ALL FANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO WEAR PINK TO THE GAME SATURDAY!!

SETTING THE SCENE
The No. 3/4 Blazers close a three-game homestand Saturday at 7 p.m. versus rival Delta State in the second game of the Gulf South Conference slate for the Blazers this season.  VSU is coming off a 49-13 victory over Shorter last week, while DSU dropped a 39-33 heartbreaker to No. 1 West Florida.  The Blazers started off fast against Shorter with an opening drive touchdown, but struggled throughout much of the first half leading 14-13 at intermission.  VSU turned up the gas in the second half, outscoring Shorter 35-0 and holding the Hawks to 49 yards of total offense in the second half.  DSU held a 30-10 lead on the Argos at halftime, but was outscored 29-3 in the second half in the setback.  The Statesmen (2-3, 0-2 GSC) have lost three games this season by a combined 14 points.
 
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:

• Access to livestream broadcasts of ALL GSC football playing institutions
• Access to FloSports' weekly GSC Football studio show
• Access to FloSports produced features on GSC student-athletes
• Access to GSC championship tournament game broadcasts
• Access to other FloSports broadcasts

 
CALLING TONIGHT'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.  
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH DELTA STATE
Delta State is the only current team in the GSC to own a winning record against the Blazers with a 20-18-1 mark in 39 meetings.  VSU has won the last five meetings in the series, including a 34-13 victory in Cleveland, Miss., in 2019.  The teams are tied 10-10-1 all-time in Valdosta, while VSU is 8-10 in Cleveland.  VSU has won the last two meetings in Valdosta and three of four.  DSU's last win in Titletown came in 2014 (9/20/14) with a 49-32 victory.
 
LAST TIME OUT FOR THE BLAZERS
The Blazers started fast against the Hawks last weekend in the 49-13 victory, but the upset-minded Shorter squad kept things interesting for the first half, pulling within 14-13 at intermission.  The Blazer offense caught fire in the second half with a quick two-minute drive to begin the half en route to a 35-0 second half.  VSU amassed a season-high 316 yards on the ground for the game and a season-high 574 yards of total offense in the game.  Junior quarterback Ivory Durham ran for two scores and tossed two others for the second time this season.  Durham had nine carries for 82 yards and two scores, while he went 17 of 32 passing for a season-high 258 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.  Durham's 17 completions and 258 yards passing were career-bests, while he has thrown at least two touchdowns in each of the four games this season.  Senior wide receiver Lio'undre Gallimore caught seven balls for 135 yards and two scores, while senior Victor Talley had four catches for 87 yards.  The Blazer "D" stymied the Hawks in the second half, holding them to 49 yards of offense as senior Nick Moss had 13 tackles and eight solo stops.  Moss also recorded one tackle for loss (13 yards) and two hurries.  VSU sacked the Hawks four times for 13 yards and had six tackles for loss for 30 yards, along with one interception return from senior Christian Matthew for a touchdown.  It marked the third defensive touchdown of the season for the Blazers. 
 
TWO OVER 100
For the second time this season, the Blazers had two rushers over 100 yards on the ground as junior Jamar Thompkins finished with 108 yards on eight carries, while junior Seth McGill had 15 carries for 104 yards and two scores in the 49-13 victory over Shorter on Oct. 2.  McGill and Durham each went over 100 yards on the ground in the 51-7 victory at Virginia Union (Sept. 11).  
 
UNDEFEATED TEAMS 
The Blazers are one of 14 undefeated teams in the country this season and three of those teams are within the Gulf South Conference, marking the most of any league in NCAA Division II this season.  The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) has two undefeated teams.  In the GSC, Valdosta State, West Alabama and West Florida all are unbeaten thus far.
 
NEVER TRAILING
The Blazers have led for 216:39 minutes thus far this season and have been tied for 23:21 minutes of the 240 minutes played.  VSU is one of two D2 schools who hasn't trailed all season out of 168 institutions.  The other is California (Pa).  
 
