VALDOSTA, Ga. - Valdosta State came back from a 10-point deficit on homecoming, as Shawn Paschall ran for three touchdowns and the defense intercepted five passes in a 41-31 win over Shorter on Saturday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
Valdosta State (5-1) opened fast. Paschall scored from 2 yards out to cap a 75-yard drive, and quarterback Champ Harris added a 20-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead. Then turnovers turned the game. Shorter (2-6, 1-3 CC) kicked an 18-yard field goal, recovered a muffed kickoff and scored on a 27-yard pass from Devin Edmonds to Skyler Niblett, and took a 17-14 lead when Jatavious Gray recovered Solomon Locke's fumble in the end zone on the ensuing kickoff return.
Edmonds found Kyree Jenkins for a 23-yard touchdown in the second quarter to put Shorter up 24-14, the Hawks' biggest lead. The Blazers answered before halftime, when Paschall ran 9 yards for a score to cut it to 24-21.
The comeback was completed after the break. Curtis Janvier intercepted Edmonds on Shorter's first possession of the third quarter and returned it 30 yards to the Shorter 7, and Paschall scored on the next play from 7 yards out to give VSU a 28-24 lead. The Blazers never trailed again. Wilson ran 13 yards for a touchdown to open the fourth quarter, and Harris added a 7-yard score after Julius Pascal's interception to push the lead to 41-24.
Jenkins caught a second touchdown, a 27-yarder, to make it 41-31 with 8:41 remaining. The Blazers' defense held from there, and Janvier picked off Edmonds on fourth-and-6 at the 5-yard line with 1:11 left to seal the win.
Valdosta State outgained Shorter 457 yards to 264 and held a 29-17 edge in first downs. The Blazers ran 46 times for 273 yards and all six touchdowns, while Harris completed 14 of 23 passes for 184 yards.
Paschall led the Blazers' ground game with 124 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries, including a long of 25. Wilson added 72 yards and a score on seven carries. Harris ran 13 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns. Leon Washington Jr. had a team-high six catches for 72 yards, and Zandae Butler had four for a team-best 79 yards, including a 51-yard grab.
The defense came up with five interceptions. Curtis Janvier had two picks for 50 yards, including the game-sealer at the 5-yard line. Rico Watkins had an interception for 19 yards, Julius Pascal had a 14-yard interception and Thomas Johnson had one. Jayden Bethea led the team with 10 tackles, including two for loss. Pascal had five tackles and two quarterback hurries.
Next up, the Blazers travel to Livingston, Ala., on Saturday, Oct. 31, to face No. 25 West Alabama. at 2 p.m. ET.
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