SETTING THE SCENE
The top-ranked Blazers return home to host Mississippi College Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.  The Blazers enter with a 4-0 record and a 2-0 mark in the Gulf South Conference, while Mississippi College enters with a 2-2 record and a 1-1 mark in league play.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BLAZERS
The Blazers made quick work in a 44-7 win at Shorter last Saturday as VSU ran its school-record winning streak to 19 games.  VSU tallied a school-record 446 yards rushing, while holding SU to just 33 yards on the ground and 106 yards of total offense.  The Blazers amassed a season-high 671 yards of total offense in the game, while recording 32 first downs to just six for the Hawks.  The Blazer ground attack saw sophomore Jamar Thompkins rush for 150 yards on 12 carries and a score, while sophomore Ivory Durham rushed ten times for 114 yards.  The defense stymied the Hawks in all facets as the Blazers had four sacks for 24 yards and seven tackles for loss for 30 yards.  VSU raced out to a 28-7 lead at halftime and held the Hawks scoreless in the second half for the win as VSU improved to 8-0 all-time against Shorter.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE
The Blazers hold a 10-8-1 record all-time against Mississippi College.  VSU has won the last nine meetings, including a 63-42 win in Clinton, Miss., last season.  In that game, VSU scored five touchdowns on 10 plays during the game.  VSU leads the all-time series in Titletown 6-4 and has won the last five meetings at home.  The teams are 4-4-1 in Clinton as MC's last win in the series came on Oct. 27, 1990, in Valdosta.  VSU has outscored MC 495-363 in the series.  
 
ON THIS DATE
The Blazers are 3-2 all-time in October 5, and have won their last three meetings on this date.  VSU defeated Florida Tech 52-14 in Valdosta in 2013.  The Blazers are 2-1 at home on Oct. 5 and 1-1 on the road.  
 
WEAR PINK
Blazer fans are encouraged to wear pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month to the game Saturday against Mississippi College.  The football team will have pink helmet decals for the game, while some of the players will have pink socks, gloves, etc.  
 
HIKE AND SPIKE SATURDAY
You football ticket to the Mississippi College game on Saturday will get you free admission to the Valdosta State volleyball match Saturday evening at 7 p.m. at The Complex versus West Florida.  Come out for a fun day of football and volleyball and cheer on the Blazers!  Also, your football stub will get 50% off Sunday Brunch at Jessie's Restaurant and Catering on Oct. 6.
 
GALLIMORE'S GRAB
VSU junior Lio'undre Gallimore's tipped ball and catch on his back at Shorter made the fourth-best play in NCAA Division II football from last weekend.  
 
GROUND GAME 
The Blazers set a school-record 446 yards on the ground on Saturday at Shorter.  It marked the ninth-highest rushing output in Gulf South Conference history and was the fourth-highest in NCAA Division II this season.  VSU averaged 9.1 yards per carry and rushed the ball 49 times, scoring four rushing touchdowns.  VSU is seventh nationally and first in the GSC in rushing offense at 286.3 yards per game.
 
TWO OVER 100 
Coupled with the outstanding ground game on Saturday at Shorter, VSU sophomores Jamar Thompkins and Ivory Durham each rushed over 100 yards in the game. Thompkins had a season-high 150 yards on 12 carries for a 12.5 average per carry and one touchdown.  He scored a 65-yarder in the game for his season-best rush.  Durham had a career-best 114 yards on the ground on 10 carries.  Durham had a previous career-best of 113 yards on the ground against Shorter last season.  Saturday marked the first time since Austin Scott and Jake Medlock each had over 100 yards on the ground in 2014 against North Alabama.
 
STRONG IN THE SECOND HALF
This season, the Blazers have outscored the opposition 71-27 in the second half and have held the opponents scoreless in the final half twice, including last weekend against Shorter.  VSU also held Albany State scoreless in the second half in the 38-3 win in the season-opener on Sept. 7.    The Blazers have scored 174 points for the season and average 43.5 points per game for 12th nationally and first in the league.  Conversely, VSU is 17th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 14.5 points per game for second in the GSC behind West Florida at 11.3 points allowed per game.
 
PLAYING WITH THE LEAD
The Blazers have not trailed a single second in all four games thus far this season.  VSU has led for 216:18 minutes of the possible 240 and played with a tied score for 23 minutes and 42 seconds. 
 
NO INTERCEPTIONS 
VSU is one of seven teams in NCAA Division II not having an interception thus far this season as is Mississippi College.  VSU has attempted 122 passes this season and has not thrown an interception since Nov. 3, 2018, at West Florida, as the Blazers have gone 268 pass attempts without an interception dating back to last season.  VSU is second nationally in completion percentage this season at .746 on 91 of 122, while junior quarterback Rogan Wells also is second nationally at a .781 clip on 75 of 96.  The Blazers are 14th nationally in passing efficiency at 169.92 for second in the GSC behind Mississippi College, while holding teams to a 106.89 clip for 34th nationally and second in the league behind Florida Tech for passing efficiency defense.  Wells leads the GSC and is 12th nationally in passing efficiency at 170.1.  
 
GOOD ON THIRD
The Blazers have been better than 45 percent in each game this season on the pivotal down and are 26 of 46  for the season for a 56.5 clip, ranking seventh nationally and first in the GSC.  VSU is holding teams to 18 of 49 on third down for a 36.7 average.
 
FIRST IN THE NATION
The Blazers lead the nation in first downs with 107 this season as the team had a season-high 32 first downs against Shorter on Saturday.  VSU is 23rd nationally in first down defense for second in the league, holding teams to 56 first downs.  Last week, the Blazers allowed just six first downs for the season-best against Shorter.   
 
