SETTING THE SCENE
The top-ranked Valdosta State football team (13-0, 6-0 GSC) and No. 2 Ferris State (13-1, 7-0 GLIAC) meet for the third time in six years in the NCAA Division II Football National Championship at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.  VSU won the first meeting 49-47 in 2018, while Ferris State evened the series in 2021 with a 58-17 victory.
 
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.  This game will be broadcast on ESPN2 with Shawn Kenny and Taylor McHargue having the call and sideline reporter Morgan Uber.  
 
HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Visit vstateblazers.com on the football schedule page for a link to purchase tickets for the championship.  Ticket prices are $25 for reserved seats and $20 for general admission. 
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The winner will claim the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship as it would be the Blazers' fifth if they were to win and Ferris State's third.  VSU is 4-2 all-time in the national championship game with its last win coming in 2018.  This is the Blazers' second trip the finals in four years, while FSU has reached the title game three of the last four years with wins in 2021 and 2022.   
 
JACKSON BECOMES FIFTH BLAZER HEAD COACH TO TAKE TEAM TO TITLE GAME
Valdosta State head coach Tremaine Jackson became the fifth different Blazer head football coach to take his team to the national title game with the win Saturday against Minnesota State. Former Blazer head coach Chris Hatcher went 1-1 in the title game (2002 and 2004), while David Dean was 2-0 (2007 and 2012).  Kerwin Bell went 1-0 (2018) and Gary Goff reached the title game in 2021 (0-1).  The five different coaches reaching the title game marks the most in Division II, while Grand Valley State and former D2 member North Dakota State each have three different coaches qualify for the final. 
 
COMING UP SEVENS
VSU is making its seventh trip to the NCAA National Championship game and Ferris State is making its fourth.  The seven trips to the title game by the Blazers are tied with former D2 member North Dakota State for second all-time in history behind ten trips to the finals by Northwest Missouri State.  With the win this past Saturday, VSU improved to 7-0 all-time in the national semifinals.  
 
RECAPPING THE SEMIFINALS
The Blazers used a season-high five total touchdowns from senior running back Alfonso Franklin for a 35-21 victory over Minnesota State on Saturday.  Franklin had 24 carries for 152 yards and three rushing scores, while he had four receptions for 66 yards and two scores.  The upset-minded Mavericks gave their all and pulled even at 7-7 in the second quarter and 14-14 on the first play from scrimmage in the third, before VSU scored a touchdown and forced a turnover on downs leading to another score for a 28-14 lead through three frames.  MSU wouldn't go away quietly, however, as it pulled within 28-21 early in the fourth, but two huge special teams plays on great punts from sophomore Noah Botsford pinned the Mavericks within their own ten twice in the fourth quarter.  VSU added the insurance score as Franklin scampered in from 24-yards out with 1:53 to play and a 35-21 lead.  The Blazer "D" who had kept the rushing attack of the Mavericks in check most of the game, had a huge interception in the final minute by graduate student Rance Connor for his second theft of the season to tie for the team-lead.  VSU held a 385-325 advantage in total offense, while the Blazers rushed for 213 yards and senior quarterback Sammy Edwards went 14 of 19 passing for 172 yards and two touchdowns to Franklin.  VSU finished the game 7 of 11 on third down for a 21-18 advantage in first downs and was 2 of 2 on fourth down.  MSU converted third downs early in the game, but fell to 7 of 14 on third and was 3 of 4 on fourth down.  The first have saw just four complete series' as both teams began the game with a season-long 9:54-minute drive by the Blazers on 17 plays, while MSU had a 14-play, 77-yard drive consuming 8:47 on the clock for a 7-7 score in the second.  Minus a drive beginning following a missed field goal by the Mavericks in the closing seconds of the first half, VSU scored touchdowns on its first four possessions of the game.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH FERRIS STATE
The Blazers and the Bulldogs have had met twice in the national championship in 2018 and 2021 and both previous meetings in McKinney, Texas.  VSU won 49-47 in the 2018 meeting, while Ferris State won 58-17 in 2021.  The Blazers are 1-3 all-time against teams currently in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).  VSU is 1-1 against Ferris State, 0-1 against Grand Valley State in the 2002 national championship game and 0-1 against Saginaw Valley State in the 2012 season-opener.   
 
