SETTING THE SCENE
The top-ranked Valdosta State football team (11-0, 6-0 GSC) hosts No. 25 Virginia Union (10-3, 6-1 CIAA) on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the NCAA Division II National Quarterfinals at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.  
 
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 for ESPN+.  Fans can access links to the radio broadcast and video broadcast at vstateblazers.com on the football schedule page.
 
WATCH ON ESPN+
The NCAA Division II Football Playoffs this season will be streamed on ESPN+ this season as a subscription to ESPN+ is required. Plans for ESPN+ start at $11.99/mo or are $119.99/yr.  There are bundling options also.  
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The winner of this game will earn a berth in the NCAA National Semifinals scheduled for Dec. 14 at a location to be determined.  Following the quarterfinal round games on Saturday, the NCAA will reseed the remaining four teams for the semifinals with the national championship scheduled for Dec. 21 at McKinney ISD Stadium in McKinney, Texas.   If the Blazers were to win, check back with vstateblazers.com on Sunday, Dec. 8 for updates on who and where VSU would play next week.
 
SUPER REGION TWO CHAMPIONSHIP
This marks the first time VSU and VUU have met in the playoffs and the third time overall as VSU won 51-7 in Richmond, Va., on Sept. 11, 2021, while VUU won in Valdosta on Sept. 10, 2022, with a 45-40 victory in Blazer head coach Tremaine Jackson's first season.  The Blazers are 32-15 all-time in the NCAA postseason in their 20th appearance, while Virginia Union is 2-11 all-time with wins this season at Wingate (34-31, OT) and at Lenoir-Rhyne (44-12).  Current Blazer head coach Tremaine Jackson is 3-1 in the postseason, while VUU head coach Dr. Alvin Parker is 2-2.  The Blazers are 6-4 all-time in the quarterfinals while VUU is making its first trip.  This is the second-straight year VSU has reached the quarterfinals, falling last season at home to Lenoir-Rhyne, 35-7.  
 
RECAPPING THE SECOND ROUND IN SUPER REGION TWO AND SETTING UP THE REGIONAL FINAL
The Blazers posted a 33-17 victory over No. 4-seed Miles College, while Virginia Union won 44-12 at Lenoir-Rhyne in a matchup of unseeded teams.    VUU standout running back Jada Byers rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns in the win, while teammate Curtis Allen rushed for 132 yards and two scores and wide receiver Reginald Vick, Jr., caught three passes for 122 yards and a score.  The Panthers accounted for 524 yards of offense and 345 on the ground, while holding LR to just 306 yards and only 54 yards on the ground.  VUU dominated the time of possession 36:38 to 23:22, while forcing LR into three turnovers and a 7-0 advantage on points off turnovers.  In the Blazers' victory, graduate student Blake Hester had 20 carries for 132 yards and two scores, while he caught four balls for 32 yards and a touchdown.  Senior quarterback Sammy Edwards went 14 of 28 passing for 178 yards and a touchdown.  Graduate student Alfonso Franklin had ten carries for 79 yards and a score as the Blazers held a 408-307 advantage in total yards and held the Golden Bears to just 83 yards on the ground.  
 
EDWARDS NAMED HARLON HILL TROPHY FINALIST FOR A 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.  Byers and Edwards are two of four of the eight finalists still competing this season along with Slippery Rock quarterback Brayden Long and Ferris State quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.  Charleston's (W.Va.) running back Chavon Wright, Central Missouri's Zach Zebrowski, Colorado State-Pueblo wide receiver Reggie Retzlaff 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, while Byers was a finalist in 2022.  
 
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 Thursday.  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. 
 
LOOKING AT THE OTHER QUARTERFINAL GAMES
Along with the VSU vs. VUU matchup in Super Region Two, Super Region One pits No. 11 Slippery Rock at No. 20 California (Pa.).  California won 20-7 on Oct. 19 in the earlier meeting.  Slippery Rock upset No. 3 Kutztown 25-24 in overtime last week, while California won 34-33 over Ashland.  In Super Region Three, defending national champion and unseeded Harding (No. 4 nationally) travels to No. 2 Ferris State, while a pair of unseeded teams battle in Super Region Four with Minnesota State hosting Bemidji State.  Following the games on Sunday, the NCAA will reseed the remaining four teams for the national semifinals next weekend.  
 
