SETTING THE SCENE
The No. 13/15-ranked Valdosta State football team opens Gulf South Conference play with a 12 p.m. road game at Shorter University on Saturday in Rome, Ga., at Barron Stadium.  Both the Blazers and Hawks enter with 2-1 records through the first three games of the season.  This will be the first of two matchups with Shorter this season, as the Hawks return to Titletown for a Nov. 12 matchup for the Gulf South Conference Bracket Challenge for a non-conference game.
 
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.  Fans also can access the broadcast at www.talk921.com.  Links to live stats, audio/video streaming, ticket information and more can be found on at vstateblazers.com on the football schedule page.
  
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:

 
BACK ON THE WINNING TRACK
Following the disappointing 45-40 loss to Virginia Union on Sept. 10, the Blazers responded with a 55-7 thumping of Miles College on Saturday evening in Fairfield, Ala.  After a slow start with a 7-0 lead through one quarter, VSU scored double digits each of the final three quarters, outscoring 48-7 the rest of the way and 20-7 at halftime.  VSU tallied an even 700 yards of total offense for the contest for the second-most total yardage in program history (719, Nov. 27, 2021 vs. West Georgia).  VSU senior quarterback Ivory Durham threw a career-high six touchdown passes with 359 yards passing, while running for 113 yards.  It marked his fifth career game of rushing over 100 yards, while the 359 yards passing marked a season-high for 2022.  Senior running back Jamar Thompkins rushed over 100 yards for the third-straight week with 12 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown.  VSU held Miles to just 184 yards of total offense and just 69 yards through the air.

BLAZERS REMAIN IN TOP 15 
Following the dominating performance last Saturday at Miles College, the Blazers moved up to 13th in the newest D2Football.com Top 25, while it remained steady at 15th in the AFCA Coaches Poll. West Florida is sixth in both polls this week, while West Georgia is eighth in both polls.  Virginia Union moves into the top 25 in the AFCA poll at 22nd and is 20th in D2Football.com.  Ferris State leads the top 25 in both polls.  
 
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.  

 
THREE TIMES THE FUN
Senior Jamar Thompkins tallied his 14th game of over 100 yards rushing on Saturday at Miles College for his third-straight 100-yard game to begin the season. Thompkins had 12 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown for the contest.  Thompkins now has 3,606 career rushing yards for third all-time in school history on 446 carries and his 31 rushing scores puts him fifth all-time in school history.  Thompkins has 34 career touchdowns for 204 points for eighth all-time in program history in scoring.  This season, Thompkins is 33rd nationally and tops in the GSC in all-purpose yards at 133.67 per game, while he is fifth nationally in rush yards per carry (8.36) for tops in the conference, 14th nationally for rushing yards (326) and 15th nationally in rush yards per game at 108.7 which all lead the league.  
 
THE 700 CLUB
The Blazers tallied 700 yards of offense on Saturday 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 Saturday 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 Saturday 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 Saturday, 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.
 
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 Saturday.  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).
 
ALLEN, HURST, JEFFERY AND TISDALE
Sounds like a law firm doesn't it?  Well, it's not, but the quartet recorded four of the eight touchdowns by the Blazers on Saturday, four came from players who scored their first touchdowns as a Blazer for their careers.  Freshman Ted Hurst caught an 18-yard pass early in the second quarter for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead.  It marked his second reception of the season.  Sophomore Council Allen had a career game with four catches for a career-high 106 yards and a 75-yard touchdown reception in the second half, while graduate student Justin Jeffery caught his first TD for the Blazers in the third quarter on a 30-yard catch and run.  Sophomore Valdosta and Lowndes High School product Travis Tisdale broke off a 46-yard run down to the Miles 1-yard line and then called his number again for the score putting an exclamation point on the 55-7 victory. 
 
DUDLEY DOES WORK
Freshman Terrell Dudley tallied a team-high nine solo tackles, one sack for nine yards and two tackles for loss for 13 yards in the win at Miles College.  It marked his first career start for the Blazers also. 
 
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.
 
