SETTING THE SCENE
The No. 20 Blazers (2-2) look to get back on track this weekend as they entertain Lenoir-Rhyne (2-3) Saturday afternon at 4 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.  Both teams are coming off disappointing losses last week as the Blazers dropped a 31-0 decision in the 2025 home-opener to UNC Pembroke, while Lenoir-Rhyne lost 20-17 at home 20-17 to Newberry as the Wolves kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired for the win.  
 
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. Home games will be broadcast on FloCollege with Dave Garner and Taylor Biddle having the call.  Fans can access links to the radio broadcast and video broadcast at vstateblazers.com on the football schedule page.
 
HOW TO PURCHASE TICKETS
Visit vstateblazers.com on the football schedule page for a link to purchase tickets for the game.  Stay up to date on all Blazer news by following @VState_Blazers on Instagram and X and by liking the "Valdosta State Blazers" Facebook page. The Blazer Athletics Mobile App is available on iTunes and Android featuring exclusive content, the latest news and updates, schedules, rosters, gameday notifications, and more.
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE
Both teams desperately need a win this week to get back on track.  The Blazer offense really struggled last week, especially on the ground with just 20 yards rushing after having 338 yards on the ground at Chowan on Sept. 13.  Turnovers also were a huge problem for the Blazers as they committed a season-high five miscues and were 0 for 3 in the red zone against UNCP.  Turnovers also were a problem for LR last week with two lost fumbles both on the +50.
 
PINK GAME
Saturday's contest is the annual Pink Game as all fans are encouraged to wear pink to the stadium in support of breast cancer awareness.
 
NEW BLAZER MOBILE APP
Valdosta State Athletics in partnership with Renasant Bank is thrilled to announce the official launch of the Blazer Athletics Mobile App, available for free on iOS and Android devices via the App Store and Google Play Store.  The new Valdosta State Blazers Athletic App integrates news, team information, gameday notifications gameday notifications for all Blazer athletic events both home and away and schedules, as well as ways to purchase VSU tickets and apparel.  The Valdosta State App offers a user-friendly interface with easy access to many services and features.  Check vstateblazers.com for more information on the new Mobile App.

WATCH ON FLOCOLLEGE
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 19.99 per month or $107.88 per year ($8.99/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 $71.88 for the year ($5.99/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.  Subscribers will be able watch every GSC regular season and championship event live and in-demand. Fans will also have access to events from other NCAA conference partners, including seven Division II conferences such as the South Atlantic Conference (SAC), Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), Lone Star Conference (LSC), Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), and more.
 
SEEING CAROLINA
Saturday marks the fourth of four-straight games against teams from North Carolina as the Blazers dropped a disappointing 28-16 decision at Johnson C. Smith (Sept. 6) and won 56-3 at Chowan on Sept. 13 and lost 31-0 to UNC Pembroke last Saturday, marking the first time the Blazers had been shutout since 1991.  Following Saturday's game, the Blazers then play their first game against a Division I opponent since 2003 on Oct. 11 at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., and then hosts North Greenville from Tigerville, S.C., on Oct. 25 for Homecoming.  In all, six of the first seven games of the season all are against teams from the Carolinas.  VSU is 17-6 all-time against teams from the State of North Carolina. Blazer junior punter Devin Walter is the only player on the team from North Carolina as he is from Concord, N.C.  VSU does have a number of players from South Carolina and a number of players who attended both North Carolina and South Carolina colleges before coming to Valdosta State.
 
OUT IN THE SUN
This season, the Blazers play all day games through the regular season with no game starting later than 4 p.m. local time.  Traditionally, the Blazers have had a mix of day and evening/night games, but this is the first season in program history with no night games planned for the regular season.
 
COACH GRAHAM CRAIG SHOW
Following each game this season, The Coach Graham Craig Show will feature the head coach along with select players as they dissect the game both home and away.  Check back with vstateblazers.com and on the Blazer social media channels each Sunday evening for the newest edition of The Coach Graham Craig Show.  
 
INSIDE THE SERIES WITH LENOIR-RHYNE
Saturday marks the first time the teams have met during the regular season as the Blazers lead the all-time series 2-1, but LR won 35-7 on a very rainy day on Dec. 2, 2023, in the National Quarterfinal round of the postseason at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in the last meeting.  VSU won 61-21 on Dec. 1, 2018, in Valdosta also in the national quarterfinal round, and won 23-21 on Nov. 29, 2014, in Hickory, N.C., in the first meeting in the series, also in the playoffs.
 
ABOUT THE BEARS
The Bears are under second-year head coach Doug Socha who is quite familiar with VSU as he was the head coach at Keiser University (Fla.), prior to taking over LR last season.  Socha brought Keiser to Valdosta State twice, once in 2002 and once in 2023.  This year, the Bears are led offensively by quarterback Khamoni  Robinson is 13th nationally in passing efficiency at a 167.3 clip, while he is 13th nationally in passing yards per completion (15.36).  He is tops in the South Atlantic Conference in passing yards per game at a 245.8 clip as he returned to the lineup last week against Newberry.  He is 64 of 101 passing with eight touchdowns, two interceptions and 983 yards passing.  On the ground, Zayvion Turner-Knox leads the team with 74 carries for 277 yards and one touchdown, while Robinson in second in rushing with 220 yards and two rushing scores on 39 carries.  Robinson has found success throwing to Zion Agnew for 20 receptions and 328 yards with one touchdown, while Songa Yates has caught 12 balls for 302 yards and a team-high three touchdowns.  Defensively, the team is led by Maddox Aprile who has 6.5 tackles for loss for 31 yards and 2.5 sacks for 22 yards, while registering 22 tackles for fourth on the team in tackles.  Ben Watson leads the team with 43 stops and 20 solo tackles.     
 
ABOUT THE BLAZERS
The Blazers are led this season by junior Corey Reddick, Jr., on the ground with 44 carries for 255 yards and four scores, while senior Eric Watts has 31 carries for 212 yards and three touchdowns.  Junior Jamontez Woods also has three scores and 111 yards on the ground this season.  VSU has used two quarterbacks this season in sophomore Harris Boyd and junior Jameson Holcomb.  Boyd is 43 of 80 passing for 513 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions, while Holcomb is 23 of 42 passing for 325 yards, two touchdowns and one INT.  Junior Samuel Curry leads the team with nine catches for 141 yards and a touchdown.  Sophomore Julius Pascal leads the team with 26 total tackles, while senior Jemarrlowe Sykes has a team-high four tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, while registering 15 tackles.  Senior Rance Conner has two interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick, along with one sack and 2.5 tackles for loss.  
 
A WIN OVER LENOIR-RHYNE WOULD . . .