AS THE #1
VSU is 33-7 all-time as the No. 1 team in the country. VSU is 20-4 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 4-1 in the regional rounds of those playoffs.   
 
HESTER NAMED STEEL'S JEWELRY BLAZER ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
VSU graduate student running back Blake Hester earned Steel's Jewelry Blazer Athlete of the Week honors for his efforts in the win last week versus Miles College.  He led the Blazer ground game rushing for 132 yards and two rushing scores, while he had four catches for 32 yards and a touchdown also.  This marks Hester's third weekly honor of the season as he is one of six different Blazers to earn the honor this season.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH VIRGINIA UNION
The series is tied 1-1 with both teams winning on the opposite field.  VSU won 51-7 in Richmond, Va., on Sept. 11, 2021, as quarterback Sammy Edwards was 2 of 3 passing for 77 yards in the game in relief of former quarterback Ivory Durham.  The Blazers amassed 559 yards of offense in the game and held VUU to 274.  VUU running back Jada Byers had 21 carries for 107 yards and a score in the game.  Current Blazer senior Bud Chaney had one carry for 12 yards and a touchdown.  The Blazers raced out to a 14-0 lead through the first quarter and a 27-0 lead at halftime, before Byers got the Panthers their only score in the fourth quarter.  The first season under Blazer head coach Tremaine Jackson in 2022, VUU came to Valdosta and handed the No. 2 Blazers a 45-40 loss.  In that game, Byers rushed 32 times for 319 yards and three touchdowns, while he had three receptions for 23 yards and a touchdown.  VSU took a 27-24 lead with 10:05 left in the third in a very back-and-forth game, but the Panthers scored 21-straight for a 45-27 lead midway through the fourth before VSU scored the final two touchdowns to pull within 45-40.  VSU outgained VUU 525-438, but the Panthers rushed for 352 yards in the game.  Edwards was 1 of 1 passing for nine yards. 
 
VERSUS THE CIAA
The Blazers are 7-1 all-time against members of the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and are 3-0 against the league in the playoffs.  VSU won 35-7 over Winston-Salem State in the 2012 National Championship game, while the Blazers defeated Bowie State in Valdosta in the 2018 and 2021 second round and quarterfinal round, respectively.  Virginia Union is the second CIAA team to visit Titletown this season as the Blazers defeated Fayetteville State 34-0 on Sept. 14.  
 
ABOUT THE PANTHERS
The Panthers are under the direction of Dr. Alvin Parker as he has helped lead the team to new heights as he wa named the Black College Football Hall of Fame 2024 HBCU Coach of the Year.  This season, he has guided the team to a 10-3 record overall and the first wins in the postseason in program history (2-0).  The Panthers are led by Harlon Hill finalist Jada Byers who has broken just about every rushing record in school history.  He is second nationally this season in rushing yards with 1,947 and second in rushing per game at a 149.8 clip.  Byers has 26 rushing touchdowns for second nationally, while he is sixth nationally in yards per carry at a 6.32 clip.  He is second nationally in scoring averaging two touchdowns per game and second nationally in points scored (156).  Along with Byers in the backfield is Curtis Allen who has six 652 yards on the ground and six touchdowns, as the duo both rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns in the win last week at Lenoir-Rhyne. The Panthers have a pair of prolific receivers in Reginald Vick, Jr., who is third nationally in receiving yards (1,358), fourth nationally in receiving touchdowns (14) and sixth in receiving yards per game at a 104.5 clip.  Rickey Key Jr., also has had a outstanding season.  On defense, the Panthers are led by Isaac Anderson who earned first team All-CIAA honors with 59 total tackles, 38 solo stops and 15.5 tackles for loss with four sacks.  Anderson is a Gene Upshaw Award finalist this season.  As a team, the Panthers are sixth nationally in total offense at 474.5 yards per game, while they are seventh nationally in rushing offense at 245.5 yards per game and average 229.1 yards passing.  The Panthers are holding teams to 127.0 yards on the ground, 175.2 yards through the air and 302.2 yards of total defense this season.  The defense is a bend, but don't break defense as it has allowed 217 first downs, but is seventh nationally in red zone defense at a 0.650 clip.  
 
WINNING STREAKS
VSU owns an eleven-game winning streak which is the longest current winning streak in the country.  In fact, VSU is one of just 13 institutions from all levels of football who still are undefeated and the only undefeated team in NCAA Division II.
 
