December 11th, 2024 6:00am
Another week, another seemingly effortless win for Valdosta State in the 2024 postseason. Last week, the Blazers were again dominant on both sides of the ball and flexed their muscle as the top team in Super Region 2 - and quite possibly the country - with a 35-point win at home. This week, an unranked Minnesota State team visits Georgia, peaking at the right time and riding the momentum of the three straight playoff wins to make it out of Super Region 4.
Division II Playoffs Quarterfinal Results (home team in bold)
No. 2 Valdosta State 49, No. 25 Virginia Union 14
Division II Playoffs Semifinals Schedule (all times Eastern)
Minnesota State (11-3, 7-3 NSIC) at No. 2 Valdosta State (12-0, 6-0 GSC)
Saturday, Dec. 14 | 12:00 pm | Valdosta, Ga. | Audio | Stats | Video (ESPN+)
By The Numbers
Minnesota State made the postseason with an at-large berth out of the NSIC, defeating three straight Top 25 squads in the playoffs en route to Saturday’s Quarterfinal matchup. The Mavericks’ offense averages 389.7 yards and 29.5 points per game, having scored 30 or more points on seven separate occasions during the 2024 season. MSU’s run game is a strength, averaging 172.5 yards per game and they are one of the more disciplined teams in the country with just 4.2 penalties per game. The weakness for Minnesota State is on the defensive side of the ball where the unit surrenders 352.1 yards and 23.4 points per game, giving up over 141 yards per game on the ground while collecting just 25 sacks in 14 games.
The Blazers continue to be one of, if not the most, balanced teams in the country. Valdosta State capped off a perfect regular season with an undisputed Gulf South Championship and have won back-to-back playoff games by an average of 25.5 points per game. VSU ranks seventh nationally in scoring offense (42.8 ppg), ninth in total offense (465.4 ypg), tied for first in scoring defense (10.2 ppg), eighth in total defense (248.6 ypg), and fifth in turnover margin (+1.42). Valdosta State’s defense has given up 20 or more points just twice this season, posting three shutouts, which has led to an average margin of victory of 32.6 points per game.
Players to Watch
The Mavericks’ star on offense is dual threat quarterback Hayden Ekern who has 2,995 passing yards with 23 touchdowns to go along with 483 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground. Three different receivers have caught six or more touchdown passes from Ekern, led by TreShawn Watson, a 6-4 target with 51 receptions, 777 yards and nine touchdowns. Running back Sam Backer, a redshirt freshman, has been the driving force of the ground game with 908 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, linebacker Antonio Alzheimer is almost unstoppable, collecting 102 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks, while fellow linebacker Karson Dunn can do it all, putting up 63 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, two interceptions, and six pass breakups.
Quarterback Sammy Edwards, a Harlon Hill Finalist, gets all the national attention after pacing the offense with 2,929 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, two interceptions and a 66.2% completion percentage while also scoring four times via the ground. However, the Valdosta State ground game is the star of the show behind the duo of Blake Hester and Alfonso Franklin. Hester leads the charge with 955 yards and 13 touchdowns on 144 carries (6.6 ypc), while Franklin is the perfect complement amassing 728 yards and 14 touchdowns of his own on just 97 rush attempts (7.3 ypc). Safety Larry Elder is the defensive pace setter and will need to continue to shine in the run game as the grad student has totaled 84 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks to go along with four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and an interception. Defensive lineman Caden Campolieti is key along the defensive front, having registered 58 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks on the year.
The Breakdown
Minnesota State’s offense can make big plays and score in bunches, however, the defense’s ability to stop opposing offenses has me questioning their consistency. In a game like this against an offense like Valdosta State, consistency is a must to have any hope of slowing down the Blazers.
Last week, Edwards put on a clinic going 13-for-19 with 302 yards and four touchdowns while the defense held a potent Virginia Union team to just 227 yards and forced two fumbles. I have all the confidence in the world that Edwards, along with the VSU run game, will remain dominant at home and the defense will feed off the energy of a one-sided crowd at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
It’s a different game, but the same story for Valdosta State on the road to McKinney, Texas and the Division II Football Championship. The Blazers offense is built for explosive plays and putting up points in a hurry. If they can do that early in this matchup, they should be able to control the game just as they have all year long and cruise to another postseason victory.
My pick: No. 2 Valdosta State