The Valdosta State Blazers begin Gulf South Conference play on the road against the Erskine College Fleet.  

The Blazers enter this week’s matchup with all of the momentum after last week’s 34-0 victory against the Fayetteville State Broncos. The Blazers moved their record to 3-0 in the season. The offensive for the Blazers has been led primarily by senior quarterback Sammy Edwards, who has had an excellent season so far as he passed for over 600 yards and six passing touchdowns to zero interceptions, along with contributing two rushing touchdowns. 

 However, in the win last week against the Broncos, the offensive load was carried on the shoulders of junior running back Blake Hester, who ran for 102 yards and contributed three touchdowns. While the defense played the best ball of the year as they pitched the shutout at home.  

As for their opponent, the Erskine College Fleet, they come into their first-ever GSC matchup 1-2 on the season and with the opposite feeling as the Blazers, as they were shut out 20-0 last week against the Elizabeth City State Vikings. They are led by senior Quarterback Peter Pender, who comes into this weekend’s matchup with 400 yards passing and four touchdowns to two interceptions.  

The Blazers have scored at least 25 points or more in the first three games of the year thus far. They look to continue that trend as they face a defense that has allowed 17 points per game so far this season, so this will be another test for the Blazers’ offensive.  

Like last week’s matchup against Fayetteville State, this will be the first-ever matchup between the Blazers and the Fleet. The Fleet will be in the GSC for one season before moving to the Coastal Carolina Conference in 2025.  

The Blazers will also look to go 2-0 in the state of South Carolina, as their previous road matchup took them to Newberry, where they soundly defeated Newberry College Wolves 27-14 on Sept.7. They will look to gain bragging rights in South Carolina this season with a win over Erskine in Greenwood.  

Written by Christopher Mercer, Sports editor. Photo by the Spectator.