DECEMBER FOOTBALL
This marks the 19th game in program history in December for the Blazers and the first since the 2021 national championship game against Ferris State in 2021. VSU is 14-4 all-time in December.  Since 2018, the Blazers are 5-1 in December and 4-0 at home and 1-1 in McKinney.
 
AGAINST RANKED TEAMS
The Blazers 73-66-2 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.  Saturday marks the third game this season against a ranked team (2-0).  
     
HOME FOR THE PLAYOFFS
The Blazers are 22-8 all-time at home in the playoffs and 32-15 overall.  Since 2018, the Blazers are 8-2 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 10-3 with two national championship game appearances and one title (2018) since 2018.  
 
PROTECTING THE ROCK
The Blazers lead the nation in fewest turnovers (4) and are fifth nationally in turnover margin at a 1.36 clip a they have 19 turnovers forced this season.  
 
SOLID TOTALS
The Blazers are 11th nationally in both total offense (456.8) and 11th in total defense holding teams to 250.5 yards per game.  In addition, the Blazers are seventh nationally in scoring offense at 42.2 points per game, while they are second nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 9.8 points per contest with a school-record three shutouts and have held seven opponents to ten or fewer points this season.
 
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 11-0 as a starter for the top-ranked Blazers and is 23-2 all-time as a starting quarterback in two seasons.  Edwards currently 12th nationally in completion percentage at a 0.661clip, while he is seventh nationally in passing efficiency at a 172.9 clip.  Edwards has thrown 24 touchdown passes this season for 15th nationally, while he is 20th nationally in passing yards (2,627) and 19th nationally in passing yards per game at a 238.8 clip.  He is 17th nationally in passing yards per completion at a 14.36 clip, while he is 24th nationally in total offense at a 254.8 average.   
 
JACKSON TABBED AFCA REGION TWO COACH OF THE YEAR; NAMED CO-GSC COACH OF THE YEAR
Blazer head coach Tremaine Jackson is 38-11 overall in five seasons of coaching at both Valdosta State and Colorado Mesa, while he is 28-8 and in his third season as head coach of the Blazers.  In 2024, he has guided the team to a 11-0 record and 6-0 mark in Gulf South Conference play this season winning the program's 11th GSC title.  The Blazers went 10-0 in the regular season, marking the fifth time in program history the team has had an undefeated regular season and the first time since 2019.   He 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 earning GSC Co-Coach of the Year marks VSU's eighth Coach of the Year honor in school history for second-most in league history overall, and the most among current institutions.  West Alabama is tied with Delta State for second behind the Blazers (among current members) with seven as UWA head coach Brett Gilliland shared the honor with Jackson this season, as he guided UWA to a 9-2 record overall and a 5-1 mark in GSC play and lost in the first round of the NCAA playoffs.  Hatcher was named Coach of the Year three times, while David Dean and Gary Goff each have earned the honor twice, along with Hal Mumme (1996) and Kerwin Bell (2018).  
 
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, while leading the team in tackles with 79 and 42 solo stops also earning first team all-league honors.  Elder has 11 tackles for loss for 52 yards to lead the team, while he has 3.5 sacks for 26 yards.  He has one interception this season with three pass breakups, one fumble return and two forced fumbles.  He was named GSC Defensive Player of the Week three times, while registering double-digit tackles twice this season with a season-high 12 tackles at Delta State (11/09).  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. 
 
BLAZERS REMAIN 1-2 IN NATIONAL POLLS
For the third-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, while Western Colorado is tenth as the same from last week.  Slippery Rock, West Alabama, Pittsburg State and Indianapolis remained 11-14, respectively, while Lenoir-Rhyne jumped from 20th to 15th this week.  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 13th and West Florida fell out of the poll.  The final top 25 polls will be announced following the National Championship on Dec. 21. 
 
5 ON THE GROUND
This season, the Blazers have registered five rushing touchdowns in four different games, including two of the last three.  VSU has 35 rushing touchdowns this season in 11 gamesThe school record is 40 rushing touchdowns set in 2018.  
 
ROAD WARRIORS
Coming off the 49-20 win at Delta State on Nov. 9, 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 nine 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 389 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 VIRGINIA UNION WOULD . . .