SETTING THE SCENE
The No. 2 Blazers return home for the Peach Basket Game and the new Red Clay Rivalry against No. 3 West Georgia Saturday evening at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in a battle of top three teams.  This marks the second ranked versus ranked game of the season for the Blazers as VSU downed then-No. 10 West Alabama 42-17 in Livingston, Ala., on Oct. 16.  VSU enters as the only undefeated team in Gulf South Conference play with a 7-0 record overall and a 4-0 mark in league play.  UWG is 7-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play with its only blemish being a 38-20 loss to West Alabama in Carrollton, Ga., on Oct. 2.  This matchup has major conference championship and regional postseason seeding implications with just three weeks to play in the season.
 
FLOSPORTS
The Gulf South Conference signed a league-wide, four-year agreement with FloSports to broadcast all GSC football games beginning this fall.  With this new GSC package, all VSU football livestream broadcasts will be available exclusively through FloSports. Fans can purchase a monthly membership for $19.99 or an annual subscription for $150 ($12.50/month).  The yearly membership is a saving of nearly $90.  Subscribe to FloSports at www.flosports.tv/gulfsouth.  The membership will include:

 
THIS WEEK IN THE GSC 
Looking into the four games in the GSC this week, all eyes will be on Valdosta this weekend with this matchup, while No. 5-ranked West Florida travels to Mississippi College.  West Alabama visits North Greenville and Shorter travels to Delta State.  The Blazers are 4-0 in league play, while West Georgia is 4-1 and West Florida is 3-1.  West Alabama sits at 3-2 for teams who are above .500 in conference play this season.
 
CALLING TODAY'S GAME
TALK 92.1 FM will broadcast the Blazer games all season long with Spencer Van Horn and Wade Beale having the call of the games.  Fans also can access the broadcast at www.talk921.com.  This season with the addition of FloSports, Dave Garner will provide play-by-play coverage on the video broadcast of the home games for FloSports, while Taylor Biddle will be the color analyst.  
 
FIRST NCAA REGION RANKINGS RELEASED 
Monday saw the NCAA release its first regional rankings as VSU leads Super Region Two, while Bowie State (Md.) is second, followed by Albany State, West Georgia and West Florida round out the top five.  Wingate is sixth, while Mars Hill is seventh, followed by Newberry, West Alabama and Fayetteville State is tenth.  There will be two more public rankings each of the next two Monday's and then the NCAA Division II Football Championship field is scheduled to be unveiled Sunday, Nov. 14 on NCAA.com.  The playoffs begin Nov. 20 and conclude with the NCAA Division II National Championship scheduled for Dec. 18 in McKinney, Texas, at McKinney ISD Stadium.  VSU won the national championship there in 2018 with a thrilling 49-47 victory over Ferris State for VSU's fourth national title.  The Gulf South Conference has had a team in the national championship each of the past four championships and are 2-2 with wins by VSU ('18) and West Florida ('19).
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH WEST GEORGIA
The Blazers lead the all-time series with West Georgia 26-13 and have won the past two meetings, including a 42-14 victory in 2019 in the regular season finale in Carrollton.  VSU has won three of the past five meetings and six of the past ten.  VSU is 12-4 all-time n Valdosta against the Wolves and won in 2018 with a 47-31 victory to claim the outright GSC title, the seventh in program history at the time, in the regular season finale for both teams.  In that matchup, UWG was ranked third nationally and VSU was fifth nationally with both teams undefeated heading into the finale.  UWG's last win in Valdosta came in the playoffs on Dec. 6, 2014, with a 31-17 loss in the regional final.  VSU has won six-straight regular season meetings against UWG in Titletown.
 
