SETTING THE SCENE
The top-ranked Valdosta State football team (9-0, 5-0 GSC) hosts No. 16/21 West Florida (7-2, 5-1 GSC) for Senior Night on Saturday at 7 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.  The Blazers will honor 32 seniors prior to the game and are playing their first night game since Sept. 16 and just the fourth night game overall this season (Albany State, Newberry, Fayetteville State). 
 
CALLING THE GAME
TALK 92.1 FM will broadcast the Blazer games all season long, both home and away, with Wade Beale and Scott James having the call on the radio, while Dave Garner and Taylor Biddle will provide the broadcast on FloSports.  Fans can access links to the radio broadcast and video broadcast at vstateblazers.com on the football schedule page.
 
WATCH ON FLOSPORTS
All VSU home and GSC road football games will be broadcast on FloSports once again this season.  For fans eager to watch fall sports, subscribe to pay $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year ($8.33/month). Additionally, those who use a .edu email from a GSC member institution will be able to sign up at a discounted subscription price of $9.99 per month or $69.99 for the year ($5.83/month). The negotiated promotional pricing for GSC fans will be available on the landing page. Fans choosing to sign up via other links or pages may not receive the full benefit of promotional pricing. As part of their subscription, fans receive access to all FloSports verticals. Subscriptions can be canceled at any time.
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE
This game is technically for all the marbles as they say.  With a win, VSU would win the outright Gulf South Conference title marking its 11th in program history and first outright since winning it back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.  Currently the ten conference titles by the Blazers are the most among current GSC schools, while former member North Alabama leads the way with 13 titles.  It also would mark the Blazers' fifth undefeated regular season in program history (1994, 2002, 2018, 2019).   If West Florida were to win Saturday, the Argos would be crowned league champions based on league percentage points since the game between VSU and West Alabama was cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, while UWF was able to play all of its league games.  If UWF wins and West Alabama beats Erskine, the Blazers, Argos and Tigers all would have one loss in league play and VSU/UWA would finish tied for second based on percentage points each at 5-1, while UWF would be 6-1.  
 
BLAZERS ON TOP OF THIRD REGION RANKINGS
Following the 49-20 win at Delta State, the Blazers took over the top spot in the NCAA Super Region Two Poll, which was released Monday by the NCAA.  This was the third and final publicly released ranking before the NCAA Division II Football Championship Selection Show which is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. ET and broadcast on NCAA.com.  Following the Blazers in the poll, Wingate moved to second, followed by West Alabama, Carson-Newman and Lenoir-Rhyne round out the top five. Miles College is sixth, followed by Johnson C. Smith, West Florida, Virginia Union and Winston-Salem State round out the top ten. 
 
BLAZERS REMAIN 1-2 IN NATIONAL POLLS
For the second-straight week, the Blazers are the No. 1-ranked team in the country in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25.  Ferris State is second in the AFCA poll, followed by Kutztown, Harding and Grand Valley State rounds out the top five.  Charleston (W.Va.) is sixth, followed by Colorado State-Pueblo, Central Oklahoma and Ouachita Baptist is ninth as the top nine remain the same from last week.  Western Colorado moves up one spot from 11th to tenth this week, while West Alabama is 12th and West Florida is 16th as the only other GSC teams ranked or receiving votes.  In the D2Football.com Top 25, Ferris State remains the top team, followed by Valdosta State, Kutztown, Grand Valley and Harding rounded out the top five.  West Alabama is 14th and West Florida sits 21st in the D2Football.com poll. 
 
AS THE #1
VSU is 31-7 all-time as the No. 1 team in the country. VSU is 18-4 at home as the top team, while it is 11-3 on the road and 2-0 in neutral site games.  VSU is 1-1 all-time against West Florida as the top-ranked team.  VSU won 26-21 on Nov. 9, 2019, in Valdosta and then UWF won a heartbreaking 38-35 victory also in Valdosta in the the second round of the 2019 NCAA postseason on Nov. 30 handing VSU its only loss of the season.  
 
SENIOR BLAZERS
Saturday evening prior to the game, VSU will honor 32 seniors playing their final regular season home game for the red and black.  The class has helped lead the Blazers to a 38-10 record overall and a 20-7 mark in GSC play, while winning two Gulf South Conference titles, two playoff appearances and finished as national runner-up in 2021.  The 2024 Senior Class includes in numerical order; #2 Blake Hester, #3 Xavier Williams, #6 J'Quan Hicks, #8 Kennedy Parker, #9 Larry Elder, #10 Tyler Ajiero, #10 Diego Bremer, #11 Graeson Malashevich, #12 Sammy Edwards, #21 Jordan Jakes, #22 Jeremy Smith, #24 Bud Chaney, #25 Alfonso Franklin, #27 Montae Boyd, #29 Jaylon Johnson, #31 Caden Campolieti, #32 Jordan Billups, #37 Sean Colman, #40 Joko Willis, #41 Jovon Jackson, #46 Austin McKay, #47 Jaylin Mobley, #52 Daunte Boudy, #53 Kenley-Mary Asse, #66 Daniel Morales, #76 Ryan Frans, #78 Fred Norman, #83 Tyler Smith, #87 Noah Gillan, #90 Kyle Thomas, #91 Jamorey Jones and #99 Alajujuan Sparks.  Best of luck gentlemen in your future endeavors.  
 
