SETTING THE SCENE
The top-ranked Valdosta State football team hosts No. 20 West Florida for the second time in four weeks in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Division II Football Playoffs Saturday at 1 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.  VSU won the previous meeting on Nov. 9, 2019, 26-21. 
 
ROAD TO MCKINNEY STARTS HERE
VSU begins its 2019 NCAA Division II playoffs at home with Gulf South Conference rival West Florida in the second round of the playoffs.  This marks the first time since Nov. 28, 2015, in a 27-20 loss to West Georgia in Carrollton, VSU has played a conference foe in the playoffs.  The 2015 game also was in the second round.  VSU is 3-7 all-time in the NCAA Tournament against teams from the GSC and 1-3 against current members of the GSC.  The Blazers have won four-straight playoff games, each coming last season en route to the program's fourth national championship.  VSU is 26-12 all-time in the NCAA Championship with titles in 2004, 2007, 20102 and 2018.  The 26 wins in the NCAA postseason ranks fifth-most all-time in NCAA Division II and third-most among current D2 institutions.  If the Blazers were to beat West Florida, they would host the winner of the No. 2-seed Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Carson-Newman game on Saturday, Dec. 7.  The winner of that game would then await to see if it would host the Dec. 14 National Semifinal round matchup as the four remaining teams are reseeded for the Dec. 14 games.  The 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship is scheduled for Dec. 21 and broadcast on ESPNU.  
 
STREAKS
VSU won its Gulf South Conference record 25th-straight game, with a 42-14 win at West Georgia on Nov. 16, for its fourth undefeated season in school history and the eighth Gulf South Conference title.  Along with the 255-straight wins, VSU has won 13-straight home games with the win over West Florida on Nov. 9.  The 13-straight home victories are second-most currently in NCAA Division II behind Lenoir-Rhyne, while the Blazers have won 21-straight regular season wins for third all-time in the GSC.  North Alabama (1993-96) is second with 22-straight regular season wins, while 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 eighth Gulf South Conference title with a 42-14 win at West Georgia on Nov. 16 as the team rushed for five touchdowns, tying its season-high.  VSU tallied 325 yards on the ground, marking the fourth time of rushing for over 300 yards in a game this season.  Sophomore running back Jamar Thompkins had 129 yards on the ground on nine carries with three rushing touchdowns to lead the team.  Defensively, VSU held UWG to just 16 yards rushing and 390 total yards, while stopping the Wolves four times in the red zone.  Sophomore defensive lineman Thomas Incoom and sophomore linebacker Jackson Bull were all over the backfield as they combined for 4.5 sacks for 32 yards and five tackles for loss for 33 yards and two forced fumbles in the game.  VSU tallied a season-high six sacks in the game for 37 yards and seven tackles for loss for 39 yards.  
 
HOW TO CATCH THE GAME 
The game will be streamed through VSU and radio coverage can be heard in Valdosta 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  THE ALL-CONFERNECE TEAMS
VSU had a league-best 13 players named to the 2019 Gulf South All-Conference Teams, while junior quarterback Rogan Wells was named GSC Offensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season and first year head coach Gary Goff was named Co-GSC Coach of the Year, sharing the honor with Mississippi College's head coach John Bland.  Wells also earned first team all-league honors at quarterback, highlighting six first team all-league selections on offense.  Along with Wells, Thompkins, sophomore all-purpose back Seth McGill, junior wide receiver Brian Saunds, and senior offensive linemen Brandon Kemp and Adonis Sealey all earned first team offensive honors.  Saunds also was named first team return specialist.  On defense, Incoom earned first team honors and junior linebacker Stephon Williams also was a first team selection.  VSU had two second team all-conference offensive selections in junior wide receiver Lio'undre Gallimore and junior offensive lineman Ralph Singleton, while having two defensive selections in junior defensive back Cory Roberts and senior linebacker Dalton Mydell.  Sophomore kicker Fernando Ramirez also earned second team honors for special teams.  
 
SEALEY NAMED FINALIST FOR PRESTIGIOUS GENE UPSHAW AWARD
The finalists for the prestigious Gene Upshaw Lineman of the Year Award were announced last week and VSU senior offensive lineman Adonis Sealey was named one of eight finalists.  This marks the second-straight year VSU has had a finalist for the award as former Blazer center Jeremy King was national runner-up for the award last season.  Sealey, a native of Hamer, S.C., has started 24 games on the offensive line in two years for the Blazers, helping the team to a Gulf South Conference and school-record 25-game winning streak.  Sealey anchors an offensive line that is fourth national in total offense at 523.2 yards per game and has the league's leading rusher in sophomore Jamar Thompkins.  Sealey has earned GSC First Team All-Conference honors in both of his years in Titletown and earned multiple All-America honors last season.  He is a member of the GSC Academic Honor Roll and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors this season.  Sealey also is member of the Valdosta State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
 
