1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2010 Gulf South Conference Champions Series History Vs
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BLAZER GAME DAY NORTH ALABAMA - GAME 4 Saturday, October 3 • 2:00 p.m. vs. Valdosta, Ga. • Bazemore-Hyder Stadium VSU Media Relations • (229) 333-5903 • www.vstateblazers.com Football Contact: Matt Malone ([email protected]) No. 9 VALDOSTA STATE No. 9 BLAZERS HOST No. 8 NORTH ALABAMA IN HUGE GSC OPENER (3-0, 0-0 GSC) Here we are. Just the fourth week of the 2015 season, and we’ve made it to one of the most anticipated games of the year. And with the way the North Alabama Lions (3-0, 2-0 GSC) and the Valdosta State Blazers (3-0, 0-0 GSC) Sept. 5 at Albany State W, 21-13 have performed so far, today’s showdown holds an incredible amount of weight. Sept. 12 ^vs. Winston-Salem State W, 31-3 Never in GSC history has there been a better rivalry than the one between VSU and UNA. The rivalry between Sept. 26 CUMBERLAND W, 56-22 the two programs goes all the way back to year one of Valdosta State football, when the Blazers first faced the Lions Oct. 3 *NORTH ALABAMA 2:00 p.m. in 1982. The two teams have competed against each other at least once in each season since then, with the Lions Oct. 10 *at West Georgia 2:00 p.m. holding the all-time series advantage at 22-16-1. Despite a 135-44-1 record at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium since the program’s inception 33 years ago, home success Oct. 17 *MISSISSIPPI COLLEGE 2:00 p.m. has been an enigma for Valdosta State when hosting the Lions, especially in recent years. The last time the Blazers Oct. 22 *at Shorter 7:30 p.m. defeated UNA on their home turf was a 37-23 win over the Lions nearly eight years ago on October 27, 2007. Oct. 31 *WEST ALABAMA 2:00 p.m. For the No. 9 ranked Blazers, today’s contest represents the first Gulf South Conference matchup of the season, Nov. 7 *at Delta State 5:00 p.m. while the No. 8 ranked Lions enter the skirmish having already competed in two league matchups. After a pair of Nov. 14 *FLORIDA TECH 3:00 p.m. 34-17 victories in weeks one and two, the second of which was a victory over GSC opponent Mississippi College, the Lions hosted Florida Tech last weekend in a shootout that went down to the wire. UNA quarterback Luke Wingo all times Eastern; *GSC; ^Cobb County Clash helped lead the Lions to a 55-48 victory in the contest after delivering a GSC Player-of-the-Week worthy performance No. 8 NORTH ALABAMA that included 24 completions in 34 attempts for two touchdowns and 398 yards in the air, along with 64 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. (3-0, 0-0 GSC) Valdosta State looks to counter UNA’s offensive firepower with some solid offensive options of their own, includ- Sept. 6 at Miles W 34-17 ing running back Cedric O’Neal, who continues his pursuit of two major all-time school rushing records. O’Neal’s 3,237 Sept. 12 Mississippi College* W 34-17 career rushing yards place him just 637 yards shy of passing current record holder Aaron Jenkins (2000-03). After Sept. 26 Florida Tech* W 55-48 two touchdown carries last week, O’Neal now has 35 on his career, and needs just two scores to pass Dominique Oct. 3 Valdosta State* 2:00 pm Ross (1992-94) for the all-time record. Oct. 10 Western Oregon 1:00 pm GAME CENTER Oct. 17 UNC-Pembroke (Homecoming) 6:00 pm Oct. 24 West Georgia* 2:00 pm VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS NORTH ALABAMA LIONS Oct. 31 Delta State* 1:30 pm Record: 3-0, 0-0 GSC Record: 3-0, 0-0 GSC Nov. 7 Shorter* 1:30 pm Ranking: #9 AFCA Ranking: #8 AFCA Nov. 14 West Alabama* 1:30 pm Last Game: Cumberland (W, 56-22) Last Game: vs. Florida Tech (W, 55-48) Coach: David Dean (Georgia State, 1986) Coach: Bobby Wallace (Mississippi State, 1976) all times Central; *GSC Record: 73-24 (9th season) Record: 154-147-1 (27th season) at VSU: 73-24 (9th season) at UNA: 109-46-1 (14th season) ABOUT THE GAME vs. GSC: 38-17 vs. GSC: 75-54-1 TV • None vs. UNA: 5-7 vs. VSU: 8-11-1 QUICK NOTES RADIO • VSU RADIO NETWORK • Valdosta State is in its 34th year of intercollegiate football and owns an overall record of 261 wins, 116 losses Play-by-Play Dick