FORT VALLEY STATE - GAME 1 Saturday, September 7 • 2:00 p.m. vs. Macon, Ga. • Henderson Stadium VSU Media Relations • (229) 333-5903 • www.vstateblazers.com Football Contact: Shawn Reed ([email protected]) #1/1 VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS OPENS 2013 AGAINST FORT VALLEY STATE IN MACON (0-0, 0-0 GSC) Valdosta State kicks off its 2013 campaign as it travels to Macon, Ga. to take on Fort Valley State in the season opener for both teams. The game features the 21st time that the two schools have met, with the Blazers holding a 9/7 vs. Fort Valley State (Macon, Ga.) 2:00 p.m. 17-3 advantage in the all-time series. Overall, VSU has won each of the last nine games. The contest also marks the 9/21 SHORTER* 7:00 p.m. third time that the two teams have played in Macon, as Valdosta State claimed a 32-10 victory in 2005 and a 17-0 9/28 ANGELO STATE 7:00 p.m. win in 1986. 10/5 SHORTER* 3:00 p.m. Valdosta State, which was selected as co-favorites to win the Gulf South Conference by the league coaches, 10/10 at West Alabama* 7:30 p.m. returns a veteran team, highlighted by 12 returning starters and 50 letterwinners. Eight of the returning starters are 10/19 at West Georgia* 2:00 p.m. on the defensive side of the ball while the defense features four returnees. Senior quarterback Cayden Cochran, who 10/26 NORTH ALABAMA* 2:00 p.m. passed for 2,710 yards and 26 touchdowns while rushing for 350 yards and 11 more scores last year, will have a 11/2 at Delta State* 5:00 p.m. talented receiving corps to throw to, including returning starters Seantavious Jones (51 receptions, 922 yards, 13 11/7 UNC-PEMBROKE 7:30 p.m. touchdowns) and Regginald Lewis (58 receptions, 736 yards, 4 touchdowns). On defense, linebackers Jeremy Grable 11/16 at Texas A&M-Kingsville 8:00 p.m. and Chris Pope lead the way. Pope led the team with 127 tackles last season while Grable added 102, including four sacks. The defense also returns three of four starters on the defensive line and three of four starters in the secondary. all times Eastern; *GSC Fort Valley State returns a veteran defense, led by All-America linebacker Leron Furr, who counted 32 tackles for FORT VALLEY STATE loss among his 110 stops a year ago. Overall, six of the projected starters on defense for the Wildcats played in at (0-0, 0-0 SIAC) least eight games for Head Coach Donald Pittman last year. On offense, FVSU will feature a wealth of youth as three freshmen and four sophomores are projected as starters. Running back Seth Hill returns as the units leader after rush- 9/7 vs. Valdosta State (Macon, Ga.) 2:00 p.m. ing for 523 yards and three touchdowns while also catching 12 passes for 88 yards and another score in 12 games 9/14 at Savannah State 6:00 p.m. last year. 9/21 at Clark Atlanta* 3:00 p.m. 9/28 vs. Benedict* (Augusta, Ga.) 2:00 p.m. GAME CENTER 10/5 TUSKEGEE* 6:00 p.m. VALDOSTA STATE BLAZERS FORT VALLEY STATE WILDCATS 10/12 at Kentucky State* 1:30 p.m. Record: 0-0, 0-0 GSC Record: 0-0, 0-0 SIAC 10/17 at Washburn 6:00 p.m. Ranking: #1 AFCA/#1 D2Football.com Ranking: Not ranked 10/26 CONCORDIA-SELMA 2:00 p.m. Last Game: Defeated Winston-Salem State 35-7 Last Game: Lost 21-6 to Lenoir-Rhyne 11/2 MOREHOUSE* 6:00 p.m. Coach: David Dean (Georgia State, 1986) Coach: Donald Pittman (Adams State, 1974) 11/9 vs. Albany State* (Columbus, Ga.) 2:00 p.m. Record: 54-17 (7th season) Record: 25-19 (5th season) at VSU: 54-17 (7th season) at FVSU: 25-19 (5th season) all times Eastern; *SIAC vs. GSC: 29-12 ABOUT THE GAME vs. FVSU: 3-0 vs. VSU: 0-1 TV • NONE QUICK NOTES • Valdosta State is in its 32nd year of intercollegiate football and owns an overall record of 231 wins, 108 losses RADIO • VSU RADIO NETWORK and four ties. Play-by-Play Dick Rockey • David Dean is the second-winningest coach in Valdosta State history, having compiled 54 wins, against just 17 Analyst Wes James losses, during his six year coaching career. He owns a .761 career winning percentage. Sideline Tom Odom • The Blazers have won 70.7 percent of their games played in the month of September, compiling a record of Network Stations WDDQ Talk 92.1 FM (Valdosta) 78-32-1 during the ninth month over the years. WJEM 96.1 FM / 1150 AM (Valdosta) • The Blazers have scored in 259 straight games, tops among DII schools. WSFB 97.7 FM / 1490 AM (Quitman) • This year marks the seventh time that Valdosta State has played Fort Valley State in its season opener. The WJHC 107.5 FM (Jasper, Fla.) Blazers are currently 5-1 in those six games, including victories in each of the last five contests. WBHB 1240 AM (Fitzgerald) • Overall, VSU has gone 20-11 in its 31 previous season openers, including a 4-2 mark under Head Coach David WHJD 920 AM (Hazelhurst) Dean. WAYS 1500 AM (Macon) • The Blazers dropped a 28-24 decision to Saginaw Valley State in their season opener last year, but rebounded the next week to defeat Fort Valley State 62-14 in the last meeting between the Blazers and Wildcats. INTERNET RADIO • Chris Pope enters the 2013 season 88 tackles behind the school record of 368 held by Larry Dean. Pope had Live Audio talk921.com 61 tackles as a freshman, 92 as a sophomore and 127 last year for 280 career tackles. Live Stats sidearmstats.com/valdosta/football • Valdosta State returns 12 starters off of last year’s national championship squad, including eight on defense and Live Video none four on offense. SERIES HISTORY AGAINST FORT VALLEY STATE In a series that dates back to the 1985 season, Valdosta State leads Fort Valley State 17-3 in the all-time series ... The last meeting came last year, with the Blazers claiming a 62-14 victory for their ninth straight victory in the series ... The VSU winning streak dates back to the 2000 season as Fort Valley State last claimed victory in 1999 ... The Blazers have won each of the previous two neutral site games, both of which of have also been played in Macon ... Head Coach David Dean is 3-0 all-time against the Wildcats. 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 AND 2010 GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS SERIES HISTORY VS. FORT VALLEY STATE TALE OF THE TAPE - 2012 ALL-TIME HIGHS & LOWS VS. FVSU VSU Category FVSU Most Points Scored Fewest Points Scored VSU 41.6 Scoring Offense 27.1 2007 69 1985 3 Year Record Streak Site Score 20.0 Scoring Defense 24.8 2012 62 1991 7 1985 0-1 Loss 1 Valdosta, Ga. L, 17-3 218.9 Rushing Offense 133.7 1994 58 1997 10 1986 1-1 Won 1 Macon, Ga. W, 17-0 157.9 Rushing Defense 165.8 2008 56 1999 13 1987 2-1 Won 2 Valdosta, Ga. W, 21-14 250.4 Passing Offense 223.0 1993 49 1988/1998 14 1988 3-1 Won 3 Valdosta, Ga. W, 14-13 195.9 Passing Defense 175.6 1991 4-1 Won 4 Valdosta, Ga. W, 7-0 469.4 Total Offense 356.7 Most Points Allowed Fewest Points Allowed 1992 5-1 Won 5 Fort Valley, Ga. W, 24-17 353.8 Total Defense 341.3 1993 24 1986 0 1993 6-1 Won 6 Fort Valley, Ga. W, 49-24 1999 24 1991 0 1994 7-1 Won 7 Valdosta, Ga. W, 58-6 THE BLAZER-WILDCAT COMPARISON 2001 24 1997 0 1997 8-1 Won 8 Fort Valley, Ga. W, 10-0 VSU FVSU 1998 20 2000 0 1998 8-2 Loss 1 Valdosta, Ga. L, 20-14 Roster Breakdown 85 players 80 players 1985/1992 17 2007 0 1999 8-3 Loss 2 Fort Valley, Ga. L, 24-13 Seniors 20 11 2000 9-3 Won 1 Valdosta, Ga. W, 46-0 Juniors 32 23 Largest Margin of Victory Largest Margin of Defeat 2001 10-3 Won 2 Fort Valley, Ga. W, 42-6 Sophomores 15 22 2007 69 1985 14 2001 11-3 Won 3 Valdosta, Ga. W, 40-24 Freshmen 18 24 2008 53 1999 11 2002 12-3 Won 4 Valdosta, Ga. W, 32-6 Starting Offensive Line 1994 52 1998 6 2005 13-3 Won 5 Macon, Ga. W, 32-10 Height, Weight 6-4, 314 6-5, 327 2012 48 2006 14-3 Won 6 Valdosta, Ga. W, 31-3 Starting Defensive Line 2000 46 2007 15-3 Won 7 Fort Valley, Ga. W, 69-0 Height, Weight 6-1, 265 6-2, 260 2008 16-3 Won 8 Valdosta, Ga. W, 56-3 Run-to-Pass Ratio 571:422 439:405 Most Rushing Yards Fewest Rushing Yards 2012 17-3 Won 9 Valdosta, Ga. W, 62-14 Run-to-Pass Percentage 57.5% run 52.0% pass 2008 284 2002 51 VSU Points Per Game: 32.0 (640 total) Turnovers Gained-Lost 37-19 40-31 1987 261 1985 60 FVSU Points Per Game: 10.1 (201 total) 3rd Down Conversions 90-of-191 57-of-184 2012 247 2006 72 Current Streak: Valdosta State has won 9 in a row 3rd Down Percentage 47.1% 31.0% 1993 242 2000 75 in Valdosta: Valdosta State State leads 10-2 4th Down Conversions 11-of-18 8-of-21 1997 230 1992 77 in Fort Valley: Valdosta State leads 5-1 4th Down Percentage 61.1% 38.1% Neutral Site: Valdosta State leads 2-0 Sacks By-Against 36-23 31-24 Most Rushing Yards Allowed Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed 1992 189 1986 -12 EXPERIENCE OF THE TENTATIVE STARTERS 1988 187 2007 21 Sr.