SETTING THE SCENE
This game has been circled on the calendar for just under two years as the Blazers look to exact some revenge for a heartbreaking 38-35 loss in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Championship on Nov. 30, 2019.  It was the Blazers' last loss as VSU has won nine-straight games since the setback and is one of just two undefeated teams left in NCAA Division II (Ferris State).  The Blazers and the Argos were the top two picks in the GSC Preseason Poll and it's fitting it comes down to this game to decide either an outright GSC title for the Blazers or a shared title between the two teams.  VSU enters with a 9-0 record overall and a 6-0 mark in GSC play, while West Florida is 8-1 overall and 5-1 in league play with its only loss being at home to West Georgia (30-26) on Oct. 16.
 
FOR STREAKS
Not only have the Blazers won nine-straight games, tying for the top current winning streak in NCAA Division II (Ferris State, Bowie State), VSU has won 23-straight regular season games against Gulf South competition since 2017 and 30-straight regular season games overall since 2017.  Moreover, VSU has won 37 of 39 games overall dating back to the final five games of the 2017 season.  The 23-straight conference regular season victories is the second-longest streak in NCAA Division II behind 32-straight conference wins by Ferris State.  VSU won a GSC-record 25-straight games from the final game of 2017 to the loss in the second round of the playoffs against UWF in 2019.  VSU head coach Gary Goff has won 19 of his first 20 games in Titletown.
 
SAUNDS OVER 200
Valdosta State graduate wide receiver Brian Saunds recorded his second game of over 200 yards receiving this past week with 220 yards on a career-high 15 receptions and one touchdown.  Saunds was named GSC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time for his efforts Saturday against North Greenville.  He set the school-record for receiving yards with 246 on a then, career-high ten catches against Florida Tech, also on Homecoming in 2019.  The 220 yards receiving Saturday is fourth-most in school history for a game, while the 15 catches are good for sixth all-time in school history in a game. In addition, the 15 catches sit tied for second in NCAA Division II in a game this season, while the 220 receiving yards is good for ninth in NCAA Division II this season.  Both of his 15 catches and 220 yards receiving are tops in the GSC for a single game this season.
 
HOW THEY COMPARE
Above is how the Blazers and the Argos matchup in some key statistics nationally and in the GSC heading into Saturday's matchup.  Complete rankings for both teams are on pages 22 and 24.
 
RECAPPING HOMECOMING
On a cold and rainy day, the Blazers battled upset-minded Crusaders of North Greenville on Saturday afternoon.  NGU took the early lead and blocked a Blazer punt for a 7-0 lead through the first quarter, marking just the second time all season VSU had trailed and the first time trailing after a quarter.  After that, the Blazers quickly erased the deficit with three touchdowns in the second quarter for a 21-14 lead at intermission.  The Blazers swelled the lead in the second half to 31-14, before NGU ended the scoring with a late touchdown.  The Blazers amassed over 500 yards of total offense for the fifth time this season with 530 yards of offense, including 315 passing yards.  VSU had 215 rushing yards, while junior running back Seth McGill had a season-high three rushing touchdowns.  Saunds had 15 catches for 220 yards and a score in the game.  VSU held NGU to just 258 yards of total offense in the game, including just 73 yards passing as it marked the fifth time this season VSU has held the opposition under 300 yards of total offense.  VSU improved to 34-5 all-time on Homecoming and won its third-straight Homecoming Game.
     
ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS
The Argos are flying high after a 47-7 thumping of then-No. 23 West Alabama last weekend in Livingston, Ala.  UWF, who had started slow at times this season, didn't on Saturday as it led 9-0 after the first quarter and 30-0 at halftime.  Quarterback Austin Reed threw for 403 yards, eclipsing the 300-yard mark for the fourth-straight game, while David Durden and Ka'Ron Ashley each had two touchdowns.  Both were over 100 yards in the game receiving for the Argos, while Shomari Mason had five carries for 66 yards and Anthony Johnson had 59 yards on the ground on 12 carries and a score.  UWF had 562 yards of offense and put up 641 the week previously.  
 
