VALDOSTA — When Valdosta State faces Delta State, it is traditionally one of the marquee football matchups in the Gulf South Conference.
This Thursday’s contest between the Blazers and the Statesmen will be no different.
When the two teams take the field at 8 p.m. Thursday, not only will it be a matchup of two of the top three teams in the GSC and a pair of unbeaten squads, but also two of the Top 10 teams in Division II. The Blazers enter the contest ranked No. 5 in the nation, while DSU is currently No. 8.
On Monday, the first regional rankings were announced, and Valdosta State and Delta are the top two teams in the Southeast. The top six teams in each region at the end of the regular season make the playoffs.
A year ago, Delta State defeated the Blazers 35-28 in Cleveland, Miss. and later became one of only two GSC teams to advance to the playoffs. Valdosta State, which finished third in the GSC, was left out.
Not only do both teams currently rank among the best in the nation in the national and regional polls, but each also statistically stands among the best on both sides of the ball. Valdosta State has the slight edge offensively, ranking 19th in the nation in total offense and 13th in scoring, averaging 445.4 total yards and 40.4 points a game. Meanwhile, Delta State is 40th in total offense at 413.2 yards per game, and stands 51st nationally in scoring at 29.8 points per game.
Defensively, though, Delta holds the edge. The Statesmen stand fourth overall in both total defense and scoring defense, allowing just 215.8 total yards and 9.8 points a game. Delta State leads the nation in pass efficiency defense, holding opponents to a 70.4 rating, and is third in rushing defense, allowing just 57.2 yards per game. VSU is ranked 30th in total defense, allowing 284 yards a game, and is sixth in scoring defense, giving up 10.8 points an outing.
Delta starts six seniors on the defensive side of the ball, including outside linebacker Michael Eubanks, the reigning conference Defensive Player of the Week after establishing new GSC career marks in sacks and tackles for loss last week at Arkansas Tech. Eubanks has registered 38 tackles this season, including 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He is joined by a defensive line that starts all seniors, in left end Michael Lewis, nose guard Chris Eccles and right end Jason Fenderson, as well as a pair of seniors in the secondary in free safety Jamarcus Wiggins and strong safety Scott Felando.
Delta’s experienced defense will face Valdosta State’s senior-laden offense. Four of the Blazers’ five starters on the offensive line are seniors this season, led by center Davis Russell, who has started all 15 games the last two seasons. Fellow seniors Abundio Corchado and C.A. Sanders start at the guard positions, while Gerald Davis, who is second on the team with 26 career starts, lines up at right tackle. Quarterback Willie Copeland and receivers Jeffrey Felton and Travis Taylor are also senior starters.
Local Sports
Blazers, Statesmen ranked 1-2 in Southeast
VSU, Delta face off Thursday night at Cleveland Field
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