THE BASICS:
Score: #10 Valdosta State 59, Delta State 28
Records: Valdosta State 6-0 (4-0 GSC), Delta State 0-6 (0-4 GSC)
Location: Valdosta, Ga. (Bazemore-Hyder Stadium)
THE LEAD: No. 10 Valdosta State football team used a big second half to pull away from Delta State for a 59-28 victory Saturday afternoon as it outscored the Statesmen 31-0 in the second half. VSU improved to 6-0 on the year and 4-0 in Gulf South Conference play as the 6-0 start marked the best for the program since 2003.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Blazers wasted little time on the first possession of the game as they needed just 2:02 of game time as sophomore quarterback Rogan Wells threw a 48-yard pass to junior Lio'undre Gallimore to get the dive started on the first play from scrimmage.
- Reigning GSC Freshman of the Week Jamar Thompkins scored from two yards out on fourth down for a 7-0 lead with 12:58 left.
- The Statesmen marched down the field, using 2:56 of game time as freshman quarterback Patrick Shegog called his own number for a 7-7 score with 10:02 left.
- Following a VSU punt, DSU scored its second touchdown of the first quarter on a nine-play, 60-yard drive for a 14-7 lead with 4:57 left in the quarter.
- It marked the first time VSU had trailed at home this season.
- With 4:57 minutes left in the quarter, VSU used another big kick return from freshman Michael Henderson and a personal foul on DSU moved the ball into Statesmen territory.
- Wells hit Gallimore again on a third and three for 33 yards and Wells scored from 11 yards out for a 14-14 score.
- The VSU defense stood tall on the next possession as junior Jameon Gaskin got Shegog in the backfield on third down forcing punt, but the Blazers were unable to do anything following the punt.
- DSU began its next drive early in the second quarter as Shegog continued his strong start with a 27-yarder to Brandon Rodgers and then Trey Roberson scored on third and one from the 25 for a 21-14 lead with 11:59 left.
- The Blazers had the answer once again and needed just 2:38 of time to go six plays and 82 yards, highlighted by another great catch from Gallimore for 49 yards and Wells hit sophomore Brian Saundsfor 25 yards and the equalizer.
- DSU got a pass interference penalty on the Blazers and then Shegog hit Ty Harris for 37 yards to the VSU one, but Rodgers was called for targeting and ejected.
- Despite the ball being moved back to the VSU 25, DSU scored as Kelon Wilson found pay dirt from one yard out with 2:54 left in the half.
- Wells and the Blazers weren't done yet as a personal foul penalty on the Statesmen put VSU in enemy territory and a 45-yard strike to Saunds set the Blazers up at first and goal from the one. Wells then scored his second rushing touchdown of the half for a 28-28 score.
- VSU senior Iseoluwapo Jegede sacked Shegog for a 10-yard loss on the first possession of the second half for the Statesmen as DSU punted.
- The Blazers wasted little time as they marched down the field and Wells found senior Stewart Spencefor a nine-yard touchdown and a 35-28 lead.
- The Blazers then scored on an 80-yard drive as Wells hit freshman Seth McGill for a 28-yard score and a 45-28 lead.
- VSU added two more scores in the fourth quarter for the 59-28 win and blanked the Statesmen in the second half.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- For the first half, VSU had 261 yards on 27 plays, while DSU had 313 yards on 40 plays.
- Wells was 10 of 16 for 226 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for two scores for 21 yards.
- Shegog was an impressive 13 of 16 passing for 150 yards.
- Four different Statemen had touchdowns in the half, while Wells had two for the Blazers to lead the team.
- DSU had the ball for 20:13, while VSU had it for just 9:47 after the Blazers had the ball for just 18 minutes and change in the win last week at Mississippi College.
- The Statesmen were 6 of 7 on third down, while VSU was 3 of 6 in the half.
- VSU tallied 547 yards of offense in the game with 148 yards on the ground and 399 through the air.
- Delta State finished with 208 yards on the ground and 226 through the air for 434 for the game, but managed just 121 yards of offense in the second half.
- Gallimore paced the Blazers with a career-high 194 yards receiving on five catches and a score, while Saunds tallied 104 yards and a score.
- The 194 yards receiving by Gallimore ranked tied for sixth all-time in school history in receiving yards by a player in a game.
- Wells went 18 of 32 for 364 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for two scores.
- Sophomore Craig Watts paced the team with ten tackles and four solo stops, while VSU had five tackles for loss for 22 yards and two sacks for 18 yards.
- VSU moved to 17-20-1 all-time against DSU and now has won four-straight in the series.
- The 4-0 start by the Blazers in league play is the best since 2004.
UP NEXT:
- The Blazers return to the road at Florida Tech, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m., before returning home Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. for Homecoming against GSC newcomer North Greenville at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
- Check back with vstateblazers.com for information on the upcoming game, along links to tickets and streaming information.