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

 
THIS WEEK IN THE GSC 
All eyes will once again be on the Blazers and the Argos from a national perspective as they battle Saturday afternoon.  With a victory, the Blazers would clinch their third-straight, outright GSC title and most likely the top seed in the upcoming NCAA postseason.  If UWF wins, the Argos would clinch a share of the GSC title with the Blazers.  It would be the first conference title (sharing or outright) for the Argos in program history.  West Georgia entertains Delta State in a non-conference game, while Mississippi College travels to West Alabama also for a non-conference game and Shorter heads to North Greenville.  DSU gave UWG all it could handle in the conference meeting earlier this season, also in Carrollton, with the home team prevailing 27-26.  West Alabama, who is on the outside looking in with a 7-3 record overall from a playoff perspective, hosts MC after the Tigers won the conference matchup in Clinton, 31-28 earlier 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.  
 
THIRD NCAA REGION RANKINGS RELEASED 
Monday saw the NCAA release its third regional rankings as VSU leads Super Region Two, for the third-straight week, while Bowie State (Md.) is second, followed by Albany State for third.  UWF is fourth for the second-straight week, while West Georgia is fifth.  Mars Hill sits sixth in the rankings for the second-straight week, followed by Newberry at seventh.  Savannah State moves from ninth to eighth this week following the loss by West Alabama.  Lenoir-Rhyne moves from tenth to ninth and Fayetteville State returns to the rankings for the first time since the first rankings two weeks ago. The NCAA Division II Football Championship field is scheduled to be unveiled Sunday, Nov. 14, at 5 p.m. ET 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 is 2-2 during that span with wins by VSU ('18) and West Florida ('19).  Former member North Alabama lost in 2016 to Northwest Missouri State and West Florida lost to Texas A&M-Commerce in 2017.
 
33 WINNING SEASONS
With the victory on Saturday at West Alabama on Oct. 16, the Blazers clinched their 33rd winning season in the 39-year history of football at VSU.  The Blazers are 313-127-4 all-time and have had 21-straight winning seasons dating back to 2000.  
 
SETH CLOSING IN 
Junior running back Seth McGill has had an outstanding season for the Blazers and outstanding career as he has rushed for 812 yards this season with 11 rushing touchdowns for a 90.2 average per game.  He has played in 34 games with eight starts for his career.  McGill is 12th nationally and second in the GSC to teammate Jamar Thompkins in rush yards per carry (6.6), while McGill leads the league in rushing touchdowns (11) for 18th nationally and he is tops in the GSC in rushing yards (812) for 40th nationally.  His 90.2 average per game is good for 34th nationally and best in the league.  McGill needs just one rushing score to move into the top seven in school history in rushing touchdowns in a season (12).  Former Blazer Cedric O'Neal had 17 rushing scores in 2017 for the school record.  McGill's 34 career rushing touchdowns ties him for third all-time in school history as he needs just two rushing touchdowns to match Dominique Ross (1992-94) with 36.  McGill's 210 career points on 35 touchdowns (including one receiving score) puts him seventh all-time in scoring history as he needs just 18 points to tie Ross for sixth all-time (228).  McGill's 2,207 yards places him eighth in school-history in career rushing yards.  
 
THOMPKINS MOVES UP
Junior Jamar Thompkins is part of the Blazers' outstanding rushing attack as he, like McGill, has had an outstanding career.  Thompkins has played in 34 games with 24 starts, while recording 361 carries for 3,026 yards and 27 rushing touchdowns.  He has 29 total touchdowns for 174 points for his career.  Thompkins' 3,026 yards on the ground is good for sixth all-time in school history as he is just three (3) yards from Tyran Robinson (2001-04) for fifth with 3,029 yards.  Thompkins' 27 rushing touchdowns are good for fourth all-time in school history behind McGill and Aaron Jenkins (2000-03) with 34.  Both Thompkins and McGill have had outstanding three years at VSU thus far and both have their senior years in 2022 as they look to continue to rewrite the record book.
 
FIRST IN THE NATION
The Blazers lead the nation in sacks allowed (1) for an 0.11 average per game, while VSU leads the nation in turnovers lost (7).  Individually, senior defensive back Mondrell Jefferson leads the nation in fumbles recovered with four. 
 
ONLY TRAILED TWICE
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.  Then, last Saturday, North Greenville scored a touchdown in the first quarter and held a 7-0 lead into the second quarter, before VSU rattled off two three total touchdowns in the frame for a 21-14 lead at halftime.  The Blazers went on for a 31-21 victory.  For the season, VSU has trailed for just 17:44 minutes out of 540 total minutes of football over nine games.
 
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
VSU is 11th nationally in turnover margin at 1.11 for tops in the GSC.   The Blazers have just seven turnovers on the year for tops in the nation, while they have forced 17 for second-most in the GSC.  VSU holds a 62-14 lead on the opposition in points off turnovers.  
 