THE PEACH BASKET SERIES / RED CLAY RIVALRY
VSU and West Georgia play annually for the Peach Basket as it has been the mainstay trophy in the series and VSU leads 26-11 in the regular season series as UWG won two matchups in the NCAA postseason in 2014 and 2015, after the regular season meetings.  Starting in 2021-22, the schools announced earlier this week the creation of the Red Clay Rivalry between the two schools where each sport both schools sponsor will count towards the Red Clay Rivalry Trophy and the "winning school" of the annual regular season meetings will be announced each May.  Both schools sponsor 11 of the same sports and this season so far VSU holds a 2-0 lead with wins in both cross country conference championships (golf and cross country use conference championship to count).  UWG won the first meeting in volleyball in Valdosta in September, but if the teams play twice in the regular season or three times in baseball/softball, to win the "point" the school has to win the series or in the case of two meetings if they split, each gets a half a point.  In the next two weeks, both women's soccer and volleyball will meet in Carrollton.  The Peach Basket isn't going away, the Red Clay Rivalry is to include all sports in the series, including football.  The website for the rivalry and trophy ideas are being created now.  Check back with vstateblazers.com for further updates. 
 
BOO! TRICK-OR-TREAT WITH THE BLAZERS
Valdosta State Athletics and VSU's student life are set to host Trick-or-Treat with VSU prior to the game Saturday evening.  Fans will be able to make special memories with their families by trick-or-treating with VSU before the game.  Follow the Blazer Trail of Treats (click on the map to the right of this story) to all stations to collect candy and the chance to win a Family 4-Pack of Wild Adventures Tickets during halftime. Junior Blazers also are encouraged to dress in a costume or Blazer Spirit apparel, trick-or-treat, and run the field before kickoff.  To learn more about the event, visit Valdosta State Athletics' Facebook Page.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BLAZERS
In one of the strangest games of the season, VSU posted a 41-14 victory at Mississippi College last week for the 21st-straight regular season conference victory and has won 28-straight regular season victories overall since the final game of 2017.  VSU has won 32 of its last 33 games and 35 of its last 37 dating back to 2017.  From the Shorter game in the 2017 finale through the heartbreaking 38-35 loss to West Florida in the NCAA Second Round in 2019, VSU set a GSC record for consecutive victories with 25.  Last Saturday at Mississippi College, neither team punted in the contest while the VSU "D" held MC to no passing yards and no completions in the game (0-7-1).  VSU junior defensive back Taurus Dotson had his third interception of the season.  The Blazers had a season-low 107 yards passing, but outgained the Choctaws on the ground with 379 yards rushing for a staggering 9.2 average per carry.  MC entered the game allowing 132.3 yards per game on the ground.  MC was fourth nationally in rushing offense and VSU outrushed the Choctaws by 34 yards.  VSU junior running back Seth McGill had 112 yards on the ground and two scores, while junior quarterback Ivory Durham had seven rushes for 87 yards and a score.  He went 9 of 18 passing for 97 yards in the game.  Junior running back Jamar Thompkins had nine carries for 78 yards and a score as VSU posted five rushing touchdowns in the game marking the second time that has happened this season (at Virginia Union/Sept. 11).  The Blazer defense held MC to 1 of 4 on fourth down and was led by ten tackles each from sophomore Jaylen Jackson and junior Julian Baldi.  VSU recorded two sacks and three tackles for loss in the game, along with the interception and one fumble recovery on the last play of the game.
 
MCGILL TABBED GSC PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR THE SECOND TIME
Blazer junior running back Seth McGill was named GSC Player of the Week for the second time following his 112 yards and two scores at Mississippi College last week.  He eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground for the fourth time this season and the fifth time in his career.  He had a pair of four-yard touchdown runs in the second half as VSU built a 27-0 and a 34-0 lead.  The two scores gave his 31 career rushing touchdowns and 192 career points as he sits just six points shy of breaking into the top ten all-time in scoring in school history.  The two rushing scores marked the seventh time in his career of two touchdowns in a game, while the 31 career rushing scores puts him fourth all-time in program history.  For the season, McGill has a team-high 94 carries for 717 yards and eight rushing scores as he is averaging 102.4 yards per game.  He has eight catches for 45 yards on the year as well.  He earned GSC Player of the Week honors on Oct. 11 for his career-high 190-yard outing against Delta State on Oct. 9.  This marked McGill's third weekly honor of his career.
 
33 WINNING SEASONS
With the victory on Saturday at West Alabama, the Blazers now have clinched their 33rd winning seasons in the 39-year history of football at VSU.  The Blazers are 311-127-4 all-time and have had 21-straight winning seasons dating back to 2000.  
 
