CARROLLTON, Ga. – The Valdosta State football team dropped a 54-17 decision at No. 25 West Georgia Saturday evening in the annual Battle for the Peach Basket.  VSU fell to 3-5 on the year and 1-4 in Gulf South Conference play, while UWG improved to 5-2 and 3-2 in league play.
 
The Wolves regained the Peach Basket and took a 2.5-0 lead in the second year of the Red Clay Rivalry Series.  It was UWG's first win in the series since a 42-13 win on Oct. 7, 2017.  VSU now is 28-14 all-time against UWG and 11-10 in Carrollton.
 
Following a promising first half, UWG outscored the Blazers 27-0 in the second half, including 21-0 in the third quarter, for the victory.  VSU finished with 314 yards for the game on 66 plays, while recording 87 yards on the ground and 227 through the air.  The Blazers had 15 first downs, but struggled getting off the field defensively as UWG was 10 of 14 on third down.
 
Blazer senior quarterback Ivory Durham ran for a touchdown, while he was 12 of 31 passing for 227 yards, one touchdown and one interception.  He hit freshman Ted Hurst twice for a career-high 101 yards and a touchdown on a 58-yard strike in the first half.  Senior running back Jamar Thompkins moved into second all-time in career rushing yards with 74 yards on 13 carries as he surpassed former Blazer Aaron Jenkins (2000-03) on the all-time list.  Thompkins now has 3,880 yards on 497 carries for his career.  He is 235 yards from tying school record holder Cedric O'Neal with 4,115 yards set from 2012-2015. 
 
Hurst and Thompkins were named the Guardian Bank Blazer Players of the Game.  Defensively, freshman Terrell Dudley had 12 total tackles for the Blazers. 
 
The Wolves finished with 30 first downs, 259 yards on the ground and 337 through the air for 596 yards total.  UWG quarterback Harrison Frost finished 26 of 34 passing for 337 yards and four touchdowns, while running back Jaxton Carson had 27 carries for 177 yards and three touchdowns. Terrill Cole caught three passes for 41 yards and two touchdowns and Steve Peterson had three catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. 
 
UWG marched down the field on the opening possession and used a third and six from the UWG 46 as Frost hit Xyre Wilson for 13 yards and a first down and then Frost hit Steve Peterson for 14 yards to the VSU 27.  Carson used rushes of 12, 5 and 2 to the VSU eight and Frost found Tre Williams for an 8-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. 
 
Durham hit senior B.K. Smith for 16-yards on 3^rd and 11 to the UWG 27 on the Blazers' first possession of the game and Durham later scored from two yards out for a 7-7 score.  The Wolves then converted another big third down – this time on third and eight from their own 49 on another connection between Frost and Wilson for 12 yards and then a pass to Ronnie Blackmon for 13 and Peterson for 19 to the VSU two.  From there Carson scored for a 13-7 score as the PAT was missed. 
 
Looking to equalize the score once again, Durham found senior Victor Talley for 61 yards to the UWG 4 on a third and five from the VSU 35.  The Blazers were unable to get into the end zone, settling for a 26-yard field goal from sophomore Estin Thiele for a 13-10 deficit early in the second quarter. 
 
The Blazers had UWG in a third and six once again, but Frost hit LaPerion Perry for 17 yards and a first down, sparking another long drive for the Wolves.  UWG used another third down conversion on a run from Carson to the VSU two and he scored from one yard out for a 20-10 score. 
 
On a second and nine from the VSU 42, Durham hit Hurst for a 58-yard touchdown strike and a 20-17 score.  UWG moved down the field to the VSU 21, but Frost's pass was dropped by Perry on a third and 6 and then the Blazers came up with the first stop of the game as redshirt freshman Jordan Billups broke up Frost's pass for a turnover on downs. 
 
VSU was unable to get a first down on the ensuing drive and went for it on 4^th and two from the VSU 39 as Durham was tackled for a three-yard loss.  Following the turnover on downs, Frost hit Peterson for a 15-yard touchdown and a 27-17 lead late in the half. 
 
UWG held an 18-7 lead in first downs as VSU had 45 rushing yards and 151 passing yards, while UWG had 123 on the ground and 194 through the air.  Neither team punted in the first half as UWG was 6 of 7 on third down and VSU was 5 of 7.
 
The Blazers had a promising start to the third quarter, but a fumble by the Blazers gave UWG the ball at the VSU 46.  The Blazers came up with a stop on third down at the VSU 25, but Frost put a pass between three Blazer defenders for a 25-yard strike to Cole and a 34-17 lead with 11:57 left in the third.   UWG added two more touchdowns in the third quarter and one in the fourth for the 54-17 victory.
 
VSU returns to action next Saturday at 3 p.m. at North Greenville in Tigerville, S.C.