JACKSON NAMED AFCA DIVISION II NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Valdosta State head football coach Tremaine Jackson was named AFCA Division II National Coach of the Year on Monday.  He becomes the third Blazer head coach to earn AFCA National Coach of the Year honors as former head coach Chris Hatcher was named in 2004, while David Dean earned the honor in both 2007 and 2012.   This season, Jackson has guided the Blazers to the NCAA Division II National Championship Game for the seventh time in program history when they battle Ferris State on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 2 p.m. ET at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.  The Blazers are seeking their fifth national title in football and tenth overall national championship as an athletic program.  Jackson also became the fourth Blazer head coach to earn AFCA Region Coach of the Year honors as Hal Mumme earned the honor in 1996, while Chris Hatcher was awarded twice in 2001 and 2002 and David Dean in 2010.  Hatcher was named AFCA National Coach of the Year in 2004, while Dean earned national honors in 2007 and 2012.  Jackson earned GSC Co-Coach of the Year in 2024, for the eighth Coach of the Year honor in school history for second-most in league history overall, and the most among current institutions.
 
THE FRANKLIN FIVE
VSU running back Alfonso Franklin had a career day against Minnesota State as he had three rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns in the 35-21 win this past Saturday.  Franklin had 24 carries for 152 yards and three TD's while he caught four balls for 66 yards and two scores.  All five touchdowns scored by the Blazers in the game were his as his 30 points scored in the game was the most since 2005 in the GSC and tied for fourth all-time in league history.  This season, Franklin has 121 carries for 858 yards and a team-high 17 rushing touchdowns, while he has 18 catches for 195 yards and three scores.  The 17 rushing touchdowns are tied for the most in program history in a season with Cedric O'Neal (2015).  His 17 rushing scores ties him for sixth all-time in league history.  Prior to Frankin's game on Saturday, the last time a Blazer had four touchdowns in a game was former quarterback Rogan Wells with four rushing scores against Florida Tech on Oct. 28, 2017. 
 
NEW BLAZERS IN 2024 
Since the last time VSU and Ferris State met in 2021, the Blazer roster is almost completely new, except quarterback Sammy Edwards, tight end Noah Gillan, defensive back Sean Colman and defensive back Kenny Parker who were on the team in 2021. 
 
ELDER AND FLOWERS EARN FIRST TEAM AFCA ALL-AMERICA 
VSU graduate defensive back Larry Elder and graduate offensive lineman Fred Norman earned AFCA First Team All-America honors.  Elder leads the team with 93 total tackles and 53 solo stops. He has 11 tackles for loss for 52 yards to lead the team, while he has registered 3.5 sacks for 26 yards.  Elder has one interception with three pass breakups, one fumble return and four forced fumbles.  He earned GSC Defensive Player of the Week three times, while registering double-digit tackles twice.   He had a season-high 12 tackles at Delta State (11/9) and is part of a defense that currently is second nationally in scoring defense allowing just 11.0 points per game, while the team is ninth nationally in total defense allowing just 254.5 yards per game and sixth nationally in passing defense at just 131.5 yards allowed per contest.  The Blazers sit third in the league in rushing defense allowing just 122.9 yards per game. Individually, Elder is fifth in the GSC in solo tackles per game at a 4.0 clip, while he is fifth in the league in total tackles per game at a 7.0 clip.  Flowers has started all 13 games thus far at center for the Blazers earning first team all-league honors.  He has over 40 knockdown blocks and has graded out at 97 percent for the season for the highest on the team.  He blocks for an offense that is tenth nationally in total offense at 459.2 yards per game, while it is the 20thpassing offense at 252.5 yards per game and 13th in rushing offense (206.8).  Not only do the Blazers excel in keeping points off the board, but also in putting points on the board as they are seventh nationally in scoring offense at 42.2 points per game. 
 