TRHOUGH THE AIR AND ON THE GROUND
The Blazers have alternated which attack has been more dominant each game throughout the season.  Against West Alabama, the Blazers put up 341 yards through the air for a season-high, while against Mississippi College last week they put up 379 on the ground for the fourth time of rushing for over 300 yards this season.  VSU had a season-high 401 yards rushing in the 55-0 victory over Delta State (Oct. 9).  Individually, Thompkins has four games of rushing over 100 yards this season, while Thompkins has two over 100 and Durham has one.  Graduate student Lio'undre Gallimore has two games with over 100 receiving yards this season, while fellow graduate student Brian Saunds has one game of over 100 yard receiving this season. 
 
FIRST IN THE NATION
The Blazers are among nine teams who lead the nation in fumbles lost with just one on the season and the only team in the GSC.  VSU leads the nation in kickoff returns at 32.00 yards per return, while the team is tops in the nation in passing yards allowed at a 102.3 clip.  VSU also leads the nation in passing efficiency defense, holding teams to a 77.23 clip.  The Blazers are second nationally in sacks allowed at 0.14 per game and just one sack given up all season, while the team is second in scoring defense at 8.7 points allowed per game.  VSU is third nationally in scoring offense at 44.6 points per game to lead the GSC.  Individually, senior Mondrell Jefferson leads the nation in fumbles recovered with four, while junior running back Seth McGill is second nationally in rush yards per carry at a 7.63 clip. 
 
ONLY TRAILED 8:30
The Blazers were the last team in NCAA Division II to trail in a game this season as UWA scored two touchdowns in the first quarter Oct. 16.  The Blazers trailed for 8:30 in the game as they quickly erased the deficit with two scores in a span of 2:33 seconds late in the first quarter to tie the game.  From the moment it was 14-0 UWA with 8:14 left in the first quarter, VSU outscored the Tigers 42-3 the rest of the way for a 42-17 victory.  
 
. . . AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR
Being the month of Halloween, it's only fitting there was a lot of red in the AFCA Division II Top 25 a week ago as eight teams in the top 25 lost, including the top two teams in the country in then-No. 1 West Florida and then-No. 2 Northwest Missouri State.  Moreover, eight previously undefeated teams lost and a total of seven teams in the top ten lost.  VSU moved from fourth to second last week in the AFCA Top 25 and from third to second in the D2Football.com Top 25.  VSU stayed at No. 2 in both the polls this week as Colorado School of Mines became the latest previously unbeaten team to lose as it dropped a key Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference matchup with Colorado Mesa.  Ferris State, VSU, California (Pa.) and Bentley are the remaining four unbeaten teams in NCAA Division II.
 
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
VSU is second nationally in turnovers lost (4) for tops in the GSC.  Assumption leads the nation with just three lost turnovers, while the Blazers are 42nd nationally and second in the GSC in turnovers gained (15).  VSU is fourth nationally and tops in the league in turnover margin at 1.57 per game.  VSU has six interceptions for the season and nine fumble recoveries.  
 
DEFENSE SCORES
The Blazers recorded their fourth defensive touchdown this season with a 47-yard pick-six in the third quarter at West Alabama on Oct. 16, by junior defensive back Taurus Dotson. The Blazers are fourth nationally in defensive touchdowns as Bowie State leads the nation with six.  VSU has two fumble recoveries for touchdowns from senior Mondrell Jefferson and pick-six interceptions from graduate transfer Christian Matthew (Oct. 2 vs. Shorter) and Dotson at UWA.  Senior defensive lineman Arrington Dulin also has a safety this season in the season-opener against Savannah State (Sept. 4).  VSU has outscored the opposition 55-7 in points off turnovers this season.
 
MCGILL 2,000
Junior running back Seth McGill has been a strong part of a two-headed running attack this season for the Blazers.  He is second nationally and tops in the GSC in rushing yards per carry at a blistering 7.63 average, while he is tops in the GSC in rushing touchdowns with eight, which is good for 19th nationally.  McGill leads the GSC in rushing yards (717) and rushing yards per game (102.4), which are good for 28th and 20th, respectively, nationally.  McGill hit the 2,000 career yard mark on Oct. 16 as he now has played in 32 games with five starts, while recording 2,112 career rushing yards on 334 carries and 31 rushing touchdowns.  He has 51 catches for 390 yards and one receiving score, while recording 2,768 all-purpose yards.  McGill is eighth in school history in career rushing yards, while his 31 rushing touchdowns puts him fourth all-time in school history.  Against Delta State on Oct. 9, McGill ran for a career-high 190 yards and a score as the 190 yards marked the tenth-most rushing yards in a game by a Blazer in school history.
 