VSU STAYS PUT IN THE POLLS
The Blazers remained fourth in the newest AFCA Top 25, while they held steady at third in the D2Football.com Top 25 this week.  Both polls have West Florida as the top team in the country, while West Alabama is tenth in the AFCA Top 25 and West Georgia is 13th.  According to D2Football.com, UWF also leads the rankings, while VSU is third, West Alabama is 11th and West Georgia is 16th. 
 
STREAKS 
VSU has had an outstanding winning streak since 2017 as it won 25-straight games to the final game of 2019 to set a Gulf South Conference record for consecutive victories overall.  Since the Shorter victory to end the 2017 season, VSU currently has won 25-straight regular season games and two conference titles. Moreover, the team has won 32 of its last 33 games overall including a perfect 14-0 record to win the national championship in 2018.
 
STOUT DEFENSIVELY
The Blazers this season have been outstanding defensively as they lead the league in scoring defense at just 7.5 points allowed per game for fourth nationally.  VSU is third nationally in passing efficiency defense a 72.23 clip, while it is third nationally in passing defense allowing just 89.5 yards per game and the team is ninth nationally in total defense (231.2 yards/pg) for second in the GSC.  The Blazers are holding teams to a 0.571 clip in the red zone for tenth nationally and tops in the league.  VSU also has seven fumbles recovered for the season for eighth nationally and tops in the league, along with four interceptions and has scored three defensive touchdowns this season for fourth nationally.  The Blazers are 13th nationally in first down defense allowing just 64 for the season, while they are holding teams to a 0.291 clip on third down for 26th nationally and tops in the GSC.  VSU is eighth nationally in sacks per game at 4.00 per contest for second in the GSC.  VSU has 16 sacks on the year for 91 yards.  Individually, senior Mondrell Jefferson shares the national lead with three fumble recoveries on the year, while senior Nick Moss leads the GSC in solo tackles at 5.8 per game for 29th nationally.   He is seventh nationally in total tackles per game at 11.5 to lead the GSC. 
 
TAKEN' CARE OF THE PILL
VSU has had just two turnovers on the year on two interceptions, but has forced 11 turnovers for a +9 in turnover margin for a 2.25 clip per game for third nationally.  The Blazers' 11 takeaways are second in the GSC (Delta State, 15) 23rd nationally.  VSU owns a 42-7 advantage in points off turnovers over its opposition this season.
 
FIRST IN THE NATION
VSU leads the nation in punt return defense at -3.2 yards per punt return.  The Blazers are one of seven teams and the only team in the GSC who have not lost a fumble this season.  Jefferson shares the national lead in fumble recoveries with three.  
 
YOU GOT MOSSED
Senior linebacker Nick Moss leads the team with 33 total tackles and 15 solo stops this season.  He is averaging 11.0 tackles per game for 13th nationally and tops in the GSC.  Moss also has one tackle for loss and returned a fumble 44 yards at Virginia Union (9/11).
 
MATTHEW WITH THE PICK SIX
Senior Christian Matthew had his first pick six as a Blazer intercepting Aeneas Dennis' pass late in the 49-13 victory over Shorter last week.  Matthew had a great read on the pass and picked it off, going 40 yards down the near sideline for the score with just 4:34 left in the contest.  Moreover, VSU had just scored on a 51-yard touchdown pass from Durham to Gallimore at the 4:46 mark.  Just 12 seconds later, on the first play for Shorter from scrimmage, Matthew had the pick and score.  
 
GALLIMORE NAMED STEEL'S JEWELRY ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Senior Lio'undre Gallimore became the third VSU football player to earn Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athlete of the Week honors as he recorded seven catches for a season-high 135 yards and two scores against Shorter last week.  Gallimore leads the team with 19 catches for 351 yards and five touchdowns.  Gallimore is fourth in the GSC in all-purpose yards at 118.0 per game, while he is second in the GSC in receiving touchdowns this season (5) for 23rd nationally and his 351 receiving yards are good for third in the league.  
 
