VALDOSTA – Valdosta State’s fate is now in its own hands.
With a big 27-24 win over North Alabama on Saturday, the Blazers have been rewarded with a second-place ranking in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings.
Valdosta State (7-1, 5-1) made the jump from third to second, while UNA (7-1, 5-1) fell to that third-place spot. Delta State (7-1, 6-0) took over first place after beating West Georgia, 41-7.
Rounding out the top six are: Catawba (8-1), Carson-Newman (8-1) and Fort Valley State (8-2), who moved up from seventh.
VSU sits in a tie for second place in the Gulf South Conference with North Alabama. Delta State, which beat VSU 35-31 earlier this month, leads the conference.
The Blazers have two games to go in the regular season, against opponents with a combined record of 5-11.
This Saturday, VSU makes the long trip to face the Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils (4-5, 3-3).
Then the Blazers wrap up the regular season with a Thursday night showdown against the West Georgia Wolves (2-7, 1-5) at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Nov. 9.
Though they are ranked second now in the Southeast, they can’t let off the gas peddle just yet.
Delta State wraps up their season against West Alabama (1-7, 0-5) and Arkansas-Monticello. North Alabama wraps up their season against West Georgia and West Alabama.
With all three of the top teams facing very beatable opponents in the final two games of the season, there is no room for error.
The region standings make or break a team destined for the postseason. Just ask the 2006 Blazers.
Last season, Valdosta State was ousted from the postseason due to the ranking system. VSU was bumped out by Albany State, the SIAC conference champions, despite beating them 20-16 in the first week of the season.
Local Sports
Blazers take second in Southeast
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The losing continues
Tommy Hanson says the Braves aren’t in panicking after their longest losing streak in two years reached eight games.
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Gulf South approves invitation to Lee University
The Gulf South Conference’s search for additional members bore fruit when GSC Commissioner Nate Salant announced the GSC Executive Committee’s unanimous approval of an invitation to Lee University to apply for membership.
The approval comes on the heels of a recommendation from the GSC Expansion Committee, which visited Lee University’s campus last week -
Dario Franchitti wins Indy again
Dan Wheldon couldn’t win his third Indianapolis 500. Dario Franchitti did it for him.
And if it wasn’t going to be Franchitti, then it would be Scott Dixon. Maybe even Tony Kanaan.
No matter what, one of Wheldon’s best buddies was going to Victory Lane. -
VSU teams hosting summer camps
The national champion Valdosta State softball team will host two separate summer camps this summer, as well as weekly clinics throughout the summer.
The two summer camps will be held on June 11-13 and July 9-11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The camps will cost $100 each. -
David Dean Youth Camp begins next week
The David Dean Youth Football Camp is quickly approaching.
The fourth annual camp will be held May 29-June 1 at the Athletic Fieldhouse off Mary Street. -
National champion head coach rewarded with new truck
National champion head coach rewarded with new truck Valdosta State head softball coach Thomas Macera was rewarded with a new Toyota Tacoma from Valdosta Toyota on Wednesday for his team’s 4-1 victory over the University of California-San Diego in the Division II Softball National Championship Game.
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Valwood’s Savino, Elliott named All-State soccer
Two Valwood boys’ soccer players have been named to the GISA Class AA All-State team.
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All-American again
Go ahead and add another award to resume of this year’s Valdosta State softball team.
Between conference player of the week awards, a national player of the week award, All-Conference and All-Region honors and four All-American awards, the national champion Blazers had plenty of individuals honored for performances throughout the season, which ultimately led to VSU’s first ever softball national title. -
Local area events coming soon
Several local area runs will take place in the coming weeks.
Monday, May 28, there will be a Memorial Day 5K, which will begin at 8 a.m. from the VECA School located on the corner of Azalea Drive and College Street. -
Tech bound
Donjahae Jones gets it done in the classroom and on the track.
One of the top students in her class, and one of the top track and field competitors in the state, Jones will be taking her talents to the Division I level after she signed a track and field scholarship with Georgia Tech on Tuesday. - More Local Sports Headlines
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