SETTING THE SCENE
Following a disappointing conclusion to the three-game road trip at then-No. 21 Delta State last Saturday, the Valdosta State football team returns home to host West Alabama Saturday at 7 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.  Both teams enter with a 3-2 record overall and 1-1 records in the Gulf South Conference.  West Alabama won 37-14 over Shorter in Livingston, Ala., on Saturday.  VSU has won the last three meetings in the series against UWA.
 
CANCER AWARENESS GAME 
Saturday's contest with West Alabama is in support of cancer awareness.  Fans are encouraged to wear pink to the game Saturday evening.  
 
CALLING THE GAME
TALK 92.1 FM will broadcast the Blazer games all season long with Spencer Van Horn and Wade Beale having the call.  In addition, Dave Garner and Taylor Biddle will have the call of all home games this season on the webstream, which can be accessed at vstateblazers.com on the football schedule page.
 
HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Season tickets and single-game tickets currently are available for purchase online at vstateblazers.com or by calling the Athletic Department Ticket Office at 229-333-SEAT (7328).  The Athletic Department Ticket Office is Open Monday-Friday and tickets can be purchased until 2:45 p.m., the day prior to each home game (i.e. Friday at 2:45 p.m. for Saturday home game).  The Athletic Department Ticket Office is located in The P.E. Complex on Sustella Avenue until 3 p.m. the day before a game.  
 
STOUT OFFENSE VERSUS STINGY DEFENSE 
This week is a matchup of the top offense in the GSC versus the top scoring defense in the league.  VSU enters averaging 504.2 yards per game for second nationally, while UWA enters 17th nationally in total defense and second in the GSC allowing 259.8 yards per game.  VSU leads the nation in first down offense with 125, while it is 20th nationally in rushing offense at 218.4 yards per game and 15th nationally in passing offense at 285.8 yards per game.  Conversely, UWA's defense is allowing just 13.0 points per game for 11th nationally and tops in the league, while allowing just 116 yards per game on the ground and 143.8 yards through the air for 15th nationally and second in the GSC.  UWA is third in the GSC in first downs allowed with 84, while it is ninth nationally in red zone defense, holding teams to a 0.571 clip.  VSU leads the GSC and is fourth nationally in red zone offense at a 0.960 clip. UWA's defense has been strong all season as it has not allowed more than 22 points all season.  VSU enters third in the GSC and 11th nationally in scoring offense at 39.2 points per game and the Blazers have scored 30 or more points in every game this season. 
 
FLOSPORTS
The Gulf South Conference enters its second year of a four-year agreement with FloSports to broadcast all GSC football games this fall.  ALL VSU football home regular season and road conference 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:

 
THIS WEEK IN THE GSC
Currently there is a log jam for second in the GSC standings through two league games.  Six different teams are 1-1 in league play, while Delta State leads the way at 2-0 and Shorter is eighth at 0-2. Delta State goes on the road at North Greenville, who almost upset West Florida last week, while West Florida travels to West Georgia, who was upset by Mississippi College on a two-point conversion a week ago.  Shorter heads to Mississippi College searching for its first Gulf South Conference victory since defeating Mississippi College on Oct. 3, 2015 in Clinton, Miss., for a span of 45 games. 
 
MCGILL WITH THE TD
Senior Seth McGill has never had trouble finding the end zone either rushing or receiving in his career, but Saturday marked the first time he had thrown a touchdown pass in his Blazer career.  Late in the game at Delta State on Oct. 1, McGill hooked up with freshman Ted Hurst for a 55-yard halfback toss and pass.  It was Hurst's second touchdown reception of the game.  It also marked McGill's first completed pass as he now is 1-4 all-time passing.
 
HUNGRY HURST
Freshman receiver Ted Hurst had two touchdown catches for 64 yards on two receptions at Delta State last Saturday.  He has four catches for the season for 103 yards and three touchdown receptions.  Hurst caught his first touchdown reception at Miles College on Sept. 17.  
 