ABOUT SHORTER
The Hawks are off to a 2-1 start and looking for their first 3-1 start since 2014.  SU dropped a 42-20 decision at home to Albany State on Saturday where ASU led 21-14 at halftime and outscored the Hawks 21-6 in the second half.  SU quarterback Aeneas Dennis went 12 of 22 passing for 178 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while standout wide receiver Dorian Anderson had five catches for 131 yards and a touchdown to lead the team.  Shorter opened the season with a 45-6 win at Brevard (N.C.) and won at home versus Catawba (N.C.), 34-21.  The Hawks are under the direction of fifth-year head coach Zach Morrison who is 8-32 at the helm of the program.  He is 0-3 against VSU.  Tight end Kyle Morlock and defensive lineman Bryan Rice earned preseason all-conference honors this season as the Hawks were picked eighth in the preseason poll.  This season, the Hawks are tenth nationally and lead the GSC in 3rd down conversion percentage at a .525 clip, while they are fourth nationally and second to VSU in the GSC in first downs with 73 as VSU leads the nation with 84. SU is third in the GSC in passing offense at 261.7 yards per game, while it is third in the league in rushing offense at 212.7 yards per game for 25th nationally.  The Hawks are seventh nationally in passing efficiency at 174.99, while the team is tenth nationally in total offense at 474.3 yards per game and second in the GSC behind national leader VSU at 562.7 yards per game.  Individually, Dennis is 11th nationally in passing efficiency at 165.6, while he is sixth nationally in passing touchdowns with nine and second in the GSC behind VSU's Ivory Durham.  Wide receiver Dorian Anderson is fifth nationally in touchdown receptions with four for tops in the GSC, while teammate John Dietl III is tied for second in the GSC with three for 13th nationally.  Anderson is third in the GSC in receiving yards with 235, while he also has four total touchdowns for 24th nationally and second in the league.  Defensively this season, Artellious Edmonds leads the team with 17 total tackles, one tackle for loss and one interception.  Marc Harris has 15 total tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack. Rice leads the team with three tackles for loss and is tied for second in total tackles with 15.  
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH SHORTER
VSU leads the all-time series with Shorter, 9-0, including a 49-13 victory in Valdosta on Oct. 2, 2013.  The Blazers have outscored the Hawks 393-54 in the nine meetings with four shutouts.  VSU has scored 37 or more points in each of the nine previous meetings.  The Blazers are 4-0 all-time in Rome, Ga.  This will be the first of two meetings with Shorter this season as the teams will meet in Valdosta on Nov. 12 for the GSC Bracket Challenge as a non-conference game.
 
SMITH X3
Graduate transfer wide receiver B.K. Smith tallied three receiving touchdowns Sept. 10 against Virginia Union.  Smith had eight receptions for 88 yards in the game.  His three TD's are good four fourth nationally and tops in the league.  For the season, Smith has 14 catches for 218 yards and the three scores.  He is averaging 72.7 yards per game.  
 
THROUGH THIELE
Sophomore kicker Estin Thiele continued his outstanding start to the season, converting two more field goals and four extra-points on Sept. 10.  Thiele now is 7 of 8 in field goals and 14 of 15 in extra-points for the season for 35 points.  Thiele is second nationally and tops in the GSC in field goals per game (2.33), while he is 11th nationally and tops in the league in scoring at 11.7 points per game.  Thiele has scored 150 points for his career at VSU.
 
MCGILL WITH THE RETURN
Senior Seth McGill is 22nd nationally and tops in the GSC in kickoff return yards at 27.0 per contest, while he is second in the GSC in all-purpose yards at 133.33 for 35th nationally.  McGill is third on the team in rushing at 61.3 yards per game on 31 carries for 184 yards and one touchdown.  He also has nine catches for 54 yards this season.  For his career, McGill is eighth all-time in school history in rushing with 2,835 yards on 460 carries, while he is second all-time in school history in rushing touchdowns with 38.  McGill is sixth all-time in school history in scoring with 246 points on 41 total touchdowns.
 
FIRST IN THE NATION
With midterm elections coming in November, the Blazers lead the nation in first down offense with 84 this season through three games for an average of 28 new downs each game.  VSU is one of nine teams in NCAA Division II to not have surrendered a sack this season and one of 22 teams still perfect in the red zone.  VSU also leads the nation in total offense at 562.7 yards per game.  Individually, senior quarterback Ivory Durham leads the nation in passing touchdowns with 12, while he also leads the nation in total offense at 376.0 yards per game and points responsible for (72).
 
