VALDOSTA, Ga. – The Valdosta State Blazers came away with a 38-9 dominant win over the Fayetteville State Broncos on Saturday morning.
The Blazers opened the scoring early with a defensive touchdown on the third play of the first drive.
Chris Hayes forced quarterback Noah Marshall to fumble and
Curtis Janvier recovered the ball for a 41-yard scoop and score.
Brett Fitzgerald made the PAT to put the Blazers up 7-0.
The Broncos answered with a 22-yard field goal, but the Blazers hit right back with a 12-play drive; capped off with a touchdown from
Shawn Paschall. After forcing a three-and-out, VSU started off the next drive quick as Paschall broke a long run for a first down. However, an interception a play later by the Broncos stopped the drive in its tracks.
Forcing another three-and-out, the Blazers only needed six plays to make it back into the end zone. Junior
Champ Harris found
Kenai Grier to put six more points on the board. VSU carried a 21-3 score into the locker room.
The Broncos got on the board early in the third quarter, putting up a quick touchdown drive to cut the lead to 12. On the ensuing drive by the Blazers, they faced third-and-long, when Harris took things into his own hands by ripping off a 43-yard touchdown run.
With a 19-point lead, VSU held Fayetteville once again and Fitzgerald added a field goal to increase the lead to 22.
In the final quarter, the Blazers added one more touchdown late as
Gunnar Rogers forced a fumble and
Sergio Mason fell on top of it in the endzone for a touchdown to seal the 38-9 win.
Harris had his best game to date through the air, going 19-30 for 289 yards and a touchdown, he also ran for 59 yards and a score as well.
Paschall led VSU on the ground with 66 yards rushing and a touchdown on 16 attempts.
The passing game fired on all cylinders with
Jaheim Arnold finishing with four receptions for 118 yards,
Chris Lawson also had three catches for 53 yards and Grier had a pair of receptions for 51 yards and a score.
Defensively, the Blazers remained solid,
Jayden Bethea led the team in tackles with seven, while
Ashton Heflin added five. Jabari McMillian came away with a pair of interceptions and Janvier and Mason both had a fumble recovery and defensive touchdown.
VSU will be on the road next week as they take on UNC Pembroke on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 1:00pm.
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