Rockey and four ties. Analyst Spencer Van Horn • David Dean is the second-winningest coach in Valdosta State history, having compiled 73 wins, against just 24 Sideline Tom Odom losses, during his eight-year coaching career. He owns a .753 career winning percentage. Network Stations WDDQ Talk 92.1 FM (Valdosta) • The Blazers have scored in 285 straight games, tops among all DII schools. WJEM 96.1 FM / 1150 AM (Valdosta) • Cedric O’Neal ranks among the top three in Valdosta State history in rushing yardage, and after two touch- WSFB 97.7 FM / 1490 AM (Quitman) downs last week, he is one score away from tying Dominique Ross at 36 for Valdosta State’s all-time rushing WJHC 107.5 FM (Jasper, Fla.) touchdown record. He is third in the VSU record books in rushing yards with 3,223, just 14 yards shy of WKZZ 92.5 FM (Tifton) Dominique Ross’, who ranks second with a career total of 3,237. In addition, O’Neal passed Aaron Jenkins with career touchdown number 35 last week and took sole possession of second place in the career rushing INTERNET RADIO touchdowns column. For O’Neal, 637 yards and 2 touchdowns will establish new school records. Live Audio talk921.com • Valdosta State will aim to deny Bobby Wallace an opportunity to become UNA’s all-time winningest Head Coach Live Stats sidearmstats.com/valdosta/football/ today. Wallace is currently tied with Hal Self with 109 career wins at North Alabama. Live Video useducationtv.com/default.aspx?sid=286 • In the second quarter last week, E.J. Hilliard connected with D’Amonte Ridley for a 92-yard touchdown pass. The play represented the longest pass play in Valdosta State history, two yards better than Chris Hatcher’s 90-yard touchdown completion to Calvin Walker September 11, 1993 against Central Florida. SERIES HISTORY AGAINST NORTH ALABAMA The rivalry between the Blazers and the Lions is arguably the most storied in Valdosta State history. The two programs have squared off in each of the 33 years of VSU football history, and have faced each other six times in postseason play. Today’s contest marks the 40th contest in Blazer football history, with the Lions holding a 22-16-1 advantage. Under David Dean, the Blazers are 5-7 all-time against North Alabama. 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 AND 2010 GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS SERIES HISTORY VS. NORTH ALABAMA TALE OF THE TAPE ALL-TIME HIGHS & LOWS VS. UNA VSU Category UNA Most Points Scored Fewest Points Scored VSU 36.0 Scoring Offense 41.0 2000 45 1983 0 Year Record Streak Site Score 12.7 Scoring Defense 27.3 2007 37 1985 0 1982 0-1 Lost 1 Valdosta, Ga. L, 53-7 135.0 Rushing Offense 242.0 1988 35 2010 5 1983 0-2 Lost 2 Florence, Ala. L, 27-0 103.3 Rushing Defense 140.3 1991 34 Three times 7 1984 0-3 Lost 3 Valdosta, Ga. L, 35-24 260.0 Passing Offense 284.7 1996 34 1985 0-4 Lost 4 Florence, Ala. L, 45-0 132.3 Passing Defense 204.7 1986 1-4 Won 1 Valdosta, Ga. W, 24-7 395.0 Total Offense 526.7 Most Points Allowed Fewest Points Allowed 1987 1-5 Lost 1 Florence, Ala. L, 17-16 235.7 Total Defense 345.0 2009 62 1997 0 1988 2-5 Won 1 Valdosta, Ga. W, 35-28 2013 57 2010 0 1989 3-5 Won 2 Florence, Ala. W, 24-10 THE BLAZER-LION COMPARISON 1982 53 1986 7 1990 3-6 Lost 1 Valdosta, Ga. L, 26-10 VSU UNA 1985 45 2001 7 1991 4-6 Won 1 Florence, Ala. W, 34-17 Roster Breakdown 90 players 76 players 2010 43 1989 10 1992 4-6-1 Won 1 Valdosta, Ga. T, 24-24 Seniors 21 21 1993 4-7-1 Lost 1 Valdosta, Ga. L, 31-21 Juniors 19 28 Largest Margin of Victory Largest Margin of Defeat 1994 4-8-1 Lost 2 Florence, Ala. L, 38-21 Sophomores 24 16 2001 47 2013 50 1994 4-9-1 Lost 3 Florence, Ala. L, 27-24 Freshmen 27 6 2000 24 1982 46 1995 4-10-1 Lost 4 Florence, Ala. L, 26-9 1997 21 1985 45 1996 5-10-1 Won 1 Valdosta, Ga. W, 34-31 EXPERIENCE OF THE TENTATIVE STARTERS Three times 17 2009 35 1997 6-10-1 Won 2 Florence, Ala. W, 21-0 Sr. Jr. Soph. RFr. Fr. 1998 28 1998 6-11-1 Lost 1 Valdosta, Ga. L, 35-7 VSU 12 5 3 0 2 1999 6-12-1 Lost 2 Florence, Ala. L, 31-28 UNA 11 8 3 0 0 Most Rushing Yards Fewest Rushing Yards 2000 7-12-1 Won 1 Florence, Ala. W, 45-21 2014 395 1998 -4 2001 8-12-1 Won 2 Valdosta, Ga. W, 54-7 INDIVIDUAL BLAZER HIGHS VS.