SETTING THE SCENE
The No. 5 Valdosta State football team continues its home playoff run with No. 9 Colorado School of Mines Saturday at 12 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.  This is the first meeting between the two schools on the gridiron and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+.    
 
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 game.  Fans also can access the broadcast at www.talk921.com.   Fans can visit www.espn.com/watch to sign up for ESPN+ as the game will be broadcast online with Shawn Kenney and Barrett Brooks having the call.  
 
LIVE BLOGGING FROM WAYNE CAVADI
Turner Sports' Wayne Cavadi will live blog both contests starting at noon ET.  Check vstateblazers.com for how to access the live blog.
 
HOW TO WATCH THE SEMIFINALS ON ESPN+
ESPN+ is accessible on computers via ESPN.com/watch and on smartphones, tablets and streaming devices through the ESPN App. The network is available nationwide at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. It also is available at no cost to U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers, smartphones and tablets connected to on-campus educational and on-base military broadband and Wi-Fi networks.  Fans will need to click on the link to Watch ESPN at the top of this page prior to the start of the game on Saturday (when the "play" icon appears on the graphic for the game) and select your cable provider. You will then be prompted to put in your username and password for your cable provider and it will then take you back to the game screen where you click on the "play" icon once again, to start the broadcast.   ESPN+ is a monthly subscription-based package at $6.99/month and can cancel anytime and subject to terms.
 
IN THE NATIONAL SEMIFINALS
This marks the sixth time VSU has qualified for the NCAA National Semifinals and the Blazers are 5-0 in the previous trips.  VSU last won in the semifinals in 2018, with a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over Notre Dame College (Ohio) 30-24.  Former Blazer David Brown had a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second half which sparked the comeback for the Blazers.  This marks Colorado School of Mines' first trip to the National Semifinals in program history.  CSM is 5-6 all-time in the NCAA postseason in its seventh appearance.  The Orediggers are 1-3 in road games and reached the second round in 2004, 2016 and 2019, prior to this season.
 
STRONG IN THE PLAYOFFS
VSU qualified for its 18th postseason appearance in program history in 2021, and tallied its third-straight top-seed in the region for the playoffs.  The Blazers are 28-13 all-time in the NCAA postseason and have won four national championships in 2004, 2007, 2012 and 2018.  VSU is 4-1 in the national championship game with the lone loss being to Grand Valley State in 2002.  The four national championship victories are tied with Grand Valley State for the third-most in NCAA Division II history and are tied for second among active Division II programs (Northwest Missouri State, 6). VSU's 28 victories are good for fifth-most all-time in NCAA Division II and third-most among active institutions, while the 18 appearances are good for a tie for fifth all-time and tied for fourth among active schools. 
 
GOING FOR 12
With a victory on Saturday, VSU would win its 12th game of the season and seventh time in program history with 12 or more victories in a season.  VSU won a school-record 14 games in 2002 and 2018, going 1-1 in the national championship in those two years.  VSU went undefeated at 14-0 with the national title in 2018.  The Blazers won 13 games in 2004 and 2007, while winning 12 in 2001 and 2012) and 11 in 1994. 
 
SINGLETON NAMED FINALIST FOR GENE UPSHAW AWARD
Senior offensive lineman Ralph Singleton was named one of eight finalists for the prestigious Gene Upshaw Award, which is given to the most outstanding senior offensive or defensive lineman in the country.  This marks the third-straight season VSU has had a finalist for this award as Jeremy King was named runner-up in 2018 and Adonis Sealey was a finalist in 2019.  Singleton, a native of Sumter, S.C., has had an outstanding season on the offensive line for the Blazers.  He earned First Team All-GSC honors this season and second team accolades in 2019.  He has started all 12 games for the three-time GSC champion Blazers and helped lead the team to a 11-1 record.  Singleton also earned D2CCA First Team All-Region honors for the first time in his career.  Earlier this week Ferris State's offensive lineman Dylan Pasquali won the Gene Upshaw Award.
 
13 BLAZERS NAMED TO D2CCA ALL-REGION TEAM
A total of 13 selections and five first team honorees highlight the Valdosta State football players who were named to the D2 Conference Commissioner's Association (D2CCA) All-Super Region Two Football Teams, announced Thursday morning.  The Gulf South Conference had a region-best 24 selections to the all-region team with 11 first team honorees and 13 named to the second team.  The South Atlantic Conference had 15 selections with nine on the first team and six on the second team.  West Florida sophomore quarterback Austin Reed was named Offensive Player of the Year for the region, while Bowie State sophomore defensive lineman Jonathan Ross was named Defensive Player of the Year. 
 
