001-04) for rushing touchdowns (24) and is fifth all-time in career passing yards (6,048).  He is 460 of 754 passing with just nine interceptions and is sixth all-time in completions.  Wells is fourth in total offense with 7,238 yards for his career.
 
ABOUT NORTH GREENVILLE
The Crusaders return home after a hard-fought 7-0 victory at Shorter last weekend.  NGU scored the lone touchdown in the game in the second quarter on a rainy day in Rome, Ga.  The Crusaders got a key interception in the fourth quarter as Shorter had moved inside the red zone. NGU's lone score came on a pass from Jordon Johnson to Lucas Catalfomo for the score in the second quarter.  NGU didn't score in the final 30:39 of the game, while the NGU "D" held Shorter to 180 yards of total offense.  The Crusaders are 12th nationally in punt returns at 16.8 per return to lead the GSC.  NGU is 28th nationally in team sacks at 2.71 per game for second in the league.  Individually, Chauncey Haney is seventh nationally and first in the GSC in sacks per game at 1.14, while he is eighth nationally in tackles for loss per game at 1.9.  Haney is second in the GSC in total tackles at 8.6 per game.  Jonathan Worthy leads the nation in blocked kicks with three, while he is third in the GSC in total tackles at 7.4 per game.  Haney is second in the GSC in blocked kicks with two for fifth nationally.  Offensively, Johnson is third in passing yards per completion in the GSC at 13.8 for 31st nationally.  Both punt returners Ethan Alexander and Harold Hilton have punt returns for scores this season, while punter Matt Gravely is 15th nationally and second in the GSC in punting at 42.1 yards per game.
 
VICTORY OVER NORTH GREENVILLE WOULD  . . .

• Give VSU a 8-0 record to start the season for the eighth time in program history
• Tie the Gulf South Conference record for consecutive victories with the 23rd-straight win
• Give VSU a 5-1 record all-time on Oct. 26
• Give VSU a 27-6 record as the top-ranked team in the country
• Be the 302nd win all-time in program history and the 198th in GSC history
• Give VSU a 2-0 record against North Greenville and be the tenth-straight road victory
• Give VSU a 5-1 record all-time against teams from the Palmetto State.