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 seventh nationally in defensive touchdowns as Bowie State leads the nation with seven.  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). 
 
SPEEDY SAUNDS
For his standout career, Saunds has played in 43 games with 34 starts, hauling in 162 catches for 2,645 yards and 25 receiving touchdowns.  He has 58 punt returns for 581 yards for his career and one kickoff return for 30 yards.  Saunds has 3,263 all-purpose yards during his time in Titletown.  He also threw a touchdown pass in 2019, going 2 for 2 passing for ten yards.  The 162 receptions are good for ninth all-time in school history for Saunds, while the 2,645 receiving yards are sixth all-time in program history.  He needs 79 yards receiving to tie C.J. Lofton (1999-02) for fifth all-time with 2,724 yards.  Saunds' 25 receiving touchdowns puts him seventh in program history, one shy of 26 from Randy Fisher (1986-89).  
 
BIG GRAB GALLIMORE
Graduate student Lio'undre Gallimore has had a heck of a career for the Blazers as he has played in 39 games with 34 starts, while recording 122 receptions for 2,260 yards and 25 receiving touchdowns.  He has 14 kick returns for 432 yards and one touchdown, while recording 2,679 all-purpose yards for his career.  Gallimore's 2,260 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 22nd nationally this season in receiving touchdowns to lead the league (9).  Gallimore's ten total touchdowns this season is good for 43rd nationally and second in the league behind McGill.
 
GOOD ON THIRD
The Blazers are sixth nationally in third down conversions at a 0.528 clip for second in the GSC.  Conversely, they are 38th nationally and first in the GSC in fewest first downs allowed with 162. 
 
STOUT DEFENSIVELY
The Blazers are seventh nationally in defensive touchdowns (4), while the team is second nationally in passing yards allowed (113.0) for tops in the GSC.  VSU is second in the nation in red zone defense, holding teams to a 0.542 clip, while the team is sixth in scoring defense at 12.9 points allowed per game and third in passing efficiency defense at an 88.76 clip.  VSU is 22nd nationally in total defense to lead the GSC at 284.4 yards allowed per game.  Individually, Mondrell Jefferson leads the nation in fumble recoveries with four, while graduate student Christian Matthew is sixth nationally in passes defended at 1.7 per game and 14 for the season.  Senior Nick Moss is 21st nationally in total tackles at 9.1 per game to lead the GSC.
 
HIGH POWERED OFFENSE
Not only do the Blazers have a stout defense, but also a strong offense as are fourth nationally in total offense at 496.1 yards per game.  VSU is 17th nationally and tops in the GSC in red zone offense (0.889), while it is fifth nationally and second in the league in rushing offense at 269.2 yards per game.  VSU is seventh nationally second in the GSC in scoring offense at 42.1 points per game.  VSU is 40th nationally in passing yards per completion at 113.70 for third in the league, while it has allowed just one sack on the season to lead the nation in sacks allowed (0.11).  
 
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 58-50 in his 11th season of coaching.  Prior to VSU, he coached nine years at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio.  Goff is 19-1 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.
 
NO SHUTOUTS
The Blazers lead all of NCAA Division II with 348 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 313-127-4 record (.703) behind Grand Valley State (412-143-3) 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 FLORIDA WOULD  . . .

• Give VSU a 10-0 record for the season and mark the third-straight season the Blazers have finished the regular season 10-0
• Give VSU a 5-1 record all-time against UWF and a 3-0 record in Pensacola
• Give VSU its outright third-straight Gulf South Conference title and ninth in program history
• Be the 314th victory all-time in program history (313-127-4) and 
• Give VSU its 24th-straight victory in the regular season against GSC competition and the 31st-straight regular season victory overall since 2017 and 38th victory in the last 40 games since the final five games of 2017
• Be the third victory over a ranked team this season and the 68th in program history (67-60-2) and the second road victory over a ranked team this season
• Give VSU a 3-1 record on this date and 2-0 mark on this date on the road as VSU has not played a game on this date since 1999 with a 23-16 loss to West Georgia in Valdosta
• Give head coach Gary Goff his 20th victory at VSU (19-1) and 59th victory in his collegiate coaching career (58-50).
• Be the 207th GSC victory (206-87-3) and the 67th victory in November (66-41-3)
• Be the second victory over the No. 3 team in the country this season as VSU won 36-34 over then-No. 3 West Florida (Oct. 30)
• Give VSU a 2-1 record in ranked matchups with UWF