MCGILL OVER 3000 AND DURHAM OVER 2000
Seniors Seth McGill and Ivory Durham moved over 3,000 and 2,000 career rushing yards, respectively, on Saturday.  McGill now has 3,058 yards for his career, while Durham has 2,003.  Durham also moved into fifth all-time in total offense with 7,402 total yards for his career.  He also is fifth in career passing touchdowns with 56 and ninth in career pass completions with 383.  McGill is sixth all-time in school history in rushing yards, while he is second all-time in rushing touchdowns with 39 and sixth all-time in career scoring with 252 points.  
 
THOMPKINS THIRD IN RUSHING
Senior running back Jamar Thompkins is third all-time in rushing yards with 3,665 on 461 carries.  He has 32 rushing touchdowns for his career for fifth all-time, while he is eighth all-time in career scoring with 210 points.
 
DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLES
Against Delta State, the Blazers had three players with double-digit tackles with sophomore Sean Colman and senior Jameon Gaskin each recording 12 tackles.  Senior Michael Gayden added ten stops.  Gaskin is closing in on the top ten in program history in total tackles.  He has 215 for his career with 86 solo stops in 40 total games played.    He needs 44 tackles to tie for tenth all-time in program history.   The game marked back-to-back games with at least two Blazers having double-digit tackles. 
 
WITH THE BLOCK
VSU came up with two huge blocks - one a field goal from senior Javiontae Martin in the first half to preserve a 10-0 deficit at the time in the second quarter and then on a blocked extra-point from sophomore Sean Colman at Shorter on Sept. 24.  The last time VSU blocked a field goal was by Christian Matthews versus North Greenville in 2021, but VSU hadn't blocked an extra-point since Sept. 16, 2017 against North Alabama by Jarius Jones.  VSU now is 25th nationally and second in the GSC in blocked kicks with two.  North Greenville leads the league with three blocks this season.
 
BILLUPS WITH THE PICK
Redshirt freshman defensive back Jordan Billups came up with a huge 65-yard interception return in the second half of the Blazers' 34-30 victory at Shorter on Sept. 24.  It was Billups' first career INT and the fifth of the season for the Blazers.  VSU is 33rd nationally and tops in the GSC in INTs with five.  VSU has had just two passes intercepted for the season for 24th nationally and second in the league.
 
STRONG AGAINST THE GSC
Over the 39-plus years of football at VSU, the Blazers have done well against the GSC and has a winning record against every current GSC foe except Delta State who now leads the series 21-19-1.  The Blazers are 207-89-3 all-time against the GSC.  The 207 victories are most in GSC history among current members and second-most all-time behind 219 from North Alabama.  
 
27:57
The Blazers had the ball for just 22:57 minutes of time in the 34-30 win at Shorter on Sept. 24.  That was the fewest minutes of possession time this season.  The Blazers had the ball for just 3:08 in the first quarter and 4:43 in the second quarter.  VSU is averaging 27:57 minutes of possession time this season for fifth in the GSC.  West Alabama is sixth in the GSC at 26:47.  
 
GUARDIAN BANK PLAYERS OF THE GAME
This season each game a number of players will be selected as the Guardian Bank Players of the Game.  Below is the list of each Guardian Bank Players of the Game from each contest this season.  

 
FIRST IN THE NATION
The Blazers lead the nation in first down offense with 125 first downs gained this season.  VSU is second nationally in total offense at 504.2 yards per game, while it is fourth nationally in red zone offense at 0.960.  
 
NOT GETTING INTO THE BACKFIELD
The Blazers have been great this season in sacks allowed and tackles for loss allowed.  VSU, who led the nation in 2021 in sacks allowed, has allowed just one sack this season for second nationally at a 0.2 clip per contest.  Also, the Blazers are allowing just 3.2 tackles allowed for loss per game for seventh nationally.  West Alabama enters averaging 9.2 tackles for loss per game for 11th nationally and 4.00 sacks per game to lead the GSC and seventh nationally. 
 