CLOSING IN ON 1,000
VSU has two running backs and one receiver who are closing in on 1,000 yards for the season at their respective positions as Franklin has the aforementioned858 yards, while graduate student Blake Hester has 151 carries for 918 yards and 13 rushing scores.  Senior wide receiver Rodney Bullard leads the team with 986 yards and 12 receiving scores on 39 receptions.  The Blazers last had at least one rusher and receiver achieve 1,000 yards in 2021 when the Blazers had three rushers and two receivers in Jamal Thompkins, Seth McGill and Ivory Durham on the ground, along with Brian Saunds and Lio'undre Gallimore for receiving yards.  
 
HEY WE CAN RUN THE BALL TOO
Known as the school where the air raid began, the Blazers have really stepped it up in the rushing department over the last few years.  VSU set the school-record last week with three rushing scores for 41 rushing touchdowns this season, surpassing the previous mark of 40 set in 2018.  VSU's current 206.77 average on the ground is good for sixth-best in program history.  The 40 rushing scores are tied for seventh all-time in GSC history.  The Blazers 206.77 yards on the ground is good for 13th nationally and tops in the GSC.
 
STOUT ON DEFENSE
This season, the Blazers have been outstanding on defense as they enter the championship game ninth nationally in total defense, allowing just 254.5 yards per game, while they are allowing 122.9 yards on the ground and just 131.5 yards allowed through the air for fifth nationally.  The Blazers are second nationally in scoring defense allowing just 11 points per game.
 
FIRST IN THE NATION
VSU leads the national in fewest turnovers this season (4), while the Blazers also lead the nation in fumbles recovered (14).  VSU second nationally in fewest interceptions this season (2), while the team is fourth nationally in fumbles lost (2).
 
FOUR DRIVE FIRST HALF
Valdosta State and Minnesota State had just four completed drives in the first half of their semifinal game on Saturday.  VSU used a season-long 9:54 on a 17-play drive to open the game with a touchdown, including having a 1st and 35 during the drive.  MSU countered with a 14-play, 77-yard drive consuming the rest of the first quarter and into the second for a total of 8:47.  The Blazers then took a 14-7 lead with a 3:36 drive on nine plays for 65-yards, before the Mavericks used all but 12 seconds and missed a 40-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the half.  Prior to Saturday, the Blazers longest drive had been 7:25 back on Sept. 7 at Newberry. 
 
FAST STARTS
VSU has scored first in 12 of the 13 games this season and is 12-0 in those games.  The Blazers also have scored on their opening possession nine times this season and each of the last three games.  VSU began the season scoring touchdowns on their first possession in each of the first four games.  Conversely, the defense has allowed jsut two opening drive scores this season. 
 
THE GSC IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Gulf South Conference has had strong representation in the national championship game as the league is 13-9 in the title game with VSU winning a league-most four titles.  The league has participated in six of the last eight national championship games including this season, dating back to 2016.  The league is 1-2 against the GLIAC in the title game.  The league won the football title in 2018 (VSU) and 2019 (West Florida).  The 13 national titles in football are the most of any D2 conference.
 
IN THE STATE OF TEXAS
Saturday marks the sixth time the Blazers have played in the Lone Star State in program history.  VSU is 1-1 against Ferris State in Texas, while it is 1-0 against Angelo State when the teams met in 2012 in the Lone Star Football Festival at AT&T Stadium with VSU winning 37-3.  VSU won in Kingsville, Texas, over Texas A&M-Kingsville on Nov. 16, 2013, 35-27, and lost at UTEP 34-24 on Sept. 16, 1995.
 
EDWARDS NAMED HARLON HILL FINALIST FOR SECOND-STRAIGHT SEASON 
VSU senior quarterback Sammy Edwards is one of eight finalists for the prestigious Harlon Hill Trophy, which will go to the NCAA Division II College Football Player of the Year.  Edwards and Virginia Union's Jada Byers represent Super Region Two on the national ballot.  Edwards and Ferris State quarterback Trinidad Chambliss are still competing in the playoffs, while Virginia Union running back Jada Byers, Charleston's (W.Va.) running back Chavon Wright, Central Missouri's Zach Zebrowski, Colorado State-Pueblo wide receiver Reggie Retzlaff, Slippery Rock quarterback Brayden Long and Angelo State (Texas) quarterback Braeden Fuller complete the finalists.  The NCAA Division II sports information directors selected the finalists through a round of regional voting. The eight finalists will now be placed on the national ballot where all 177 of the division's school and conference SIDs will select the award's 38th winner and will be announced on Dec. 20, 2024, prior to the national championship game the next day.  Edwards finished third in the national voting last season.  
 
