December 7th, 2024 1:00pm
From Valdosta State sports information
VALDOSTA, Ga. – For the seventh time in program history, the No. 1-ranked Valdosta State football team will play in the NCAA Division II Semifinals following a dominating 49-14 victory over No. 25 Virginia Union Saturday afternoon.
VSU was dominating on both sides of the ball as it outgained the Panthers 560-227 for the game and held a 223-139 lead in rushing yards, while passing for 227 yards and holding VUU to 88 yards through the air. The Blazer "D" recovered two huge fumbles late in the second quarter and held the high-powered VUU rushing attack in check.
The Blazers improved to 12-0 on the year as the only undefeated team in NCAA Division II and now will find out who and where the team will play next Saturday. Check back with vstateblazers.com for further updates. The Blazers improved to 33-15 all-time in the NCAA postseason and the 12th win of the season tied last season's win total, marking the ninth time of registering 12 or more victories in a season. VSU improved to 2-1 all-time against Virginia Union.
Blazer senior quarterback and Harlon Hill finalist Sammy Edwards was 13 of 19 passing for 302 yards and four touchdowns as he outdueled VUU running back and Harlon Hill finalist Jada Byers, holding Byers to 22 carries for 109 yards and a score along with two fumbles. Blazer tandem of senior Alfonso Franklin and Blake Hester combined for 26 carries for 125 yards and Franklin had two scores. Senior Rodney Bullard caught five passes for a career-high 158 yards and three touchdowns as he was unstoppable as a receiver.
Along with Byers, the Panthers (10-4) saw one of the best performances of the season by the Blazer defense as quarterback RJ Rosales was 8 of 16 passing for 88 yards and a score, while Keon Davis had one catch for 42 yards and Reginald Vick, Jr., caught four balls for 36 yards and one touchdown. VUU entered seventh nationally in rushing offense at 245.5 yards per game, while it was fifth nationally in total offense at 474.5 yards per game.
The Blazers took the opening kick with a huge return of 39 yards from Franklin and then used a steady diet of rushes from Hester, converting one third down with a nice scramble from Edwards. The Blazers had a fourth and one from the VUU 12 as Franklin went up the middle for four yards and he then scored from eight yards out for a 7-0 lead with 8:24 left in the first.
VUU converted a third and seven at the 40 and then had a third and three from the VSU 46 as RJ Rosales was stopped two yards short on a roll out. On the fourth down, VUU was called for a false start forcing a punt. VSU took over at its own 12, and on a third and five, Edwards had all day thanks to good blocking up front and found a wide-open graduate Graeson Malashevich for a gain of 32 down to the VUU 32. VSU had another third down, and Edward found Bullard for eight yards and a first down at the 18, as the first quarter expired.
VSU held a 7-2 advantage in first downs and a 122-30 advantage in yards for the quarter as VUU had just eight plays in the quarter to 19 for the Blazers.
Franklin continued his strong outing going for 16 yards down to the two early in the second. Out of the wildcat, Franklin called his own number for his second rushing score of the game and a 14-0 lead with 13:52 to play in the half.
The Panthers used a strong drive converting two third downs and one fourth down as Byers, who had been bottled up to that point, scored from seven yards out for a 14-7 VSU lead with 4:57 left in the quarter.
VSU looked as if it had to punt, but it pulled out the fake as Hester scampered for the first down prolonging the drive into VUU territory. It marked the first fake punt by the Blazers under head coach Tremaine Jackson. Under duress, Edwards connected with Bullard for a 38-yard touchdown strike and a 21-7 lead with 1:53 to play in the half.
On a second and ten for the Panthers from their own 34, Byers coughed up the ball as graduate student Larry Elder punched it out with junior Sterling Roberts on the recovery.
Following a turnover on downs by the Blazers, the defense shined again as Elder came up with another forced fumble on Byers as senior Montae Boyd recovered at the VUU 42. With just 11 seconds remaining in the half, Edwards found Bullard, who shot past two defenders for a 42-yard touchdown reception with three seconds remaining in the half and a 28-7 lead at the break. It was the first two fumbles of the season for Byers as VUU had only lost three fumbles all season to that point.
For the half, VSU held a 261-110 advantage in yardage with 106 rushing yards and 155 passing, while holding VUU to just 77 yards on the ground on 21 carries and 33 yards passing. Edwards was 9 of 13 passing for 155 yards and two scores, while Hester had eight carries for 51 yards and Franklin had ten carries for 41 yards and two scores. Bullard had three receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
For the Panthers, Byers had 15 carries for 61 yards and a touchdown as he eclipsed 6,000 career yards and was four yards from 2,000 for the season. Standout wide receiver Reginald Vick, Jr., had two catches for 26 yards in the opening half.
The Blazers forced a three-and-out on the opening possession of the second half. Facing a third and ten for the Blazers from their own 38, Edwards tossed his third touchdown pass of the game, this time to sophomore Samuel Curry, who tiptoed down the sideline for 62-yards and a 35-7 lead with 10:07 left in the third.
Following a punt by the Panthers, VSU used another long drive with great passes to Bullard for 23 yards and then he hauled in his third touchdown of the game, this time for 47 yards and a 42-7 lead late in the third. VSU held VUU to one first down and 40 yards in the third quarter.
After a great punt return from sophomore Ethan Nation to the VUU 45, senior Bud Chaney scored from 41-yards out on the ground and a 49-7 lead with 12:37 to play. VUU moved inside the ten of the Blazers on its next drive and had a third and goal from the five. Rosales threw a touchdown pass to Vick for a 49-14 score with 8:43 to play for the final margin.