THOMPKINS MOVING UP
Just as McGill has had a solid start to the season, so has Jamar Thompkins as he has 72 carries for 527 yards and six rushing touchdowns, while averaging 7.3 yards per carry.  He is fifth nationally in yards per carry this season and second in the GSC behind McGill.  He has 26 rushing touchdowns for his career to tie for fifth all-time in school history.  Thompkins' 2,806 career yards are good for seventh all-time in school history.  He needs 209 yards to tie Austin Scott (2012-15) for sixth all-time with 3,015 yards.  Thompkins has 333 career carries and has 30 catches for 268 yards and two touchdown receptions, while he has 12 kick returns for 307 yards.  Thompkins has 3,381 all-purpose yards in 32 games played and 24 starts.  This season, Thompkins is fourth in the GSC rushing touchdowns (6), while he is third in rushing yards (527) and fourth in rushing yards per game (75.3).
 
SPEEDY SAUNDS
Graduate student Brian Saunds, who was named GSC Co-Offensive Player of the Week against West Alabama, has had an outstanding career for the red and black as he has played in 41 games with 32 starts for his career.  Saunds has 139 receptions for 2,320 yards and 24 touchdown receptions.  He has 54 punt returns for 556 yards and one kick return for 30 yards.  Saunds also is 2 for 2 in passing for ten yards and a touchdown.  His 2,320 receiving yards are good for seventh all-time in program history, while his 24 receiving touchdowns also are good for seventh at VSU tied with current teammate Lio'undre Gallimore.  Saunds averages 10.3 yards per punt return for eighth all-time in school history.
 
BIG GRAB GALLIMORE
Graduate student Lio'undre Gallimore has had a heck of a career for the Blazers as he has played in 37 games with 32 starts, while recording 116 receptions for 2,199 yards and 24 receiving touchdowns.  He has 12 kick returns for 359 yards and one touchdown, while recording 2,545 all-purpose yards for his career.  Gallimore's 2,199 yards receiving are good for eighth in program history.  He had his first career kick return for a touchdown against Delta State (Oct. 9, 2021).  Gallimore is 18th nationally this season in receiving touchdowns to lead the league (8), while he is fifth in the GSC in receiving yards (514) and is averaging 73.4 yards per game for fifth in the league.  Gallimore is fifth in the GSC in all-purpose yards at 108.29 per game, while he is fourth in the GSC in total points scored (54) and fifth in scoring at 7.7 points per game for 40th nationally.  Gallimore's nine total touchdowns this season is good for 30th nationally and tops in the league.
 
STOUT DEFENSIVELY
The Blazers are second in the GSC and 43rd nationally in third down defense holding teams to a 0.324 clip on the pivotal down, while the team is 28th nationally and third in the GSC in first down defense, allowing 122 fresh set of downs this season.  VSU leads the nation in passing yards allowed (102.3), while it is second nationally in punt return defense at a -0.38 clip.  VSU also leads the nation in red zone defense at a 0.412 clip, while it is second in scoring defense allowing 8.7 points per game and tops the nation in passing efficiency defense at 77.23.  VSU is second in the GSC and 23rd nationally in sacks at 3.14 per game, while the Blazers lead the GSC and are 19th nationally in total defense at 280.4 yards allowed per game.  Christian Matthew leads the GSC and is seventh nationally in passes defended at 1.7 per game, while Taurus Dotson is fourth in the GSC at 1.0 per contest.      
 
YOU GOT MOSSED
Senior linebacker Nick Moss leads the team with 68 total tackles and 36 solo stops.  He has three tackles for loss for 19 yards, two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery on the year.  Moss is 30th nationally and tops in the GSC in solo tackles at 5.1 per game, while he is 22nd nationally and also leads the league in total tackles per game at a 9.7 clip.  Moss has recorded double-digit tackles in four of the six games he has played thus far this season.
 