RICH TRADITION OF BLAZER FOOTBALL
Since football began in 1982 at Valdosta State, there has been an outstanding lineage of coaches who have come through Titletown.  Beginning in 1992, Hal Mumme took over the Blazer program and was off and running in in 1994 with the program's first playoff berths in both 1994 and 1996.  Under Mumme, who is considered the founder of the air raid offense had a fantastic coaching tree.  Among the coaches under Mumme who came to Titletown are; the late Mike Leach (Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State), current Nebraska offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen (West Virginia, Houston), Guy Morriss (Kentucky, Baylor, Texas A&M-Commerce), current Samford head coach Chris Hatcher (also Blazer head coach), along with current Samford offensive line coach Shawn Bostick.  Both Hatcher and Bostick played at VSU.  Hatcher then took over as head coach at VSU in 2000.  On is inaugural coaching staff were Bostick, current University of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, along with current Georgia analyst Will Muschamp, who also served as head coach at Florida and South Carolina.  In addition, former Blazer head coach and two time Blazer national champion David Dean served on Hatcher's staff.  Dean also coached at Georgia Southwestern and West Georgia and now is the head coach of Lanier County High School in Georgia.  He is the only Blazer head football coach to win two national titles in 2007 and 2012.  On January 10, 2020, Leach became the third former Blazer assistant football coach to be named then-current head coach at a Southeastern Conference school.  (Leach, Mississippi State), Smart (Georgia) and Muschamp (South Carolina).  Former Blazer head coach Kerwin Bell, who won the national title in 2018 for VSU, now is the head coach at Western Carolina.  Along with the coaches listed above, some other notable coaches who have come through Valdosta include; Buster Faulkner (Georgia Tech), Seth Wallace (Iowa), Doug Belk (USC), Joe Cauthen (Utah State), Danny Verpaele (Army), Kerry Webb (Samford), Kade Bell (Pittsburgh) and Jeremy Darveau (Pittsburgh), to name a few.
 
SIX BLAZERS EARN D2CCA ALL-REGION HONORS
A total of six Blazers were named to the D2CCA All-Super Region Two teams which were announced last week.  Senior quarterback Sammy Edwards, along with graduate offensive lineman Will Flowers and graduate safety Larry Elder earned first team honors and move onto the national ballot for All-America consideration, while junior offensive linemen Jeremiah Mawali and Kenley-Mary Asse and junior linebacker Sterling Roberts were second team honorees.  This marks the second-straight year Edwards was named first team all-region, while this marks the first all-region honors for Elder, Flowers, Asse, Mawali and Roberts. 
 
AS THE #1
VSU is 35-7 all-time as the No. 1 team in the country. VSU is 22-4 at home as the top team, while it is 11-3 on the road and 2-0 in neutral site games.  In addition to being the No. 1-ranked team in the country, VSU also has had success as the No. 1-team in the region.  The Blazers earned the top spot in 2018, 2019, 2021 and now 2024, where the team went a combined 6-1 in the regional rounds of those playoffs.  
 
WINNING STREAKS
VSU owns a 13-game winning streak which is the longest current winning streak in the country in Division II.  Ferris State has won its last 12 games for the second longest streak in D2.  Oregon is the lone unbeaten team in Division I FBS, while Montana State is the only unbeaten in FCS and VSU in Division II.  North Central (Ill.) and Mount Union (Ohio) are unbeaten in Division III, while Grand View University (Iowa) and Keiser University (Fla.) have not lost in NAIA.  Keiser has the longest winning streak in the country of four-year football institutions at 23 games dating back to a 49-25 loss to Valdosta State in Valdosta on Sept. 16, 2023.  Oregon and Montana State each have won 14-straight games, while VSU, Grand View, North Central and Mount Union each have won 13 their last 13.
 
DECEMBER FOOTBALL
This marks the 21st game in program history in December for the Blazers.  VSU is 16-4 all-time in December.  Since 2018, the Blazers are 7-1 in December and 6-0 at home and 1-1 in McKinney.
 
