ALBANY, Ga. – The Valdosta State football team came up just short in a 35-30 loss at No. 13 Albany State on Saturday in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Division II Football Playoffs.  The Blazers finished their season with a 6-5 record.  The game saw seven lead changes. 
 
The Blazers finished with 283 yards of total offense on 47 plays, while registering 13 first downs, 173 yards passing and 110 on the ground.  Blazer junior quarterback Jameson Holcomb was 9 of 21 passing for 173 yards and two touchdowns, while freshman Shawn Paschall had six carries for 72 yards and a touchdown, while returning three kickoffs for a career-high 151 yards and a 95-yard kick return for a touchdown.  Defensively senior Mark Robinson had nine total tackles with one sack as the Blazers sacked ASU three times in the game.  Senior Greg Hudgins III had eight tackles. 
 
ASU, who won its ninth-straight game and improved to 11-1 on the year, had 87 plays for 530 yards with 264 receiving yards and 266 on the ground as the Golden Rams held a 41:14 lead in time of possession to 18:46 for the Blazers.  ASU quarterback Isaiah Knowles went 24 of 37 passing for 264 yards, one interception and two touchdowns, while Tiant Wyche had 20 carries for 134 yards and a touchdown.  Jamill Williams had seven receptions for 87 yards and two scores.  ASU finished 10 of 17 on third down, while VSU was 3 of 9.

Despite the loss, the Blazers improved drastically throughout the season as the team began 2-4 and won four of the final five games of the season, including four-straight wins and three over ranked, teams while winning the program's 12th Gulf South Conference title.
 
On the first pass from Knowles from scrimmage, Blazer senior Rance Conner picked off Knowles for his team-leading fifth interception of the season setting the Blazers up at the ASU 28.  The Blazers settled for a 42-yard field goal from freshman Matt Rolader for a 3-0 lead with 13:29 to play in the first quarter.
 
Late in the quarter, the Golden Rams put together a good drive converting a 3^rd and 11 and then on 3^rd and 6 from the VSU six, Roderick McCrary scored for a 7-3 lead with 2:58 left in the opening frame.    The lead was short lived, however, as Paschall rushed for 22 yards on the ensuing drive and then ripped off a 53-yard touchdown run for a 9-7 lead just 62 seconds later. 
 
Wyche went for 44-yards on the second snap of the ensuing drive for ASU and a touchdown for a 14-9 ASU lead.  VSU converted a 3^rd and ten on a free play and Holcomb then hooked up with Allen for a 39-yard touchdown strike and a 16-14 VSU lead with 11:39 left in the half.  ASU regained the lead with a touchdown on its next possession.  VSU answered back I a wild second quarter on a 2^nd and 13 from the ASU 16 as Holcomb threw a touchdown pass over the back shoulder of senior Xyre Wilson for a 23-21 lead with five minutes left in the half. 
 
Both teams had to punt on their next drives and ASU took over later in the quarter, moving down to the VSU 26, but was stopped as kicker Kyle Wright missed a 44-yard field goal off the post as VSU held the 23-21 lead at intermission.
 
VSU had the opening possession of the second half as it won the coin toss for the second-straight week and just the second time all season deferring to the second half.  Paschall had his second kick return for a touchdown this season and a 95-yard return for a 30-21 lead with 14:46 remaining in the third quarter. 
 
The Golden Rams moved down to the VSU 40, and the Blazers came up with a big stop forcing ASU to punt.  A high snap to Holcomb resulted in a fumble as ASU took over at the VSU 13 with 10:20 to play in the third quarter and the first mistake by VSU in the game.  The Blazer "D" forced a 3^rd and 11 from the 14 as Knowles pass was incomplete setting up a field goal attempt from Wright for a 36-yarder which was blocked by the Blazers. 
 
With renewed momentum, Holcomb scrambled out on a 2^nd and long and found sophomore Joel Houedenou for a big gain down to the ASU 35 and Houedenou was on the receiving end of another long pass to the ASU five.  VSU fumbled inside the ten  as ASU recovered and returned the ball to the ASU 45, marking the second-straight possession with a Blazer miscue.
 
ASU had a 3^rd and 8 from the VSU 28 and called a timeout as the play clock was winding down.  Out of the stoppage, Knowles was short of the first down for a 4^th and 1 from the 21.  Knowles called his own number for a 21-yard touchdown pulling within 30-28 with 3:33 left in the third. 
 
Paschall went outside for over 70 yards on the ensuring drive, but the play was called back for a holding penalty.  ASU would force just the second three-and-out by the Blazers as ASU took over at its 42.    VSU made another strong defensive drive forcing a punt and led 30-28 through three frames.
 
The Golden Rams converted a 3^rd and six with a nice pass up to the 43 from Knowles following a VSU punt to begin the fourth quarter.  ASU had another third down – this time from the 48 and five to go and Wyche got the first down to the VSU 36.  ASU regained the lead with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Knowles to Williams giving ASU a 35-30 lead with 8:22 to play in the fourth quarter. 
 
ASU converted its eighth third down in 14 tries for a first and ten from the ASU 40 with just under five minutes remaining.  VSU needed to get a stop and forced another third down for a 3^rd and 8 with 4:19 to play.  Knowles hit Jackson for a first down at the VSU 41.  The Golden Rams moved down to the VSU 28 and a timeout by the Blazers with 2:33 to play.  VSU called its final timeout with 2:23 to play and a 3^rd and 3 from the VSU 21.  Wyche game up with the first down with two minutes remaining.  ASU was able to run out the clock for the 35-30 win.