VALDOSTA — Six Valdosta State Blazers were recognized for outstanding seasons yesterday when they were named to the All-Gulf South Conference football team.
Senior safety Sherard Reynolds was named to the first-team for the third straight year. Reynolds is just one of 45 players to be named to the first-team three times. He has 51 tackles on the season and leads the team with four interceptions. His 94-yard interception return for a touchdown against Fort Valley earlier this year is a school record.
“I’m very proud of him,” VSU head coach David Dean said. “He’s a three time All-GSC team performer which is outstanding.”
Joining Reynolds on the first-team is sophomore defensive tackle Demario Jones. Jones has 28 tackles and has recovered two fumbles this season.
“I was pretty surprised,” Jones said. “I’m just happy I made it. I called my mom and dad and they were really happy. This is a credit to my teammates.”
Four players were named to the second-team from VSU. Receiver Albert Dukes, linebacker Larry Dean, punter Jack Fulford and deep snapper Joey Farmer earned second-team accolades.
Dukes was the only offensive player to be named from the Blazers. He was second on the team with 36 catches and had a team-high eight touchdown catches.
“It means a lot,” Dukes said. “I said at the beginning of the year I came here to be a big part of this team and make a lot of plays and I feel accomplished with this award. I wouldn’t have won it without my quarterback and offensive line.”
Larry Dean has a team-high 73 tackles on the season.
“I wouldn’t trade Larry Dean for anyone in the conference,” David Dean said. “To me there’s no better linebacker the conference. I was excited for him and I wish that he had been named to the first team.”
Fulford is third in the GSC with a 41.5 yard per punt average and has placed 19 punts inside the 20-yard line.
Farmer is a perfect 95-95 on special team snaps.
Freshman quarterback Chris Hart was named the Co-GSC Freshman-of-the-Year along with Southern Arkansas running back Mark Johnson. Hart is the fourth VSU player to receive Freshman-of-the-Year honors. The redshirt freshman has thrown for over 1,500 yards and has 18 touchdown passes.
“It’s just a name,” Hart said. “I appreciate the thought, but the biggest thing is for this team to win a championship.”
Arkansas-Monticello quarterback Scott Buisson was named GSC Offensive-Player-of-the-Year and Delta State linebacker Lardester Hicks-Green was named GSC Defensive Player-of-the-Year.
North Alabama led all GSC teams with 16 players named to the all-conference team.
VSU plays Carson-Newman at home Saturday in the first round of the Division II playoffs.
Local Sports
Six Blazers receive All-Gulf South Conference honors
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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. -
Blazers garner All-Region honors
Two Valdosta State baseball players have been named All-South Region while a third has garnered Academic All-Region, according to announcements made by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA), the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and the Collegiate Sports Information Director's of America (CoSIDA) this week.
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Lowndes' Phelps named tennis Coach of the Year
Lowndes tennis coach Heath Phelps has been named the Region 1-AAAAA girls’ and boys’ tennis Coach of the Year, after he guided both teams to region championships.
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Wildcats close spring practice
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Wildcats put their finishing touches on spring practice Saturday night with the playing of their annual spring game at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.
No score was kept in the game, but the Wildcats did play best-on-best, pitting the starting offense against the starting defense. - More Local Sports Headlines
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VSU teams hosting summer camps