ABOUT WEST ALABAMA
The Tigers enter with a 3-2 record overall and a 1-1 mark in the GSC after winning 37-14 over Shorter last weekend.  UWA is under the direction of head coach Brent Gilliland who is 54-32 at UWA and 1-6 against VSU.  This season, UWA has used three running backs in Bry Webb, who leads the team averaging 64.8 yards per game on 50 carries for 324 yards and two touchdowns.  Demetrius Battle has 252 yards and two scores on 71 carries, while Antonio Brown has 29 touches for 176 yards and a score.  The Tigers have split time under center between Tucker Metlon who is 76 of 149 with five interceptions and eight touchdowns for 929 yards and Jake Corkren who is 18 of 42 for 162 yards and one interception. John Hilbert leads the team with 20 catches for 284 yards and three scores.  Dearrius Nelson leads the team with eight kick returns for 211 yards for the season and a 26.4-yard average for fourth in the GSC.  Defensively, Michael Anderson has 38 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss for 30 yards and three sacks for 11 yards this season to lead the Tigers.  Jamal Ellis has four sacks for 29 yards as he is second in the GSC in sacks per game, while Anderson is 16th nationally in solo tackles per game at 6.2 to lead the league.  
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH WEST ALABAMA
VSU leads the all-time series with UWA 35-5 and 19-2 all-time at home.  The Blazers have won three-straight in the series and seven of ten.  UWA did win in Valdosta on Nov. 4, 2017, for just the second time in history and first since 2012.  VSU won 24-straight games from Oct. 18, 1986, to Nov. 11, 2010, when UWA won 24-21 in Livingston, Ala., where the Blazers are 16-3 all-time.   VSU has outscored UWA 1,328  to 684 for the series and has scored 40 or more points in each of the last three meetings during the winning streak.
 
THIELE NAMED TO FRED MITCHELL AWARD WATCH LIST
Following his outstanding start to the season, sophomore kicker Estin Thiele has been named to the September Watch List of the Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award, which annually goes to the top place-kicker from FCS, DII, DIII, NAIA and NJCAA in January.  This month, 17 place-kickers were announced including Thiele.  In all, five of the 17 were from NCAA Division II institutions.  This season, Thiele is 10of 12 in field goals with a long of 45 and 22 of 23 in extra-points for 52 total points.  Thiele is second nationally in field goals per game at a 2.25 clip, while he is 19th nationally in field goal percentage at an .833 average.  He is second nationally in field goals per game at a 2.00 clip, while he is 11th nationally in scoring at 10.4 points per game to lead the league.  For his career at VSU, he has scored 167 points.  
 
GOOD ON THIRD
The Blazers are 36th nationally and third in the GSC in 3rd-down conversion at a .443 clip on 27 of 61.  
 
PROTECTING THE ROCK 
The Blazers have just two lost fumbles and five fumbles total this season.  VSU is 21st nationally in fumbles lost, while it is fourth in the GSC in turnover margin (0.40) and 17th in turnovers lost this season with just five for third in the league.
 
THE 700 CLUB
The Blazers tallied 700 yards of offense on Sept. 17 at Miles College, marking the second highest output in school history.  VSU tallied the school-record of 719 yards of offense against West Georgia (Nov. 27, 2021) in the NCAA playoffs.  The 700 yards is the most in the regular season since the red and black had 671 yards at Shorter on Sept. 28, 2019.  The 700 yards last week also is the most in the NCAA so far this season in Division II and VSU is one of seven institutions with a game of 700 yards of offense across all three divisions.  Moreover, the 700 yards is good for eighth-best all-time in Gulf South Conference history, as VSU leads all of Division II in total offense this season at 562.7 yards per game.
 