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
The Blazers 74-66-2 and 41-29-1 at home against ranked foes in program history.  VSU is 4-6 in its last ten meetings versus ranked teams.  Prior to that, the Blazers had been 13-2 in the previous 15.  No. 25 Virginia Union marked the third game this season against a ranked team (3-0) back on Dec. 7.   
     
HOME IN THE PLAYOFFS
The Blazers are 24-8 all-time at home in the playoffs and 34-15 overall.  Since 2018, the Blazers are 10-2 in the playoffs at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium and 1-0 on the road with a win at Delta State in 2023, 38-31.  Overall in the playoffs the team is 12-3 with two national championship game appearances and one title (2018) since 2018.  
 
NEUTRAL SITE CONTESTS
VSU is 14-3 all-time in neutral site games in program history and are 4-2 in the national championship game played at neutral sites.  VSU and Ferris State each are 1-1 in neutral site matchups against each other.  The Blazers are 4-0 against Fort Valley State (Ga.) in neutral site contests for the most against one team.  
 
EDWARDS NAMED GSC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Edwards, a native of Saint Augustine, Fla., also earned first team all-league honors as he was a second team selection in 2023.  This season, he is 12-0 as a starter for the top-ranked Blazers and is 24-2 all-time as a starting quarterback in two seasons.  Edwards currently 11th nationally in completion percentage at a 0.662 clip, while he is third nationally in passing efficiency at a 179.2 clip.  Edwards has thrown 28 touchdown passes this season for eighth nationally, while he is 12th nationally in passing yards (2,929) and 16th nationally in passing yards per game at a 244.1 clip.  He is 12th nationally in passing yards per completion at a 14.94 clip, while he is 20th nationally in total offense at a 260.5 average.  He 
 
ELDER EARNS CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR HONORS
Elder, a native of Richmond, Va., has had an outstanding season for the red and black as he has helped the team to an undefeated season to this point and a berth in the national title game. Elder is the first Blazer to earn Defensive Player of the Year honors since Larry Dean in 2010.  Elder joins, Dean, Jessie Tuggle (1986), Antonio Edwards (1992), Antonio Speed (1998 & 1999) and Dewayne Smith to become the sixth different Blazer to earn the honor.

STRONG SHOWING FOR BLAZERS ON ALL-GSC TEAMS
Including Edwards and Elder, VSU had an outstanding showing on the all-conference teams with 17 total selections with nine first team honorees and eight second.  The Blazers had seven selections on the first team on offense including Edwards along with graduate running back Blake Hester, graduate all-purpose back Alfonso Franklin, senior wide receiver Rodney Bullard, graduate center Will Flowers, senior guard Kenley-Mary Asse and gradate tackle Jeremiah Mawali. Along with Elder, junior linebacker Sterling Roberts earned first team honors on defense.  The second team consisted of five on offense, two on defense and one on special teams.  Graduate tight end Noah Gillan earned second team honors for the second-straight season, while graduate wide receivers Tyler Ajiero and Graeson Malashevich each were second team honorees, along with senior guard James Robinson and tackle graduate Fred Norman.  On defense, senior defensive lineman J'Quan Hicks earned a spot along with junior defensive back Rance Conner and junior long snapper Reid Brass for special teams. 
 
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 391 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.  In addition to not allowing points, the Blazers have held an additional two teams (Shorter, West Florida) to single-digit points this season.
 
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.     
 
A VICTORY OVER FERRIS STATE WOULD . . .

• Give VSU a 14-0 record for the season and a 35-15 record in postseason play marking the third time VSU has won 14 games in a season in program history (2002 & 2018)
• Give VSU its fifth national title in football and tenth national title as a school
• Give head coach Tremaine Jackson his 31st victory at Valdosta State (30-8) and 41st victory as a head coach (40-11)
• Give VSU a 13-3 record since 2018 in the NCAA postseason (12-3)
• Be the 36th win as the No. 1 team in the country (35-7)
• Give VSU a 2-1 record all-time against Ferris State
• Be the 17th win in December (16-4)
• Be the 347th victory all-time in program history (346-137-4)
• Be the first time in NCAA Division II football history an African-American coach has won the national championship (0-2)
• Give the Gulf South Conference its 14th national title in football (13-9)