VALDOSTA, Ga. – Playing at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium for the first time in over a month, the No. 3 Valdosta State football team started fast en route to a 35-10 victory over Mississippi College on Homecoming Saturday afternoon.
 
The Blazers improved to 7-0 on the year and 3-0 in Gulf South Conference play, while MC fell to 0-7 overall and 0-5 in league play.  VSU improved to 36-6 all-time on Homecoming with the victory. 
 
VSU finished with 480 yards for the game, including 289 passing yards as senior quarterback Sammy Edwards was 20 of 30 passing with four touchdown tosses, while the Blazers had 191 yards on the ground led by 11 carries for 91 yards from graduate student Blake Hester.  Graduate student Tyle Ajiero had four catches for 57 yards and two touchdown receptions.  Defensively, the Blazers held MC to 261 yards of total offense including 223 yards on the ground and 38 passing.  VSU clamped down in the second half holding MC to just 93 yards of offense in the second half.  Graduate student Larry Elder finished with 11 total tackles and five solo stops and one tackle for loss, while senior Montae Boyd had nine total tackles and two tackles for loss.  Overall, VSU finished with ten tackles for loss for 16 yards.  VSU also scored 14 points off two MC turnovers, one fumble and one interception. 
 
The Blazers forced the early turnover as Mississippi College began the game with the ball and moved into VSU territory, but Preston Godfrey coughed it up with junior Sean Colman recovering it at the VSU 48.  From there, Edwards hit Hester for 26 yards to the MC 27.  On 4^th and 5 from the 22, Edwards connected with Tyler Ajiero for a first down at the 17.  VSU initially scored on a 4-yard run by Hester, but a holding penalty moved the Blazers back.  Despite the penalty Ajiero made an acrobatic catch for his third touchdown reception of the season in the back of the end zone for a 7-0 lead with 9:22 remaining in the first quarter.
 
The Choctaws moved into VSU territory, once again, but the Blazer "D" stood tall as junior Dallas Robinson picked off the first pass attempt of the game by MC.  VSU quickly moved into the red zone as Edwards hit graduate student Xyre Wilson for eight yards to the six and senior Alfonso Franklin scored his sixth rushing score of the season and a 14-0 lead with 2:52 left in the first quarter. 
 
Following a punt by the Choctaws, the Blazers used a nice pass from Edwards to Franklin for 17-yards and then, on 3^rd and 4, Edwards found graduate student Rodney Bullard on a slant pattern for a 56-yard touchdown strike and a 21-0 lead with 14:16 left in the first half.  It was Bullard's team-leading sixth touchdown reception of the season.
 
MC continued to run the ball and moved down to the VSU 20 marking the first time in the red zone in the game.  On a 3^rd and goal from the two, the Blazers stopped Marcus Williams for no gain for a fourth down.  MC ran a reverse for a touchdown for Lamonte James and a 21-7 score with 8:36 left in the first half.   
 
Following punts by both teams, including a 52-yarder from MC's Michael Shine down to the VSU two, Hester rushed 11 yards to get out of the shadow of the end zone.  On 3^rd and 3 from the 20, Edwards ran 21-yards for a first down, but was stripped by the Choctaws near the sideline.  MC recovered at the VSU 41.  It marked just the second turnover of the season on the Blazers as they entered the game allowing the fewest turnovers in Division II.  The Blazer "D" stiffened and forced a fourth and five from the VSU 36.  A big ankle tackle from graduate student Caden Campolieti turned the Choctaws over on downs with 1:29 left in the half. 
 
For the half, VSU had 32 plays for 261 yards, while it had 88 yards on the ground and Edwards was 13 of 19 passing for 173 yards and two touchdowns.  Hester had eight rushes for 42 yards, while Ajiero had three catches for 34 yards and a touchdown and Bullard had one catch for 56 yards and a touchdown.  Both teams had ten first downs in the half as MC had 35 plays for 168 yards – all on the ground.  Williams had 15 carries for 64 yards and Godfrey had 13 carries for 59 yards.
 
VSU moved down the field on the first possession of the second half overcoming a couple of penalties as Edwards connected with Wilson for a 29-yard touchdown pass for a 28-7 lead with 9:54 left in the quarter.  It was Edwards' third touchdown pass of the game marking his third game this season of three or more touchdown passes.  On defense, senior Monte Boyd came up with a shoestring tackle of Williams as he could've had a first down, but the Choctaws punted on their opening possession of the final half. 
 
Hester broke a huge 48-yard run spinning away from a tackle using the circle button on Playstation down to the MC 19 with 2:33 left in the third.   On 3^rd and 14 from the 23, Edwards found Ajiero on a check down over the middle as he high-stepped it into the end zone for a 35-7 lead with 40 seconds left in the frame.  It was Ajiero's second touchdown of the game.    VSU outgained the Choctaws 177-18 in the third quarter.
 
MC's Ben Pledger hit a 37-yard field goal for a 35-10 score with 4:57 remaining for the final scoring of the game and the only points in the fourth quarter by either team.
 
The Blazers have a bye week next week, but will return to Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Nov. 2 versus Chowan at 3 p.m.