WHATCHA BLOCKIN' 'BOUT WILLIS
Blazer senior Joko Willis came up with a huge block punt in the first quarter of Saturday's football game at Delta State.  He then did a scoop-and-score returning it 26 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead for the Blazers.  It marked the first blocked punt returned for a touchdown since 2022.  Willis earned GSC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his efforts and he was named Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athlete of the Week.  Willis finished with four total tackles in the game.  
 
THIS WEEK IN THE GSC
In looking at Week Eleven in the GSC, there are four games as Delta State visits Mississippi College, while Chowan travels to North Greenville and Erskine visits No. 12 West Alabama.  VSU hosts No. 16 West Florida for the outright Gulf South Conference title. D2Football.com GSC writer Cory Guinn picks Delta State over MC, North Greenville to defeat Chowan and West Alabama to win versus Erskine and VSU to win against West Florida.  Guinn thinks it's the Blazer offense versus the UWF defense in a match up of strength vs. strength.  He said this will be the best defense VSU has faced this season, but he believes the Blazer offense is better than that of West Florida. 
 
5 ON THE GROUND
This season, the Blazers have scored five rushing touchdowns in four games, including the last two.  VSU has 30 rushing touchdowns this season in nine games, while seniors Alfonso Franklin and Blake Hester lead the GSC with ten rushing scores a piece for 26th nationally.  The 30 rushing touchdowns this season are good for seventh all-time in program history for rushing touchdowns in a season.  The school record is 40 rushing touchdowns set in 2018. 
 
WINNING STREAKS
VSU owns a nine-game winning streak which is tied for third-longest streak in NCAA Division II, while West Florida has won its last six games tying it for ninth nationally.  Kutztown and Charleston (W.Va.) each are 10-0 this season for the longest current streak.  VSU, Charleston and Kutztown are the only three remaining undefeated teams in D2.  
 
ROAD WARRIORS
Coming off the 49-20 win at Delta State on Saturday, the Blazers won their 12th-straight road game for the longest current road winning streak in Division II.  Colorado State-Pueblo is second winning its last eight road contests.  Since 2018, the Blazers have gone 26-3 on the road. 
 
BLANKING BLAZERS
The Blazers registered their third shutout of the season in the 52-0 win over Chowan on Nov. 2.  It marked the first time in program history the Blazers have had three shutouts in the same season.  It also was the 29th shutout in program history.  On the other end of the spectrum, the Blazers have not been shutout 387 games dating back to a 12-0 loss to Central Florida on Sept. 14, 1991, for the longest consecutive streak of no shutouts in NCAA Division II.  
 
ABOUT WEST FLORIDA
The Argos come in with a 7-2 record overall and a 5-1 mark in GSC play.  Their only losses are a 31-7 loss at No. 2 Grand Valley State and a 35-33 overtime loss to West Alabama.  UWF head coach Kaleb Nobles is in his second season at the helm of the Argos.  Nobles graduated from Valdosta State in 2015 and played football for the Blazers as a quarterback and then used a graduate transfer year at West Florida where he earned his master's degree in 2017.  He is in his second stint at UWF as he was there from 2017-2020, before going to Clemson under head coach Dabo Swinney.  This season, the Argos have been prolific defensively as they lead the nation in sacks at 4.0 per contest, while they lead the nation in tackles for loss at 12.0 per game.  UWF allows just 205.9 yards per game for second nationally, while the Argos are seventh nationally in passing yards allowed (201.4) and fifth nationally in rushing defense at just 70.3 yards on the ground per game.  Return specialist Virgil Lemons has two punt returns for touchdowns this season for second nationally, while he leads the nation in punt return yardage at 25.1 per return.  Punter Logan Gregory is seventh nationally and tops in the GSC in punting at a 44.3 clip.  On defense, Traevon Mitchell is 14th nationally in sacks per game at 0.83, while he is third nationally in tackles for loss per game at 1.9.  
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH WEST FLORIDA
The Blazers lead the all-time series with the Argos, 5-3 and snapped a three-game skid with a thrilling 31-28 win in Pensacola, Fla., last season on Oct. 28, 2023.  In that game, former Blazer Ted Hurst climbed the ladder for a 28-yard touchdown pass with 36 seconds remaining to take the lead.  UWF missed a 51-yard field goal to tie it at the buzzer.  The teams have split four meetings in Valdosta, while VSU is 3-1 on the road.  UWF, who was ranked No. 8, won 32-31 in 2022 in overtime as VSU went ahead in the extra-session with a 25-yard touchdown run from former Blazer Ivory Durham and then Peewee Jarrett tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Caden Leggett and Jarrett converted the two-point conversion to prevent the upset by the Blazers.  UWF also won 38-35 in Valdosta in the second round of the playoffs in 2019, handing VSU its only loss of the season.  This will be the sixth time the teams have met with at least one team ranked and the fifth time with both teams ranked.  Four of the last five meetings in the series have been decided by a combined 12 points (2-2).  
 