GETTING THE PICK 
The Blazers had three picks in the victory over Keiser on Sept. 1 marking the first time since Sept. 21, 2019, in a 44-27 victory over West Alabama, VSU tallied three INTs in a game.  In the game, Gaskin recorded his second career INT and returned it 37 yards late in the game, while sophomore Sean Colman and junior Ravarius Rivers each had an interception.  It was Rivers' third INT for his career and Colman's first.  Since 2018, VSU has had four games of three interceptions as a team.  Through three weeks this season, the Blazers have four interceptions as sophomore Phillip Starks tallied his first career INT last weekend at Miles College.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
The Blazers began a three-game stretch of road games last weekend in the 55-7 victory at Miles College, marking the first three-game road trip since 2014 when the Blazers ended the regular season with three-straight road games and then a fourth and fifth game on the road at North Alabama and Lenoir-Rhyne in the NCAA playoffs.  2022 marks the third time of playing three-straight road games in a regular season with 2014 and 2003 being the other two.  In 1992, VSU opened the season with four-straight road games.  VSU won its last four road openers dating back to 2018 with the win last weekend.  
 
SECOND HALF RALLY VS. KEISER
After trailing 7-6 at halftime, VSU outscored Keiser 30-14 in the second half as it marked just the second time VSU trailed at halftime of a regular season game at home since a 17-7 loss to West Alabama on Nov. 4, 2017.  The win in the season-opener also marked the first time VSU had trailed at halftime in a home game and won was versus Albany State on Sept. 3, 2016, 16-7.  The six points on Thursday at halftime marked the fewest for the Blazers since going scoreless in a thrilling 20-15 victory at North Greenville on Oct. 26, 2019.  The Thursday game marked the first time since 2015 VSU has played a game on a Thursday.  VSU now is 13-8 all-time on Thursday and 14-9 all-time on games played other than Saturday.

VSU FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE GAME/WEEK
Following the 36-21 victory over Keiser, VSU head coach Tremaine Jackson named senior running back Jamar Thompkins (Offense), defensive lineman Torren Calhoun (Defense) and sophomore kicker Estin Thiele (Special Teams) Blazer Players of the Game.  In addition, Jackson announced Tanjuatco Gelin as Offensive and Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Week and Aree Booker as Scout Defensive Player of the Week.  Against Miles College after the 55-7 victory on Sept. 17, senior Ivory Durham, freshman Terrell Dudley and redshirt freshman long snapper Bryce Robinson (Special Teams) were named Blazer Players of the Game, while Rodney Bullard, (WR), Zaire Harrison (DL) and Daniel Jean (SP), were named Scout Team Players of the Week.
 
THIELE NAMED D2FOOTBALL.COM SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Adding to his outstanding Sept. 1 outing to open the 2022 season, Estin Thiele was named D2Football.com National Special Teams Player of the Week as he connected on five field goals in five attempts, tying the school record with Will Rhody for field goals made in a game (2004 vs. Central Arkansas) and tied the GSC record.  Thiele also went 3 for 3 in extra-points for 18 points for the game and his five field goals proved to be the margin in the 36-21 victory over Keiser.
 
BLAZERS PICKED TO WIN GSC; SIX NAMED TO ALL-GSC PRESEASON TEAM
The Blazers were picked to win the GSC in 2022 and had six players named to the All-GSC Preseason Team as senior quarterback Ivory Durham, senior running backs Seth McGill and Jamar Thompkins and graduate offensive lineman Jeremiah Campbell were selected on offense.  On defense, senior linebacker Jameon Gaskin was named to the team, while sophomore Estin Thiele was named as a kicker.
 
BLAZERS PICKED SECOND IN LINDY'S PRESEASON TOP 25; DURHAM NAMED PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA
The Blazers were picked second in Lindy's Sports 2022 Division II Preseason Top 25, while senior quarterback Ivory Durham was named to the magazine's Preseason All-America team. GSC foe West Florida was tenth in the poll.  Shorter tight end Kyle Morlock and West Georgia kicker Omar Cervantes also were named to the preseason second team by the magazine.
 
40TH YEAR
The 2022 season marks the 40th playing season of Blazer football.  The program is 318-130-4 all-time (.709) 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).  
 