WELLS NOMINATED FOR HARLON HILL AWARD
Coming off a national runner-up finish as a sophomore in the 2018 Harlon Hill Award, junior quarterback Rogan Wells has had another outstanding season for the Blazers as he is 28-2 all-time as a starting quarterback and has played in 33 games with 30 starts.  He is eighth all-time in school history in rushing yards (1,910), fifth in rushing touchdowns (25), sixth in career completions (520), tied for third in passing touchdowns (67) and second all-time in school history in total offense with 8,705 yards. He is tied for eighth all-time in GSC history in passing touchdowns and ninth in total offense, while his 88.5 completion percentage this season at Albany State is tenth all-time in GSC history and his 71.7 completion percentage for the season (190 of 265) is good for fourth in the GSC currently, while it is fourth nationally for 2019.  This season he is 13th nationally in passing efficiency at 163.2, 23rd in completions per game at 19.00 and 17th in yards per pass attempt at 8.74 to lead the conference in each category.  He is third in the league in passing yards (2,315) for 41st nationally, while ranking second in the conference in passing yards per game at a 231.5 clip for 33rd nationally.  Wells is second in the league and 38th nationally in points responsible for with 144.  He is third in the league in rushing yards (680) and third in rushing yards per game (68.0).  Wells is ninth nationally and leads the conference in total offense at 299.5 yards per game.  He is 190 of 265 passing with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions on the year, while recording 80 carries for 680 yards and six touchdowns
 
BLAZER CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP APPAREL 
Valdosta State Blazer fans can now purchase official Gulf South Conference Championship apparel at the GSC Football Champions Team Store through December 4, 2019. Fans can visit vstateblazers.com on the football page to be taken to the GSC Football Champions page to purchase either long sleeve or short sleeve shirts with the VSU GSC Champions logo on the shirt.  The shop runs through December 4, 2019, so hurry and purchase your official GSC Championship shirt now!
 
PLAYING WITH THE LEAD
The Blazers have had a majority of lead time in every game but one this season and have trailed in just two games all season.  The Blazers have led for an astonishing 487:23 minutes this season out of the 600 minutes played, while being tied for 69:21 and trailing for just 43:16.  VSU led for all of 47 seconds in the 42-17 victory over Mississippi College on Oct. 5.  Conversely, VSU led for just 6:23 in a 20-15 win at North Greenville on Oct. 26.  The Blazers lead the GSC and are ninth nationally in time of possession this season averaging 32:56 minutes per game.  
 
THE NUMBER 20
This marks the third time this season VSU has played a team with the number 20 next to its name.  VSU defeated then-No. 20 West Alabama 44-27 on Sept. 14 and then downed No. 20 West Florida 26-21 on Nov. 9.  West Florida enters Saturday's matchup also at No. 20.  
 
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
The Blazers are 2-0 this season against ranked teams with the wins over West Alabama and West Florida, while they are 65-59-2 all-time against ranked teams.  The Blazers are 35-25-1 all-time at home against ranked teams and have won their last six meetings against ranked teams at home and eight-straight over ranked teams overall.
 
A VICTORY OVER WEST FLORIDA WOULD  . . .

• Give VSU a perfect 11-0 record for the fourth time in program history and mark the eighth time VSU has won 11 or more games in a season in program history
• Give VSU its 26th-straight victory and move into a tie for 10th all-time in NCAA Division II and a tie for seventh among current Division II institutions
• Give VSU a 2-1 record all-time on Nov. 30 as the Blazers won versus Carson-Newman in Valdosta in 2002 (31-28) and lost at Carson-Newman 24-19 in 1996. 
• Give VSU a 30-6 record as the top-ranked team in the country
• Be the 305th win all-time in program history and the 66th in the month of November
• Give VSU a 5-0 record all-time against West Florida
• Be the 14th-straight home win for the Blazers
• Be the 27th victory in the NCAA playoffs for the Blazers (26-12) and the fifth-straight NCAA postseason victory
• Get VSU to the quarterfinal round for the tenth time in program history
• Give VSU a 2-3 record against current Gulf South Conference foes in the NCAA Playoff

