The Valdosta State Blazers, the number one-ranked team, head into their final regular-season game against the West Florida Argonauts with a Gulf South Championship on the line.
The Blazers head into this regular season finale matchup 9-0, 5-0 in the GSC and are coming off another dominant victory against GSC rival, the Delta State Statesman 49-20. The win saw them inch closer to clinching a GSC title if they can clinch this week with a win.

However, their opponent, the 16th-ranked West Florida, comes into this matchup 7-2 on the season and 5-1 in the GSC going into this final week. Like the Blazers, the Argonauts are coming off a victory against a GSC rival as they defeated the North Greenville Trailblazers 35-14.

The Blazers have the fourth-best scoring offense in Division II, averaging 45 points per game, thanks to the playing of quarterback Sammy Edwards, who guided the Blazers all season long. He has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in Division II. He has thrown 2,295 yards with 21 passing touchdowns with just two interceptions. He also contributed four rushing touchdowns. He has also been helped by a stellar two-headed monster at running back with Blake Hester and Alfonso Franklin.

While Hester leads the team in rushing yards with 644 yards and 10 touchdowns, Franklin is just a little behind him with 509 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, including a three-touchdown day against his former team, Delta State, in last week’s victory. Edwards has also gotten help from his receivers, and none has had more of an impact than Rodney Bullard, who led the team in receiving 692 yards and eight touchdowns.

The Blazers’ defense has more than held its own this season. They have pitched a school record of three shutouts on the season against Fayetteville State, Erskine, and Chowan. They are fourth in the nation in the fewest points allowed at nine points per game, thanks to the stellar playing of safety Larry Elder. Elder leads the Blazers in tackles with 64, 8.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks on the season.

West Florida’s offense will provide a big test as it is ranked 14th in scoring. It is led by Redshirt freshman quarterback Marcus Stokes, who has passed for 1,411 yards and 14 touchdowns to eight interceptions.

This game has many things on the line this week. A win by VSU would see them clinch their first outright GSC championship since 2019. It would also see them complete a perfect regular season for only the second time in school history. A win would also secure a first-round bye in the NCAA Division II playoffs and eliminate West Florida from the playoffs.
However, a West Florida win would guarantee them the GSC championship outright. They would have played more conference games and won more, spoiling VSUs’ chances of hosting a playoff game at Bazemore—Hyder Stadium.

This game is undoubtedly the season’s biggest game for both teams, and it should be a great contest between two rivals who get the best out of each other. Each of the last two meetings has gone down to the wire, with VSU in 2023 knocking off the Argonauts 31-28 in Pensacola, Florida, after Edwards threw the game-winning touchdown to Ted Hurst with 36 seconds remaining. In 2022, the Argonauts defeated the Blazers 32-31 in overtime. Both teams have everything to play for in this regular-season finale.

Photo by Morgan Givens, Written By Christopher Mercer