PENSACOLA, Fla.  – Valdosta State freshman kicker Matt Rolader connected on a 37-yard field goal in overtime as the Blazers upset No. 3 West Florida, 47-44 Saturday afternoon to win the program's 12^th Gulf South Conference title and handed UWF its first loss of the season.  

The Blazers improved to 7-3 all-time against the Argos and now have won or shared six league titles since 2018.  The Blazers earned the Gulf South Conference's automatic qualifier into the NCAA postseason and will be making their 21^st appearance in the postseason in program history.  The NCAA Division II Selection Show will be announced Sunday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. ET on NCAA.com.  Check back with vstateblazers.com Sunday evening to find out where and who the Blazers will be facing next Saturday in the first round of the playoffs.  

This marked the Blazers' first overtime game since a 32-31 loss to West Florida in Valdosta on Nov. 5, 2022.  The Blazers improved to 77-67-2 all-time against ranked teams and became one of two teams to upset undefeated teams Saturday, as Tiffin beat previously undefeated Findlay.  Only Ferris State, Harding and Kutztown remain undefeated heading into the playoffs.

For the game, VSU tallied 426 yards on 71 plays with 331 yards through the air and 95 on the ground, while Holcomb was 20 of 37 passing for a career-high 331 yards and one interception, while throwing a career-high four touchdown passes.  Junior Jaheim Arnold had six catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns, while senior Eric Watts had 14 carries for 39 yards and two touchdowns.  Sophomore Julius Pascal had a team-high 11 tackles, nine solo stops, 1.5 tackles for loss and three breakups.  The Blazers had 20 first downs in the game and the 95 yards on the ground as UWF entered leading the nation in both first down defense (129) and rushing defense at just 43.8 yards allowed on the ground per game. 

The Argos finished with 522 yards of offense with 339 through the air and 183 on the ground.  Stokes finished 22 of 45 passing with five touchdown tosses and one interception.  TJ lane had 21 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while Corey Scott finished with six receptions for 107 yards and two touchdowns to lead the team. 

In an absolute thriller from start to finish and a game that had just about everything, the gritty Blazers battled back from a 13-0 deficit sparked by an extra-point blocked kick for a safety from senior Dallas Robinson for a 13-2 deficit through 15 minutes.  

UWF held a 116-6 lead in total offense for the first 15 minutes as VSU had -10 yards rushing and six passing yards with no first downs, while the Argos had nine first downs in the opening quarter.  

Holcomb hit junior Zandae Butler for 30-yards and the first, first down of the game for the Blazers on the opening play of the second quarter.  On a 2^nd and four from the UWF 32, Holcomb found sophomore Joel Houdenou for a 32-yard touchdown strike and a 13-9 deficit with 13:41 remaining in the half. 

On a mishandled snap by UWF quarterback Marcus Stokes and a fumble by TJ Lane, Blazer senior Nick Mercer came up with the ball at the UWF ten.  VSU had a 3^rd and 5 from the six and Holcomb hit junior Jaheim Arnold for a 5-yard touchdown strike for a 16-13 VSU lead with 11:06 left in the half.  

UWF moved down the field on its next drive converting two third downs and had a first and goal at the VSU five.  The Argos thought they had a touchdown, but were called for holding nullifying a Stokes touchdown run and then sophomore LaBarryon Moore sacked Stokes for a 3^rd and 18 from the 18.  UWF settled for a 30-yard field goal from Woeber to tie the game at 16-16 with 4:11 to play in the half.  

Holcomb was sacked at the 19 by Ja'Kobe Clinton and fumbled as Jamal Ellis recovered.  Lane went ten yards for a 23-16 UWF lead with 3:51 remaining.  VSU followed with arguably its best drive of the game to that point as Arnold caught a 17-yard pass from Holcomb on a 3^rd and 5 down to the UWF 26.  Holcomb and Arnold connected for 22-yards to the UWF four.  Arnold caught his second touchdown pass of the half for a 23-23 score with 1:55 to play.

The Argos, used a 75-yard drive as Stokes hit Kendrick Watkins-Houge for 17-yards on a 3^rd and two and then hit Javon Swinton for 25-yards to the VSU nine, before Stokes and Scott connected for the second touchdown in the half and a 30-23 lead at intermission.

VSU finished the half much better than it started offensively as Holcomb was 10 of 21 passing for 138 yards and a career-high three touchdown passes.  Arnold had four catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns.   UWF held VSU to minus-1 yard rushing, while the Argos had 215 yards receiving and 79 on the ground.  Stokes was 13 of 21 passing for 215 yards and three touchdowns, while Scott had three catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Blazers went for it on the opening possession of the second half on a 4^th and 2 from VSU 46 and were stopped short.  Once again, the Blazer "D" came up big with a four-down stop as UWF matriculated the ball to the VSU 25.  From there, Holcomb continued feeding Arnold for a 39-yard catch and run and then found junior Samuel Curry for a 19-yard touchdown catch and a 30-30 score.  
 
With the momentum following a UWF punt, Holcomb's pass on a 1^st and 15 from the VSU 35 was intercepted by Chester Fearon with 4:08 remaining in the third quarter.  UWF began the drive at the VSU 8 and, on a 3^rd and 17, Stokes found Tyree Holloway for his fourth touchdown pass of the game and a 37-30 score with 3:45 remaining in the third.  
 
Blazer junior Corey Reddick, Jr., had the biggest run of the game to that point as he got loose for 30 yards to the 50. Reddick, Jr., then got a huge screen pass from Holcomb for 37 yards to the UWF 13 as Holcomb avoided a sack before the throw for back-to-back chunk plays.  Watts bounced outside for 13-yards and a touchdown answering right back from the Argos for a 37-37 score with 1:56 let in the third.  UWF moved down to the VSU 27 with two passes from Stokes to Scott (18) and Lane (15) to the VSU 27 with 15 minutes to play.  
 
VSU had 182 yards in the third quarter alone, while UWF had 107 yards.  Quite the contrast from what the Blazers had following the first quarter.
 
Stokes pass was intercepted in the end zone by graduate student Jaden Dawkins early in the fourth.  Holcomb then scampered for 12 yards on a 3^rd and six for a huge first down, but the Blazers were unable to get another first down as they had to punt with 10:13 to play.  VSU muffed the punt attempt as UWF took over at the VSU 27.  The Blazer "D" held on the short field as Woeber missed his second field goal of the game.  
 
With the momentum from the missed kick, Holcomb hit Watts for 41 yards to the UWF four on a 3^rd and nine and Watts punched it in on the ground for a 44-37 lead with 7:27 remaining in regulation.  UWF had a 4^th and 2 from the VSU 21 with 3:45 to play.  
 
UWF's Jay Sharp rushed and was called short of the line to gain with a huge stop from senior Mark Robinson, but the Argos challenged the ruling.  After a lengthy review, the call was upheld as VSU took over on downs with 3:29 to play.
 
The Blazers had a 3^rd and three from the 27 with 2:40 to play and UWF used its second timeout.  UWF stopped the Blazers on third down for a 4^th and two from the 29 as the Argos used their final timeout with 2:32 to play.  VSU punted to the UWF 42 with 2:26 remaining.  
 
Stokes put together a quality drive as he moved the ball into VSU territory at the two-minute timeout at the VSU 47.  He went deep to Swinton but it was deflected by Moore and senior Josh Brown with 46.5 seconds left at the VSU 34.  Stokes hit Holloway for a 34-yard touchdown strike.  The Argos lined up for two, but were called for a delay of game and decided to then kick the extra-point.  The extra-point barely made it over the crossbar for a 44-44 score at the end of regulation.