VALDOSTA STATE D2CCA All-REGION SELECTIONS
First Team: Ralph Singleton (OL), Brian Saunds (Return Specialist), Brian Williams (DL), Nick Moss (LB), Mondrell Jefferson (Safety).  Second Team: Chris Barrett (TE), Jeremiah Campbell (OL), Brian Saunds (WR), Lio'undre Gallimore (WR), Ivory Durham (QB), Seth McGill (RB), Jameon Gaskin (LB) and Christian Matthew (CB).
                  
STRONG SHOWING ON GSC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
VSU had a GSC-high 16 selections to the All-Conference Teams announced earlier this month.  VSU head coach Gary Goff was tabbed GSC Coach of the Year for the second-straight playing season.  VSU had nine selections to the first team, while Goff now is the second Blazer head coach to earn Coach of the Year honors multiple times as former head coach Chris Hatcher won the honor three-straight seasons from 2000-2002.  Goff is fifth Blazer head coach to win Coach of the Year honors (Hal Mumme, David Dean, Hatcher and Kerwin Bell) at while coaching at VSU.  Earning First Team honors were; Seth McGill, Chris Barrett, Brian Saunds (both WR and Returner), Jamar Thompkins, Ralph Singleton, Brian Williams, Nick Moss and Christian Matthew.  The second team saw Ivory Durham earn a spot for the first time, along with Lio'undre Gallimore, Arrington Dulin, Jameon Gaskin, Estin Thiele, Cory Roberts and Taurus Dotson.
 
HINSON NAMED COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT
Valdosta State sophomore offensive lineman Ty Hinson was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District.  Hinson has a 3.47 grade-point average in history.  He is one of just two GSC student-athletes to be named to the team (West Georgia, Chris Blackston).  
 
RECAPPING BOWIE STATE
The Blazers started fast and never looked back in a 41-17 victory last Saturday to reach the National Semifinal.  VSU held a 533-221 advantage in total offense, including 185-72 in rushing yards and 348-149 in passing yards.  BSU entered the game as the No. 5-ranked total defense in the country, allowing just 234.4 yards per game, while it was fifth nationally in passing yards allowed at 139.2 per game and fifth in scoring defense at 12.7 points allowed per game.  Durham finished with a career-high four touchdown passes in the game, the three to Saunds and a great diving catch for a score from graduate student Lio'undre Gallimore.  Durham finished 22 of 32 passing for 34 yards, four scores and two interceptions.  He also led the team in rushing with 12 carries for 61 yards.  Saunds caught ten balls for 146 yards and a career-high three touchdown receptions.  Gallimore finished with three catches for 99 yards and a score.  Saunds moved into third all-time in career receiving yards with 3,016 surpassing Randy Fisher's mark of 2,892 (1986-89).  Saunds' three touchdown catches gave him 28 for his career also passing Fisher's mark of 26 for sixth all-time in school history. The game also saw both Saunds and Gallimore each go over 1,000 yards receiving this season. Not only did the offense play well, but also the defense stood tall repeatedly, as it allowed just 221 yards of offense for the second-fewest this season and sacked the Bulldogs three times for 21 yards along with five tackles for loss for 24 yards.  VSU had four pass breakups and seven hurries of BSU quarterback Ja'rome Johnson.  Blazer junior linebacker Jameon Gaskin had a team-high nine tackles and assisted on a sack in the game, while senior linebacker Nick Moss had seven tackles. 
 
GOOD AT HOME
The Blazers are a perfect 8-0 at home this season and are going for their ninth win at home, which would match the school-record 9-0 mark set in 2002.  In 2002, the Blazers lost in the national championship game to Grand Valley State in VSU's first appearance in the title game.  Since the 2018 season, VSU has won 21 of the last 22 games at home.  VSU is 173-53-1 all-time at home and 162-49-1 at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
 
DECEMBER FOOTBALL
The Blazers are 13-2 all-time in December, while CSM is 5-3 in December as the Orediggers snapped a three-game skid in December with the 34-26 victory over Angelo State (Texas) last weekend, while VSU won its fourth-straight in December with the 41-17 victory over Bowie State last Saturday.
 