FROM AIR AND GROUND 
Along with the strong start to the season on the ground, the Blazers also have been solid through the air this season as they are fourth in the GSC in passing offense at 257.8 yards per game.  Wells is 47th nationally and third in the league in passing yards (815), while ranking third in the conference in passing yards per game at 203.8.    
 
CARRYING THE LOAD
Sophomore running back Jamar Thompkins is fifth nationally in rushing yards per carry at 8.09 yards per carry.  He ranks 24th nationally in rushing yards (372) for first in the GSC and he is first in the league in rushing yards per game at 93.0 for 28th nationally.  
 
STRONG TOTALS
The Blazers are third nationally in total offense at 544 yards per game, while ranking ninth in total defense, holding teams to just 236.3 yards per game.   Wells is 37th nationally and second in the league in total offense at 253.8 yards per game.  Sophomore Jamar Thompkins is 71st nationally and first in the GSC in all-purpose yards at 116.5 per game. 
 
WITH THE BOOT
VSU is sixth nationally in net punting at 41.00 yards per game to lead the league.  Redshirt freshman Tyson Shaw had four punts and all of them inside the 20 this past week at Shorter for a career-best.  He has nine punts for 385 yards and a 42.8 average for the season.      
 
WELLS MOVING UP THE CHARTS
Junior quarterback Rogan Wells is fourth in school history in career passing touchdowns with 56, while ranking seventh in rushing touchdowns with 22, fourth in total offense (6,525), eighth in passing yards (5,141) and eighth in completions as he is 390 of 658 (59.3) for his career.  Wells earned All-America honors last season as a sophomore, leading one of the most prolific offensive teams in program history.  He is 22-2 all-time as a starter, while playing in 27 games with 24 starts.
 
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 four games for 40th nationally and second in the GSC.  VSU has a 31-7 lead in points off turnovers for the season.
 
HOLDING ONTO THE BALL
Along with not throwing an interception all season, VSU has turned the ball over just four times this season on four fumbles for 23rd nationally and second in the league.  VSU has gained seven turnovers for second in the league and has a turnover margin of 0.75 for 34th nationally and second in the conference.
 
NO SHUTOUT
VSU leads all of NCAA Division II in the most games without being shutout at 332 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 427 games.
 
THE GARY GOFF RADIO SHOW AT SALTY SNAPPER
This season, head coach Gary Goff will have The Gary Goff Radio Show at The Salty Snapper Restaurant in Valdosta each Monday evening from 7-8 p.m.  Matt Malone will be the host of the show as it will be broadcast on Newstalk 105.9 FM.  Come out to The Salty Snapper for prizes and a 15% discount during the show for all The Gary Goff Radio Show guests.  Listen to Goff talk about the 2019 Blazer football season.
 
NEW FACE IN THE BOOTH
Blazer fans will hear a new voice in the radio booth for the football team this season as long time football coach Wade Beale replaces VSU color analyst Scott James this season.  Spencer Van Horn will handle play-by-play duties for the Blazers for the second year in a row, and now will partner with Beale for home and away games on 92.1 WDDQ FM.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for links to broadcasts all season long.
 
THE GARY GOFF SHOW
In addition to The Gary Goff Radio Show, the Blazers will continue the tradition of The Gary Goff Show following each game this season.  The Gary Goff Show will be hosted by Spencer Van Horn following each game and selected players also will appear on the show.  Fans can access The Gary Goff Show each Sunday at vstateblazers.com on the football page.  There also will be links via social media for it each Sunday. Jamie Abbot of Crash & Annie Productions produces The Gary Goff Show following each game.
 
GETTING IN THE END ZONE
Wells has thrown 56 touchdown passes in his career and has played in 27 games.  He threw at least one touchdown pass in all 14 games last season and has a string of 23-straight games with a touchdown pass.  Of his 27 games played, he has only not rushed or passed for a touchdown in one game.  Wells is 22-2 as a starting quarterback for the Blazers.  He had his first touchdown reception in the national championship game against Ferris State last December and caught his second against West Alabama (Sept. 21).   
 
AND THEN THERE WERE TWO 
Valdosta State and Truman State (Mo.) are the only two schools in NCAA Division II who have not trailed a single second this season.  There are 25 undefeated teams remaining in NCAA Division II through four weeks of the season.  Truman State plays at home to Southwest Baptist (Mo.) this weekend.    
 
ABOUT MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE
The Choctaws are 2-2 on the year and 1-1 in GSC play after a heartbreaking 27-21 loss to West Florida last weekend.  The Choctaws are fifth nationally in fewest penalties with just 15, while ranking 22nd in fewest penalties per game (5.00) and 37th in fewest penalty yards per game at 48.67 for second in the GSC.  MC is second nationally in passing yards per completion at 25.77, while ranking eighth nationally in punt returns (21.0) and the team is one of 12 teams who have converted each time in the red zonethis season.  MC is third nationally in passing efficiency at 202.00, while ranking 13th nationally in tackles for loss allowed at 4.00.  Like Wells, MC quarterback Detric Hawthorn has been strong this season under center running the option.  Jaylin Jones is fourth in the GSC in rushing touchdowns with four, while Ja'Mori Mark is sixth with three.  Jones' four total touchdowns ranks him fourth in the conference also. 
  
A VICTORY OVER MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE WOULD . . .

• Give VSU a 5-0 record to start the season for the 10th time in program history
• Continue the longest winning streak in school history and currently in NCAA Division II (20 games)
• Give VSU a 4-2 record all-time on Oct. 5
• Give VSU a 24-6 record as the top-ranked team in the country
• Be the 299th win all-time in program history and the 195th in GSC history
• Be the first win of Goff's VSU career during the day
• Be the 11th-straight home victory for the Blazers