WHERE THE BLAZERS STAND OFFENSIVELY
Not only do the Blazers have a stout defense, but also a strong offense as they are second nationally in kickoff returns at a 33.86 average per return.  VSU is second in the GSC and 39th nationally in red zone offense at 0.867, while the Blazers are seventh nationally and second in the league in scoring offense at 43.5 points per game.  VSU is 11th nationally and second in the league in rushing offense at 245.0 yards per game and 15th in total offense at 470.5 yards per game.  Individually, McGill leads the ground attack as he is second in the GSC in rushing yards (368) for 55th nationally, while he is averaging 92.0 yards per game for second in the league and 35th nationally.  Durham is fourth in the GSC in total offense at 268.8 yards per game for 37th nationally, while he is third in the league in passing touchdowns (9), fourth in passing efficiency (139.0), second in points responsible for 78 for 33rd nationally and fifth in passing yards per game at 200.0 per game.  Graduate student Brian Saunds, a return specialist and wide receiver, is fourth in the league in punt returns at 6.5 yards per return.
 
CAREER WATCH 
Junior running back Jamar Thompson is eighth all-time in career rushing yards with 2,530.  He needs 125 yards to tie Vontrell Mitchell (1995-98) for seventh all-time.  Junior Seth McGill broke into the top ten as he now has 1,763 yards for tenth all-time.  McGill has 27 rushing touchdowns for fifth all-time in school history, while Thompkins has 22 rushing touchdowns for ninth all-time.    Senior wide out Lio'undre Gallimore has 2,036 career receiving yards and tenth all-time in program history, just ahead of Saunds (2,018).  He also handles punt return duties and has 551 yards in punt returns for eighth all-time in program history on 53 returns for a 10.3 average.
 
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 53-50 in his 11th season of coaching. Prior to VSU, he coached nine years at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio.  Goff is 14-1 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 DELTA STATE

• The Statesmen enter as a much better team than a 2-3 mark and a 0-2 record in the GSC
• Despite losing its last three games DSU amassed a season-high 580 yards of total offense for the second time this season last week against the No. 1 West Florida Argos.  DSU ran 102 plays against UWF, but committed four turnovers in the game   
• Delta State leads the GSC with 15 turnovers for third nationally on nine interceptions and six fumble recoveries
• Quarterback Patrick Shegog passed for 459 yards on 32 of 50 against UWF, while he is second in the GSC in total offense (1,307) and his 261.4 average per game for total offense is good for fifth in the league
• Delta State leads the GSC in tackles for loss at 9.0 per game and fourth in sacks per game
• Return specialist Kory Gainwell is third in the GSC in all-purpose yards at 120.8, while he leads the country in combined kick returns with 489 yards on 19 kickoff returns...He is third in the GSC in returns at 25.7 per opportunity
• Junior Faulk has ten interceptions for his career for fourth all-time in school history

 
NO SHUTOUTS
The Blazers lead all of NCAA Division II with 346 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 NCAADivision II with a 308-127-4 record (.703) behind Grand Valley State (409-143-3) 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 DELTA STATE WOULD  . . .

• Give VSU a 5-0 record for the season and mark the third-straight season the Blazers begin a season 5-0
• Pull the Blazers within one game of tying the all-time series with DSU (18-20-1)
• Give VSU is 202nd victory against GSC competition in program history
• Be the 309th victory all-time in program history (308-127-4) and the 169th home victory (168-53-1)
• Give head coach Gary Goff his 15th victory at VSU (14-1)
• Give VSU its 19th-straight victory in the regular season against GSC competition and the 26th-straight regular season victory overall since 2017.
• Give VSU a 4-1 record all-time on Oct. 9 and ironically the first meeting on this date also was against Delta State on Oct. 9, 1982, with a 27-0 loss at DSU...This is the second home game on this date as VSU won 68-210 in 1993, versus Tarleton State...A win Saturday would be the fourth-straight win on this date for the Blazers...VSU leads the scoring on this date, 116-74