ON THIS DATE
The Blazers are 5-1 all-time on November 16.  The team last played on this date in 2019 with a 42-14 win at West Georgia.  VSU has won three-straight games on Nov. 16 and are 2-1 at home on this date with the lone loss coming in a 42-21 setback in 1996.  
 
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
The Blazers 71-66-2 and 39-29-1 at home against ranked foes in program history.  VSU lost its last match up versus a ranked team in the national quarterfinal round of the 2023 football playoffs to Lenoir-Rhyne, 35-7.  VSU is 2-6 in its last eight meetings versus ranked teams.  Prior to that, the Blazers had been 13-2 in the previous 15.  
 
ROCKIN' RUNNING GAME
The Blazers registered a season-high 339 yards on the ground on Nov. 2 versus Chowan on 31 carries for a staggering 10.9 average per carry.  Graduate students Blake Hester and Alfonso Franklin, each had over 100 yards on the ground.  Hester finished with 12 carries for 121 yards and three touchdowns, while Franklin had 116 yards on just six carries and a touchdown.  VSU amassed five rushing touchdowns for the game marking the third time this season of rushing for five touchdowns to that point.  The Blazers are 15th nationally in rushing offense at 202.0 yards per game for tops in the GSC.   
 
UNDER THE LIGHTS
Saturday's game marks just the fourth game under the lights this season.  The Blazers defeated Albany State 42-10 in the season-opener, then won 27-14 at Newberry and blew out Fayetteville State 34-0.  The subsequent six games all have been afternoon starts.  Head coach Tremaine Jackson is 11-4 all-time in night games including both VSU and Colorado Mesa and 7-3 at VSU.
 
FIRST IN THE NATION
The Blazers are tops in the nation in turnovers lost with just four on the year tying with Shorter for the best in NCAA Division II.  The Blazers have two lost fumbles and two interceptions.  The Blazers are fourth nationally in turnover margin at 1.56 for tops in the league, while they lead the league in turnovers gained with 18 for 31st nationally and tops in the league.  
 
GOOD ON THIRD
VSU is fourth nationally on third down at a .535 clip to lead the league.  The Blazers are 54 of 101 on third down while the team is 21st nationally on third down defense, holding teams to a .304 clip on 38 of 125.  VSU is fifth nationally on fourth down with a .778 percentage on 7 of 9, while the team is 19th nationally and tops in the GSC in fourth down defense on 5 of 15 for a .333 clip.
 
GETTING THE FIRST
VSU is 29th nationally and tops in the GSC in First Downs with 211, while the team is holding teams to 135 first downs for ninth nationally and second in the GSC. VSU had a season-high 29 first downs against Fayetteville State (Sept. 14), while allowing just four first downs at Erskine (Sept. 21) and nine at Shorter (Oct. 5).  VSU has out-gained the opposition in first downs in eight of nine games this season as Delta State held a 24-17 advantage in first downs (Nov. 9). 
 
EARLY RETURNS
VSU is sixth nationally in kick returns averaging 27.25 per return as senior Alfonso Franklin is 22nd nationally in kick returns at a 27.7 clip.  The Blazers have 12 returns for 327 yards this season as Franklin has 11 for 305.  West Florida is second in the GSC in kickoff returns at 25.95 yards for 12th nationally.  
 
SCORING ON BOTH SIDES
The Blazers are fourth nationally in scoring offense at 44.8 points per game to lead the league.  VSU has scored 30 or more points eight times this season and 40 or more points five times and have scored 403 points for the season.  Conversely, the defense is allowing just 9.3 points per game for fourth nationally with three shutouts and held the opposition to less than ten points four times.  
 
EFFICIENT BLAZERS
VSU quarterback Sammy Edwards is fourth nationally in passing efficiency at a 180.4 clip for tops in the GSC.  He is 155 of 229 passing for a 67.69 clip and 2,295 yards along with 21 touchdowns and just two interceptions.  Edwards set the GSC record earlier this season with 195 pass attempts without an interception.  As a team, the Blazers have a 175.35 passing efficiency for third nationally and tops in the GSC.
 
SAMMY MOVING UP
Quarterback Sammy Edwards is sixth in school history in passing yards with 6,639, while he is seventh in career completions on 489 of 734 passing with 13 interceptions and a 66.6 clip.  He is tied for sixth all-time in career touchdown passes with 55, while he is sixth in total offense with 881 plays for 7,090 total yards.  
 
A VICTORY OVER WEST FLORIDA WOULD . . .