MURFREESBORO, N.C. – Leading 38-36 heading to the fourth quarter, the No. 22 Valdosta State football team outscored Chowan 13-0 in the final stanza for a 51-36 victory Saturday afternoon in the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
In a game that saw six lead changes, the Blazers withstood a strong effort from the Hawks for the victory as VSU improved to 5-0 on the year and 2-0 in Gulf South Conference play. Blazer junior quarterback
Sammy Edwards went 20 of 29 passing for 393 yards, a career-high six touchdown passes and one interception.
The six TD strikes by Edwards was the most since former Blazer
Ivory Durham threw six at Miles College on Sept. 17, 2022, and the 13
th time in program history. Junior
Council Allen had a team-high 118 yards receiving on four catches and two touchdowns, none bigger than an 84-yard touchdown reception and he caught the ball about five yards up field and broke numerous tackles as he streaked down the Blazer sideline for the score and a 51-36 lead with 7:49 left.
For the game, the Blazers finished with 487 yards of offense, including 393 through the air and 94 on the ground, while Chowan (0-5, 0-3 GSC) had 456 yards of offense with 329 through the air and 127 on the ground. Defensively, the Blazers had eight tackles for loss, one blocked kick and two sacks. Junior
Kennedy Parker led the team with nine tackles, six solo stops and one tackle for loss, along with one hurry.
Both teams put on a show through the air as Chowan's Rashad McKee went 23 of 37 passing for 329 yards and four touchdowns, while Blazer junior running back
Eric Watts had four carries for 63 yards and a touchdown run. His score gave VSU a 44-36 lead with 9:59 left in the fourth on a 47-yard run. Watts also had two catches for 59 yards and a touchdown reception.
Chowan took the ball after VSU deferred by winning the toss. McKee hit Deven Franklin for a 61-yard strike for the opening score and a 7-0 lead with 12:10 left in the first. The lead was short lived, however, as Edwards hit graduate student B.K smith for 33 yards and then graduate student
Xavier Williams for 30 yards and a 7-7 score with 10:53 left in the quarter.
Following a punt by CU, Edwards then hit Watts for the 50-yard touchdown on the first play of the ensuing drive and a 14-7 lead. The VSU "D" stepped up forcing a fumble from junior
DeAndre Clifton and a recovery by redshirt sophomore Jaden Blunt at the CU 36. VSU had to punt, however, on the ensuing possession for CU, Patric Talbot's punt went just seven yards on a bad snap and partially blocked as VSU took over at the CU 15. Edwards found sophomore
Ted Hurst for a 12-yard strike and a 21-7 score. A safety pulled CU within 21-9 at the end of the first quarter.
McKee found Noah Toster for an 8-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter for a 21-15 score, but the Blazers came back with a 44-yard field goal from junior
Estin Thiele for a 24-15 lead as it was Thiele's first made field goal of the season.
Quick scores continued to be the theme of the game as McKee hit Tyree Holloway for 75-yards on the first play from scrimmage trimming the VSU lead to 24-22 with 12:34 left in the half.
Chowan then took the lead late in the half at 29-24 with a long drive as McKee hit Franklin from four yards out with 2:06 remaining in the half.
VSU didn't panic however, as Williams gave VSU good field position with a 41-yard kickoff return. Edwards scampered for 15 yards and then hit Allen for 24-yards and his first touchdown of the game with 52 seconds left in the half and a 31-29 lead.
The Blazers moved right down the field on their first possession of the third quarter, but Edwards' pass was intercepted by Nick Wilson at the CU 10. The Hawks then regained the lead on a McKee touchdown run for a 36-31 score. VSU answered right back with a redshirt freshman
Rodney Bullard touchdown reception for the 38-36 score with 5:05 left in the quarter.
Chowan moved all the way to the VSU 17 early in the fourth, but the Blazer "D" stiffened, once again, as junior
Rayne Tanega-Doster came up with a huge 9-yard sack and junior
J'Quan Hicks blocked a 43-yard field goal turning the Hawks away and scored the 13 points in the frame and the 51-36 victory.
The Blazers return home to host No. 8-ranked Delta State on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium for the annual Pink Out Game as all fans are encouraged to wear pink.