ABOUT COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
The Orediggers have gone where no team before them has gone before, qualifying for the quarterfinals last weekend for the first time and for the semifinals this weekend.  The 12-1 record for CSM marks the third 12-win season in program history and second-straight season (2004, 2019, 2021).  For the fourth time at CSM, the Orediggers have a Harlon Hill Finalist as running back Michael Zeman earned the prestigious finalist accolades.  Zeman has been outstanding all season long as he has 1,503 yards and 21 touchdowns on the ground as he became Mines' seventh-straight season of a running back going over 1,000 yards on the ground.  This is Zeman's second season of eclipsing 1,000 yards.  He has tied the school-record for overall touchdowns in a season with 26, while he is two shy of tying the school-record for rushing touchdowns in a season.  Not only does Mines have Zeman, but also an outstanding quarterback in John Matocha and a strong receiving corps.  As a team, the Orediggers lead the nation in sacks at 4.00 per game, while they also lead the nation in completion percentage at a .699 clip. Matocha is second nationally at a .697 clip throwing the football. The Orediggers are top ten nationally in fewest penalties per game (7th, 4.23), first down offense (9th, 293), passes interecepted (5th, 18), punt returns (8th, 16.00), scoring defense (6th, 13.2 ppg), team passing efficiency (4th, 171.19) and in turnover margin (4th, 1.46) and turnovers gained (fifth, 31).  Zeman leads the nation in points scored (156) and total touchdowns (26). 
 
DOUBLE TROUBLE RECEIVERS
Valdosta State graduate wide receiver Brian Saunds and graduate wide receiver Lio'undre Gallimore each eclipsed 1,000 yards for the Blazers last Saturday.  Saunds is ninth nationally in receiving yards with 1,136, while Gallimore has 1,013 yards receiving.  VSU is one of four schools (Mary, Bemidji State and Oklahoma Baptist) to have two 1,000-yard receivers this season.
 
NATIONALLY SPEAKING
The Blazers lead the nation in sacks allowed at a 0.17 clip and have surrendered just two sacks all season for a total of 17 yards.  VSU also leads the nation in total offense at 526.3 yards per game and has put up over 500 yards of offense each of the last four games and a school-record 719 yards against West Georgia (Nov. 27).  Eight of the Blazers' 12 games this season have seen the team record 500 or more yards of offense.  
 
FOR STREAKS
Despite the loss at UWF on Nov. 13, the Blazers have had quite a winning streak over the last three years.  Since the final five games of 2017, VSU has gone 39-3 overall and won a GSC-record 25-straight games from the final game of 2017, through the 2019 regular season.  VSU won 23-straight GSC regular season games from the final game of 2017 through to Nov. 13, 2021.  
 
SETH OVER 1,000 
Junior running back Seth McGill has had an outstanding season for the Blazers and outstanding career as he has rushed for 1,147 yards this season with 14 rushing touchdowns for a 95.6 average per game.  He has played in 37 games with 11 starts for his career.  McGill is fifth nationally and second in the GSC in rush yards per carry (6.95), while McGill leads the league in rushing touchdowns (14) for 16th nationally and he is tops in the GSC in rushing yards (1,147) for 20th nationally.  His 95.6 rushing average per game is good for 22nd nationally and best in the league.  McGill moved into a tie for seventh all-time in rushing touchdowns in a season against West Florida (Nov. 13).  Former Blazer Cedric O'Neal had 17 rushing scores in 2017 for the school-record in a season.  McGill's 37 career rushing touchdowns places him second all-time in school history as he surpassed Dominique Ross (1992-94) with a rushing score against Bowie State last weekend.  O'Neal leads the school-record book with 49 career rushing scores.  McGill's 234 career points on 39 touchdowns (including two receiving scores) puts him sixth all-time in school history.  McGill's 2,545 rushing yards places him eighth in school-history in career rushing yards.  From a season-record perspective, McGill's 14 rushing scores are tied for third all-time in a season, while his 1,147 yards on the ground are good for seventh all-time in a season.
 
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 37 games with 24 starts, while recording 389 carries for 3,157 yards and 29 rushing touchdowns.  He has 31 total touchdowns for 186 points for his career.  Thompkins' 3,154 yards on the ground is good for fourth all-time in school history as he is just 83 yards from third all-time held by Ross with 3,237 career rushing yards.  Thompkins' 29 rushing touchdowns are good for fifth all-time in school history behind 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.
 
