VALDOSTA, Ga. – Behind a Gulf South Conference record-tying five field goals from sophomore kicker Estin Thiele and three key interceptions by three different Blazers helped lead the No. 2/3-ranked Valdosta State football team to a 36-21 victory over Keiser University Thursday evening at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
 
Thiele's five field goals in five attempts, including a long of 45 late in the game, also tied the school-record set by Will Rhody against Central Arkansas in 2004.  Thiele also converted his three extra-points, while senior linebacker Jameon Gaskin, redshirt sophomore defensive back Sean Colman and redshirt junior defensive back Ravarius each had interceptions in the contest.
 
First-year head coach Tremaine Jackson won his opening game for the Blazers as he improved to 11-3 all-time as a head coach after two seasons at the helm of Colorado Mesa, in front of an announced crowd of 5,381 fans.  His saw his new team outgain KU 463 to 389 in total offense, while Blazer senior running back Jamar Thompkins finished with 113 yards on the ground on 19 carries and one touchdown.  Graduate-transfer wide receiver Davie Henderson hauled in two catches for 38 yards and his first touchdown as a Blazer.  Defensively, redshirt freshman defensive back Akil Lampley finished with a game-high ten tackles and five solo stops.  The Blazer "D" finished with six tackles for loss for 15 yards and one sack for nine yards.  
 
Lampley, Henderson and Thiele were named the Guardian Bank Players of the Game following the contest for their outstanding play in the opener.
 
VSU (1-0) improved to 28-12 all-time in season-openers and 13-8 all-time on Thursday's.  
 
Colman came up with the huge pick in the end zone as Keiser (1-1) marched right down the field on the opening possession of the game, converting two third down conversions and one fourth down conversion as quarterback Shea Spencer had a good scamper and two good throws to Jaylen Arnold.  Arnold finished with seven catches for 86 yards and a score, while Spencer was 22 of 43 passing for 263 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
 
Blazer senior quarterback Ivory Durham came out following the interception and he connected with graduate transfer B.K. Smith for 45 yards on the first play from scrimmage.  The drive stalled at the KU 18 as Thiele connected on his first field goal attempt.  
 
Keiser, ranked No. 7 nationally in the preseason National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Top 25, had a huge kick return on the ensuing possession as the Seahawks finished with four kick returns for 227 yards, but the Blazer "D" stood tall at the goal line as it stuffed the Seahawks on fourth and goal from the one, as senior Torren Calhoun and Lampley combined to stop Spencer in the backfield forcing the turnover on downs.  Following a promising start to the next Blazer drive, which included a key scamper from Durham, stalled with a holding penalty on the Blazers on a touchdown pass and an intentional grounding, forced VSU to punt. 
 
KU then methodically moved down the field and Marques Burgess scored from two yards out for a 7-3 lead with 8:33 left in the first half.  Late in the half, a great slant pass from Durham to a cutting freshman Ted Hurst for 21 yards put the Blazers at the KU 22 with 19 seconds left.  Thiele kicked his second field goal of the game for a 7-6 deficit at intermission.  
 
The six points marked the fewest points at halftime since the Blazers were held scoreless in a thrilling 20-15 victory at North Greenville on Oct. 26, 2019.  It also marked the first time VSU trailed at halftime in a regular season home game since a 17-7 loss to West Alabama on Nov. 4, 2017.  VSU last trailed at the half in a home game in which it came back to win was in the season-opener versus Albany State on Sept. 3, 2016, 16-7.
 
VSU came out of halftime with more vigor and moved right down the field with a couple of rushes by Thompkins and a couple of passes from Durham.  A big block in the back on Keiser gave VSU a first and 10 at the KU 22 as Durham hit Henderson for a 22-yard strike and a 13-7 Blazer lead in the first 2:44 minutes of the second half.  
 
Following the lone Blazer turnover of the game on a fumble, KU's Seth Rolle hit pay dirt on a 43-yard catch and run on third and two for a 14-13 Seahawk lead with 8:05 left in the quarter.  The Blazers then regained the lead as the penalties started to mount for Keiser.  Blazer graduate student Victor Talley caught a 17-yard pass from Durham and Thiele converted on a 36-yarder with 5:38 left in the quarter and a 16-14 lead. 
 
VSU turned the Seahawks over on downs, once again, as KU was 6 of 14 on third down for the game and 1 of 4 on fourth.  Conversely, VSU went 8 of 16 on third down and 0 of 1 on fourth.  Late in the third, Durham found senior Travon Roberts for 26 yards and Thompkins used runs of 8, 7 and 5 yards for a score and a 23-14 lead with 19 ticks left in the third.  
 
Keiser wouldn't go away quietly, however, as the Seahawks used an eight play, 75-yard drive as Spencer hit Arnold for a score and a 23-21 VSU lead.  Big catches from Henderson and Thompkins fueled the ensuing drive for VSU as senior Seth McGill rushed from 11-yards out for a touchdown and a 30-21 lead with 7:33 remaining.  McGill finished with ten carries for 44 yards and the score on the ground.  Durham finished the game 17 of 39 passing for 270 yards and a score, while he had five rushes for 29 yards.
 
Gaskin came up with his pick on the second play from scrimmage for the Seahawks on the ensuing drive and returned it 37 yards to the KU seven, as the Blazers settled for another field goal from Thiele for a 33-21 score.  Spencer was picked off, once again, this time by Rivers at midfield and the Blazers capitalized with another field goal from Thiele, this time the league and school-tying fifth field goal for a 36-21 lead with 2:35 left.  
 
The Blazers continue at home a week from Saturday as they battle Virginia Union at 5 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.