WHERE THE BLAZERS STAND OFFENSIVELY
Not only do the Blazers have a stout defense, but also a strong offense as are fourth nationally in total offense at 492.4 yards per game.  VSU is 17th nationally and tops in the GSC in red zone offense, while it is sixth nationally and second in the league in rushing offense at 276.0 yards per game.  VSU is third nationally and tops in the GSC in scoring offense at 44.6 points per game, while the Blazers are 13th nationally in third down percentage at a 0.506 clip for fourth in the GSC.  VSU is 19th nationally in passing yards per completion at 14.71 for third in the league, while they it has allowed just one sack on the season for second nationally in sacks allowed (0.14).  
 
GOFF HITS 50 CAREER VICTORIES
VSU third-year head coach Gary Goff hit 50 career coaching victories with the 53-7 win over Savannah State on Sept. 4.  Goff now is 56-50 in his 11th season of coaching. Prior to VSU, he coached nine years at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio.  Goff is 17-1 during his time at VSU.
 
GARY GOFF RADIO SHOW
The Gary Goff Radio show is back this season at the Salty Snapper Restaurant in Valdosta every Monday at 7 p.m.  Come out and listen to VSU head football coach Gary Goff speak about the previous game and looking ahead to the next game on the schedule.  VSU Assistant Athletic Director for Development, Matt Malone, broadcasts the show and if you can't make it out, you can listen on WVGA 105.9 FM in Valdosta or stream it at valdostatoday.com.  Prizes will be awarded after the show and fans in attendance have the opportunity to ask questions of Goff during the show. 
 
COACH GARY GOFF SHOW
The Coach Goff Show will be available each Sunday at vstateblazers.com on the football page throughout the season as it will include interviews from Goff, select players and highlights from the previous game.  Spencer Van Horn and Dave Garner host the show throughout the season and Jamie Abbott of Crashandannie Productions directs and produces the show.
 
ABOUT WEST GEORGIA
The Wolves enter as the only team to knock off then-No. 1 West Florida with a 30-26 victory in Pensacola two weeks ago.  UWG quarterback Harrison Frost has been outstanding this season and continued that last week, throwing for 315 yards and a touchdown in a win over North Greenville.  UWG held NGU to 288 yards of offense and 4 of 13 on third down.  UWG leads the nation in first down offense at 221 for the season, while it is tops in the country in passing offense at 340.0 yards per game.  The Wolves are third nationally in sacks allowed at 0.38 for second in the GSC behind VSU, while they are eighth nationally in total offense at 478.2 yards per game, right behind VSU in the GSC.  UWG also is second behind the Blazers in total defense for 23rd nationally, holding teams to 290.4 yards per game.  Individually, Frost leads the GSC In completion percentage (0.643/20th), completions per game (26.75/5th), passing yards (2,540/4th) and passing yards per game (317.5/6th). Ronnie Blackmon is outstanding in the return game as he has one punt return for a score this season and is second in the GSC in punt return yard average at 10.5 for 25th nationally.  Mechane Slade leads the GSC in receiving yards with 708 for 19th nationally, while he is second in receiving yards per game (88.5) and second in receptions per game (6.8).  The Wolves have an outstanding kicker in Omar Cervantes who is in the top 15 nationally in field goal percentage and field goals per game, while he is 23rd nationally in scoring at 8.6 points per game for second in the GSC. 
 
NO SHUTOUTS
The Blazers lead all of NCAA Division II with 347 consecutive games without being shutout dating back to a 12-0 loss to Central Florida on Sept. 14, 1991.  VSU only has been shutout five times in program history.  Behind the Blazers is Grand Valley State who hasn't been shutout in 338 games.
 
A HISTORY OF SUCCESS
The Blazers have had an outstanding 39 years of football since the program began in 1982.  The Blazers have the second-highest winning percentage all-time in NCAA Division II with a 311-127-4 record (.703) behind Grand Valley State (411-143-3) with a .738 clip.  VSU went 88-27 from 2010-2019 for a .765 average which is good for eighth in NCAA Division II for the decade.
 
A VICTORY OVER WEST GEORGIA WOULD  . . .