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
VSU is 34th nationally in turnover margin at 0.50, for tops in the GSC.   The Blazers have just 11 turnovers on the year for 14th nationally and second in the league, while they have forced 17 for third-most in the GSC.  VSU holds a 62-27 lead on the opposition in points off turnovers.  VSU has not scored off an opponents' miscue, however, since the Oct. 30 meeting with West Georgia in Valdosta - a span of over four games.
 
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 eight.  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). 
 
SAUNDS OVER 200 
Saunds recorded his second game of over 200 yards receiving (Nov. 6) 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 marked the 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.
 
SPEEDY SAUNDS
For his standout career, Saunds has played in 46 games with 37 starts, hauling in 183 catches for 3,016 yards and 28 receiving touchdowns.  He has 61 punt returns for 617 yards for his career and one kickoff return for 30 yards.  Saunds has 3,670 all-purpose yards during his time in Titletown.  He also threw two touchdown passes for his career, going 3 for 3 passing for 14 yards.  The 183 receptions are seventh all-time in school history, while the 3,016 receiving yards are third all-time in program history.  He needs 161 yards receiving to tie Cedric Jones (2006-09) for second all-time with 3,177 yards.  Saunds' 28 receiving touchdowns puts him sixth in program history, two shy of 30 from Stanley Flanders (1993-94).  Saunds is two receptions away from the top ten all-time for a single season (71, Calvin Walker, 1992), while his 1,134 yards receiving are good for fifth all-time in a season as he needs just 14 yards to tie Rodney Brown (1996) with 1,148.  Saunds is within striking distance of the top spot held by Reggie Mosley with 1,295 in 2002 as Saunds needs just 148 yards.
 
BIG GRAB GALLIMORE
Graduate student Lio'undre Gallimore has had a heck of a career for the Blazers as he has played in 42 games with 37 starts, while recording 141 receptions for 2,698 yards and 30 receiving touchdowns.  He has 18 kick returns for 487 yards and one touchdown, while recording 3,172 all-purpose yards for his career.  Gallimore's 2,698 yards receiving are good for sixth in program history.  He had his first career kick return for a touchdown against Delta State (Oct. 9, 2021).  Gallimore is seventh nationally this season in receiving touchdowns to lead the league (14).  Gallimore's 15 total touchdowns this season is good for 20th nationally and leads the GSC.  His 14 receiving scores this year puts him tied for fifth all-time in a season with Nikko Cooper (1996).
 
GOOD ON THIRD
The Blazers are seventh nationally in third down conversions at a 0.517 clip for tops in the GSC.  VSU is third in the GSC in third down defense, holding teams to a  0.359 clip and held Bowie State to 4 of 13 on the pivotal down last week.
 
STOUT DEFENSIVELY
The Blazers are seventh nationally in defensive touchdowns (4), while the team is 15th nationally in passing yards allowed (154.8) for tops in the GSC.  VSU is 11th in the nation in red zone defense, holding teams to a 0.658 clip, while the team is 24th in scoring defense at 19.1 points allowed per game (tops league) and 18th in passing efficiency defense at a 106.75 clip to lead the GSC.  VSU is 37th nationally in total defense tops in the GSC at 320.8 yards allowed per game.  Individually, Mondrell Jefferson leads the nation in fumble recoveries with four, while graduate student Christian Matthew is 27th nationally in passes defended at 1.2 per game and 14 for the season.  Senior Nick Moss is 38th nationally in total tackles at 8.7 per game to lead the GSC.
 
HIGH POWERED OFFENSE
Not only do the Blazers have a stout defense, but also a strong offense as they lead the nation in total offense at 526.3 yards per game.  VSU is fourth nationally and tops in the GSC in red zone offense (0.926), while it is fifth nationally and second in the league in rushing offense at 262.8 yards per game.  VSU is fifth nationally second in the GSC in scoring offense at 44.0 points per game.  VSU is 32nd nationally in passing yards per completion at 14.06 for third in the league, while it has allowed just two sacks on the season to lead the nation in sacks allowed (0.17).  
 
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 59-52 in his 11th season of coaching.  Prior to VSU, he coached nine years at Tiffin University in Tiffin, Ohio.  Goff is 21-2 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 350 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 315-128-4 record (.709) behind Grand Valley State (416-143-3) with a .741 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 COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES WOULD  . . .