MCKINNEY, Texas – The No. 5 Valdosta State football team struggled over the final three quarters as it lost 58-17 to No. 1 Ferris State in the NCAA Division II National Championship Game on Saturday evening at McKinney ISD Stadium.  The Blazers finish the season with a 12-2 record. 
 
Ferris State won its first national title in football with a 14-0 record in a rematch of the 2018 national title where the Blazers won their fourth national title with a thrilling 49-47 victory.  VSU became the first school in NCAA Division II to have four different head coaches compete for a national title and the four national titles won are tied for third all-time in NCAA Division II with Grand Valley State.
 
In a game with very cold temperatures comparatively to South Georgia at this time of year, explosive plays by the Bulldogs proved costly for the Blazers.  Following a three-and-out by the Blazers on the opening drive, Ferris State needed just one play as quarterback Jared Bernhardt went 56-yards for a touchdown on the ground and a 6-0 lead as the PAT attempt was missed.  For the game, four of the Bulldogs' touchdowns came on just eight plays combined. 

The Blazers came right back with a great drive as VSU converted three, third downs on the drive and junior quarterback Ivory Durham hit junior running back Seth McGill in the back of the end zone for a 7-6 VSU lead with 7:54 left in the first quarter.  VSU went 13 plays for 75 yards and used 5:11 of the clock. 
 
Bernhardt and the Bulldogs needed just three plays on the ensuing drive for a 13-7 lead as Bernhardt called his own number for all 60 yards on the ground in the drive, including a 48-yard run and a five-yard score for his second rushing touchdown of the quarter. 
 
Durham hit graduate wide receiver Brian Saunds for 34 yards on the next drive and a personal foul on the Bulldogs moved the ball to the FSU 11.  From there, Durham then found junior Travon Roberts in the end zone for a 14-13 lead with 3:44 left in the first quarter. 
 
Blazer senior Ja'Davien Williams forced Berhardt to fumble and senior Cory Roberts picked up the fumble at the FSU 11 setting the Blazers up in the red zone.  VSU was unable to punch it in for a touchdown as sophomore kicker Estin Thiele connected on a 25-yard field goal for a 17-13 VSU lead with 2:47 left in the opening quarter. 
 
Continuing the back-and-fourth theme in the opening quarter, the Bulldogs' next possession saw another explosive play as, on a 2^nd and 13 from the FSU 22, Jeremy Burrell went 78-yards for a 20-17 Bulldog lead with 1:54 left in the quarter.  On the ensuing VSU drive, Durham's pass was deflected in the air by Alex Thomas and intercepted by Cyntell Williams as FSU capitalized on the miscue with a rushing score from Berhardt as the Bulldogs converted two third downs on the drive and a fourth down for a 27-17 lead with 9:18 left in the half.  VSU punted on its next possession followed by another FSU score and then, after VSU went four it late in the half on fourth down, FSU's Mylik Mitchell hit Tyrese Hunt-Thompson for a 47-yard touchdown strike and a 41-17 lead at intermission.  The Blazers were uncharacteristically outscored 21-0 in the second quarter. 
 
VSU turned the Bulldogs over on downs in the red zone to begin the second half and had some momentum, but a strip sack fumble gave FSU the ball on the ensuing possession and the Bulldogs increased the lead to 44-17.  Two more scores by the Bulldogs in the third quarter made the final margin of 58-17. 
 
For the game, VSU was held to 268 yards of offense, including 110 rushing yards and 158 passing yards.  Durham went 14 of 32 passing for 158 yards two touchdowns and two interceptions.  He also led the team with 45 rushing yards.  Roberts and McGill each caught touchdown passes, while Saunds, who played in his last collegiate game, finished with a team-high 64 yards on nine catches. 
 
Defensively, VSU forced three fumbles and recovered two in the game, while sophomore Jaylen Jackson led the way with seven tackles and six solo stops.  Roberts finished with one sack for ten yards, two fumble returns for 18 yards and a forced fumble to go along with five tackles.  He, along with a number of outstanding defensive players finished their careers, including tackle leader Nick Moss who finished his final season with 121 total tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss.  He had four breakups, four hurries and one fumble return this season. 
 
Ferris State tallied 581 yards of offense in the game, including 459 on the ground with three rushers over 100 yards each.  Bernhardt led the way with 148 yards on the ground on 14 carries and three scores.  Minor had 125 yards with a score and Burrell had 103 and a touchdown.  FSU was 3 of 7 passing for 122 yards in the game and a score.
 
Despite the loss, the Blazers had three players finish with 1,000 or more rushing yards this season led by McGill who finished the season with 1,235 yards rushing and a team-high 14 rushing scores, while Durham finished with 1,012 yards on the ground with 13 rushing touchdowns and junior running back Jamar Thompkins finished with 1,001 yards rushing and nine rushing touchdowns.  In addition, VSU had two wide receivers over 1,000 yards receiving as Saunds finished with 1,200 yards receiving on 73 catches and seven touchdowns and Gallimore finished with 1,123 yards on 58 receptions with 15 receiving scores.  VSU was the only Division II school to have three 1,000-yard rushers and two 1,000-yard receivers.
 
VSU had 16 seniors playing their final game in a Blazer uniform and what this team accomplished this season was outstanding with its third-straight Gulf South Conference title, sixth appearance in the national championship game, and second time in three years with the championship in 2018.  The Blazers have gone 40-4 overall since the final five games of the 2017 season, which includes a number of these seniors on this team.