DURHAM FOR SIX
Senior quarterback Ivory Durham tossed a career-high six touchdown passes at Miles College on Sept. 17, tying for the most in a single game this season in NCAA Division II with four others.  He also had five touchdown passes versus Virginia Union (Sept. 10).  Durham finished the game 14 of 27 passing for 359 yards, the six TDs and no interceptions, while he had ten rushes for 113 yards.  Durham's six tosses marked the most since former Blazer Rogan Wells threw six in the national championship game in 2018 against Ferris State.  The six tosses at Miles College tied Durham for seventh all-time in GSC history as former Blazers Chris Hatcher (2) and Dusty Bonner each tossed seven TDs in a game, which is the league record, achieved six times in league history.   
 
DURHAM NAMED GSC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
For his standout efforts on Sept. 17, Durham was named GSC Player of the Week after his six TDs and rushing for over 100 yards at Miles College.  It marked the third time Durham has earned GSC Player of the Week honors for his career and he is the fourth different Blazer to earn weekly honors this season, along with senior linebacker Jameon Gaskin, freshman linebacker Akil Lampley and sophomore kicker Estin Thiele.  Durham is tenth all-time in program history in career rushing yards with 1,959 on 233 carries with 22 rushing touchdowns, which is good for tenth in school history.  Durham is sixth all-time in program history in passing touchdowns with 54, while he has 4,977 passing yards for ninth all-time in school history.  He is 348 of 599 passing and 14 interceptions.  Durham is fifth all-time in school history in total offense with 6,936 career yards on 832 plays.
 
D2FOOTBALL.COM HIGHLIGHTS DURHAM
In addition to his GSC Player of the Week accolade, Durham also was named D2Football.com Offensive Player of the Week, marking the second Blazer to earn the honor this season as sophomore kicker Estin Thiele earned D2Football.com Special Teams Player of the Week honors, following the first week of the season.  Durham also was named Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athlete of the of the Week.

FIRST TOUCHDOWN
Following an interception on the first play from scrimmage by sophomore Phillip Starks, the Blazers needed just two plays to put it in the end zone on Sept. 17 in the win at Miles College.  Durham rushed for 16 yards and Thompkins rushed for 18 for the score at the 14:18 mark in the first quarter.  It was the quickest from scrimmage touchdown for the Blazers from the start of the game since the 14:13 mark on Oct. 5, 2019, when VSU needed just two plays and 47 seconds as Thompkins ran 54-yards for a score against Mississippi College.  Last season, the Blazers ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown from both Thompkins and former Blazer Lio'undre Gallimore against Delta State (Oct. 9, 2021).
 
UNDER 200 
Speaking of defense, the Blazers held Miles College to under 200 yards of total offense, allowing 115 yards rushing and just 69 yards passing.  It marked the first time since Savannah State had 187 yards of offense with 127 on the ground and 60 through the air to open the 2021 season as VSU won 53-7.
 
40TH YEAR
The 2022 season marks the 40th playing season of Blazer football.  The program is 319-131-4 all-time (.706) and has just four losing seasons in the history of the program.  VSU has 32 winning seasons and has won double-digit games 12 times, including a school-record 14 victories in 2002 and 2018.  The Blazers have won four national championships and appeared in six national title games - all since 2002.  The Blazers are 29-14 all-time in the NCAA postseason in 18 appearances as the four national titles are tied with Grand Valley State for third-most in NCAA Division II history and tie for second among active Division II programs (Northwest Missouri State, 6).  The 29 NCAA postseason victories are good for fifth-most all-time in D2 and third-most among active D2 members (Northwest Missouri State, 52 / Grand Valley State, 36).  
 
NO SHUTOUTS
The Blazers lead all of NCAA Division II with 358 consecutive games without being shutout dating back to a 12-0 loss to Central Florida on Sept. 14, 1991.  VSU only has been shut out five times in program history.  Grand Valley is just behind the Blazers at over 340 games without a shutout.
 
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 319-131-4 record (.706) behind Grand Valley State (421-143-3) 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 WEST ALABAMA WOULD . . .