 
ABOUT WEST FLORIDA 
The Argos enter winners of two-straight, including a 38-17 win at No. 16 Wingate on Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.  In the game, UWF used a 31-0 run after surrendering an early field goal for a 31-3 lead through three quarters.  UWF held a 360-264 advantage in total yards on a wet day, while redshirt freshman quarterback Austin Reed went 8 of 26 for 165 yards and tossed three touchdowns.  Anthony Johnson had 109 yards and a score on 19 carries on the ground and Tate Lehtio had five receptions for 81 yards and a score.  Quentin Randolph had two receptions for 63 yards and two touchdowns.  On defense, UWF's Henry Montgomery had a career-high 11 tackles.  TUWF qualified for its second NCAA postseason in the program's four-year history.  The Argos reached the national championship game in 2017, falling to Texas A&M-Commerce 37-27.  UWF is 5-1 all-time in the NCAA postseason.  This season the Argos had 11 selections to the GSC All-Conference Teams as Reed was named Offensive Freshman of the Year.  Freshman running back Shomari Mason, along with Lehtio, offensive tackle Samuel Antoine, defensive lineman Ian Bush and senior defensive back Trent Archie earned first team all-conference honors this season.  Utility player De'Marco Artis also earned first team all-conference honors for special teams. 
 
GOOD ON THIRD
The Blazers are second nationally this season on third down conversions at a 52.6 percent clip on 61 of 116, while ranking 26th nationally on third down conversion defense, holding teams to a 30.7 clip for second in the GSC on 39 of 127.  
 
SEEING THE TARGET
The Blazers are fifth nationally in completion percentage at a 69.8 percent clip on 208 of 298 for the year.  Junior quarterback Rogan Wells is fourth nationally in completion percentage at a 71.7 clip on 190 of 265.  He leads the GSC and is 16th nationally in yards per pass attempt (8.74), while he is 24th nationally in completions per game (24.00) for tops in the league.  Wells is 12th nationally in passing efficiency (163.2) for first in the league.  
 
FIRST DOWN BLAZERS
The Blazers are 14th nationally and first in the GSC in first down defense, holding teams to 165 first downs to lead the league.  VSU also leads the league in first down offense with 251 first downs for 25th nationally.  
 
PRODUCTIVE OFFENSE
The Blazers are fourth nationally in total offense at 523.2 yards per game to lead the GSC, while the team is 20th nationally in scoring offense at 39.3 points per game.  VSU is eighth nationally in rushing offense at 269.6 yards per game, while ranking second in the league in passing yards per game at 253.6 for 34th nationally.  
 
STRONG ON DEFENSE
The Blazers are 23rd nationally in total defense, holding teams to 299.2 yards per game, while the defense is holding teams to 123.2 yards on the ground for 39th nationally and second in the GSC.  VSU is 26th nationally in passing yards allowed for fourth in the league at 176.0 per game.  The Blazers are holding teams to a 69.0 clip in the red zone for second in the league and 25th nationally.  West Florida leads the league in red zone defense at a 64.5 clip. 
 
BLOCKING BLAZERS
This season, the Blazer offensive line has been outstanding as it is allowing 0.8 sacks per game for seventh nationally and first in the league.  The Blazers have allowed just eight sacks for 50 yards.  Also, VSU is allowing just 4.2 tackles for loss per game for second in the GSC behind West Florida (3.82) and sixth nationally. 
 
TAKING CARE OF THE PIGSKIN
VSU is 20th nationally and second in the GSC in fewest turnovers this season with just 13 on the year.  VSU is tenth nationally in passes had intercepted (5) and has lost just eight fumbles this year.  
 
ALL-PURPOSE THOMPKINS
Sophomore running back Jamar Thompkins leads the GSC in all-purpose yards at 123.8 for 44th nationally, while he leads the GSC in rushing yards (872) for 55th nationally.  He is 46th in rushing yards per game for tops in the GSC at 87.2 yards per game, while he is third in the GSC in rushing touchdowns with 10.  He leads the league in scoring at 7.2 points per game for 64th nationally. 
 
TO THE WELLS
Junior quarterback Rogan Wells is moving up the charts in numerous career school and GSC records.  He is eighth all-time in school history in rushing yards (1,910), fifth in rushing touchdowns (25), sixth in career completions (520), tied for third in passing touchdowns (67) and second all-time in school history in total offense with 8,705 yards.  Wells is tied for eighth all-time in GSC history in passing touchdowns and ninth in total offense, while his 88.5 completion percentage this season at Albany State is tenth all-time in GSC history and his 71.7 completion percentage for the season (190 of 265) is good for fourth in the GSC currently. Wells is third in the GSC in rushing yards with 680, while he has six rushing touchdowns on the year and is tenth nationally in total offense at 299.5 yards per game.  Wells is 40th nationally and second in the league in points responsible for with 144.  
 
STANDOUT SAUNDS
Junior wide returner and return specialist Brian Saunds is third in the GSC in all-purpose yards at 100.1, while he is 22nd nationally and first in the league in punt returns as he earned first team all-conference honors as both a wide receiver and a returner.  Saunds leads the conference in receiving yards with 867 for 40th nationally, while he is 25th nationally and first in the league in receiving yards per game at 86.7.  He also leads the league in receptions per game at 5.0 per contest.  Saunds set the school-record earlier this season with 246 receiving yards on ten catches on Homecoming against Florida Tech (Oct. 19).   It marked the third-most receiving yards this season in NCAA Division II to that point.     
 
UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY
The Blazers found themselves in unfamiliar territory trailing 9-0 at halftime at North Greenville on Oct. 26.  It marked the first time VSU had trailed at the half since the season-opener in 2017, while marking the first time since Oct. 7, 2017, the team hadn't scored in either the first or second half.  Despite all of that and a steady rain on-and-off throughout the game, the Blazers dug deep and found a way for the victory.
 
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 304-126-4 (.702) since football began in 1982 for an average of 7.9 wins per year.  VSU has won double-digit games 11 times now and its 30th winning season in program history.
 
EIGHTH CONFERENCE TITLE
Nov. 16 marked the Blazers eighth conference title with a 42-14 win at West Georgia.  The Blazers earned a share of the conference title in the 26-21 win over West Florida on Nov. 2, but won back-to-back outright conference titles with the victory at UWG.  The back-to-back titles are the first for VSU since 2001-02.  The eight titles are the most in GSC history among current programs and the third-most all-time in the history of the league.  
 
THOMPSON AND MCGILL X3
This season, VSU running back duo of Jamar Thompkins and Seth McGill have each had games of three rushing touchdowns.  Thompkins has two game of three rushing scores in the win against Mississippi College (Oct. 5) and at West Georgia (Nov. 16), while McGill had his first against Florida Tech on Oct. 19.  McGill leads the GSC in rushing touchdowns with 11 for 35th nationally, while Thompkins is third in the league with ten. 
 
QUICK STARTS
This season, the Blazers have jumped out to big leads early in games as VSU is 8-0 when scoring first this season and has outscored the opposition 226-91 in the first half.  VSU has outscored teams 226-91 in the first half.  The Blazers also have been strong in the second half, holding teams scoreless in three games in the second half this season, including at West Georgia on Nov. 16.  VSU has outscored the opposition 167-75 in the second half.
 
GOOD EYES ROBERTS
Junior defensive back Cory Roberts tallied two key interceptions in the Blazers' 20-15 win over North Greenville on Oct. 26.  It was Roberts' third and fourth interceptions of the season to lead the team as he is 38th nationally and second in the GSC in interceptions per game at 0.4.  He has five interceptions for his career at VSU.
 
WRECKING HAVOC IN THE BACKFIELD
VSU tallied a season-high six sacks for 37 yards in the 42-14 win at West Georgia on Nov. 16. The Blazers had seven tackles for loss in the game for 39 yards, while forcing three turnovers, including two fumble recoveries and one interception.  Sophomore  Thomas Incoom had 2.5 sacks for 18 yards and three tackles for loss for 19 yards and two forced fumbles in the game.  Sophomore Jackson Bull had two sacks and two tackles for loss for 14 yards in the game.
 
A LOOK AT THE COACHES
VSU head coach Gary Goff is 1-0 against West Florida with the 26-21 win on Nov. 9.  Goff is 10-0 at VSU this season as he earned GSC Co-Coach of the Year honors this year.  UWF head coach Pete Shinnick is 1-4 all-time against VSU, but did win in a game against VSU when he was the head coach at UNC Pembroke in 2013.  
 
THE TOP TWO TEAMS IN THE GSC
VSU and UWF were the top two teams in the GSC this season in a number of statistical categories.  VSU is the top ranked team in the league with West Florida second in third down conversions (52.6-48.9), first down offense (251-237), sacks allowed (0.80-1.00), scoring offense (39.3-35.5), and passing efficiency (160.08-147.61).  UWF leads the league with VSU second in tackles for loss allowed (3.82-4.20) and passing efficiency defense (104.07-108.25).  Individually, VSU quarterback Rogan Wells and UWF hurler Austin Reed are the top two in the GSC in numerous areas.  Wells is tops in the league in passing efficiency (163.2-148.8), while Reed is second.  Reed leads the league in passing touchdowns (27-17), passing yards per game (237.2-231.5) and points responsible for (198-144) between Wells and Reed.  Reed leads the league in just about every passing category this season overall.  Wells leads in total offense (299.5-251.7) between the two standout quarterbacks.  
 
THE WINNER WILL . . .
Whomever wins the game will advance to the NCAA Quarterfinal and will face the winner of the No. 2-seed Lenoir-Rhyne vs. Carson-Newman game on Dec. 7, 2019.  If VSU were to win against UWF, the game would be played in Valdosta for sure.  If UWF wins, it would depend on the outcome of the LR vs. C-N game to decide who would host.