TEAM CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED FOR 2022 SEASON
For the 2022 season, the team captains for the Blazers are senior quarterback Ivory Durham, senior running back Seth McGill, graduate offensive lineman Jeremiah Campbell, senior linebacker Jameon Gaskin and graduate defensive lineman Javiontae Martin.  The captains have a combined record of 36-3 with a national championship in 2018, three Gulf South Conference titles and a national runner-up finish in 2021.
 
2022 BLAZER LEADERSHIP COUNCIL 
First year head coach Tremaine Jackson announced in August the 2022 Blazer Leadership Council, including team captains Campbell, Durham, Gaskin Martin and McGill, along with graduate defensive lineman Michael Gayden, sophomore long snapper Brett Buckridge, senior linebacker Jackson Bull and sophomore linebacker Phillip Starks.  
 
11 FOR 22
For the first time since 1999, the Blazers are scheduled to play 11 games during the regular season.  This marks just the 13th time in the 40-year playing history of the program playing 11 regular season games.  
 
HEAD COACH TREMAINE JACKSON
Valdosta State Director of Athletics announced at a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022, at a press conference Tremaine Jackson as the 11th head coach in Blazer football history. "I am honored and humbled to be named the Head Football Coach at Valdosta State University," Jackson said.  "I'd like to thank Athletic Director Mr. Reinhard and President Carvajal for the opportunity to lead the Blazer football program.  It is my intent to continue and enhance the storied tradition of Blazer football for many years to come.  I cannot wait to get to Titletown USA to meet the local community and begin our work on the 2022 season!  There are three main things that attracted me to Valdosta State, (1) the history, tradition and brand of VSU football, (2) the chance to compete on the national stage every year, (3) the chance to be coached by a seasoned Athletic Director like Mr. Reinhard."  During Jackson's tenure at Colorado Mesa, he went 10-3 in his two seasons, including 8-2 this season and posted a thrilling 26-21 victory over then-No. 3-ranked Colorado School of Mines on Oct. 23, 2021, for Homecoming.  It was the Mavericks' first victory over a top five opponent since they became an NCAA Division II school in 1994.  Jackson's squad went 2-1 in the spring of 2021 during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The 2021 fall edition of the Mavericks finished 13th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 15.6 points per game, while the team was 34th nationally in scoring offense at 33.7 points per game.  CMU finished in the top 20 nationally in both total defense (10th – 258.2 ypg) and total offense (16th – 452.0 ypg). Jackson coached two Academic All-America players this season and one AFCA Second Team All-America honoree, along with 21 All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) performers, including RMAC Offensive Freshman of the Year in Karst Hunter.

MORE PRESEASON HONORS
The Blazers had more preseason honors with the D2Football.com Elite 100 as senior quarterback Ivory Durham and senior running back Jamar Thompkins were named to the second team, while graduate offensive lineman Jeremiah Campbell, senior linebacker Jameon Gaskin and senior running back Seth McGill were named to the Squad Team.  In addition, the College Gridiron Showcase announced its Players to Watch this season among small colleges, including Campbell, Durham, McGill and Thompkins.
 
THIRD STRAIGHT GSC TITLE IN 2021
VSU and West Florida shared the Gulf South Conference title last season, marking the third-straight year VSU has either won outright or shared the league title.  The Blazers won the outright title in 2018 and 2019.    The Blazers have won or shared nine titles in program history to tie for second-most all-time in GSC history (Jacksonville State) and the nine titles are the most of any current GSC school.  Former member, North Alabama, had 13 league titles.
 
COACH TREMAINE JACKSON SHOW(S)
The Coach Tremaine Jackson Show will be available each Sunday at vstateblazers.com on the football page throughout the season as it will include interviews from Jackson, 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.  Also returning this season is the Monday evening radio show at Salty Snapper from 7-8 p.m.  Coach Jackson will break down the previous game with Matt Malone - Assistant Athletic Director for Development hosting.  Jackson and Malone will recap the previous week and preview the next game. The Tremaine Jackson Show will begin Monday, August 29 and will be broadcast on 105.9 FM WVGA in Valdosta and www.valdostatoday.com.
 
NO SHUTOUTS
The Blazers lead all of NCAA Division II with 356 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 318-130-4 record (.709) behind Grand Valley State (418-143-3) 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 SHORTER WOULD . . .