ROME, Ga. — The Valdosta State Blazers welcomed Shorter University to the Gulf South Conference by cruising past the Hawks 37-6 Thursday night at Barron Stadium in Rome.

The Blazers raced out to a 17-0 first quarter lead and added a touchdown in the second quarter and two more in the third to blow out the Hawks in the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

“I thought early in the game we were looking pretty good,” Valdosta State head coach David Dean said. “But once the game kind of got in control, I think our guys kind of realized we outmanned them and we eased off of them, which was a little disappointing to see. But it was good for us to play a lot of different guys.”

Valdosta State used a controlled offensive attack and stout defensive play to cruise to their fifth GSC win of the season, finishing the conference season with a 5-1 record. Now, the Blazers will sit back and see if either rival Delta State or North Alabama can upset conference leader West Alabama. If so, the Blazers would earn at least a share of the conference championship.

“It is big for us to sit back now that we have finished the Gulf South Conference, knowing that we’ve posted the record and the pressure is on (West Alabama) to win,” Dean said. “They have two games left, two very tough games to win — this week against Delta and two weeks against North Alabama.

“Hopefully, one of those guys or both of those guys knock them off and we can be Gulf South Conference champions. I think these guys deserve it.”

Quarterback Cayden Cochran completed 20 of 23 passes for 212 yards with two touchdown passes and added 47 yards on the ground to go along with a first quarter rushing TD to lead the Blazer offense to 357 total yards on the night.

Cochran, who completed his first 10 passes on the night, connected with Gerald Ford (7 catches for 66 yards) and Regginald Lewis (5 catches for 83 yards) for touchdowns on the night, giving him 15 passing scores this season.

“I thought (Cochran) played pretty well,” Dean said. “He made one mistake throwing the ball deep down the field, but we ran the wrong route, so we didn’t help him out. But I thought he made the right checks.”

The Blazer defense played extremely well Thursday night, holding the Hawks to 277 yards of total offense and forcing three fumbles and an interception. Valdosta State also held the Hawks to four punts, two turnover on downs and a missed field goal.

“The thing we were able to do when they couldn’t move the ball against us was we were able to limit them on first and second down,” Dean said. “If we kept them in third and long situations, we had a chance to be successful.”

The Valdosta State offense was able to capitalize on the turnovers, too. After Shorter missed a 40-yard field goal on its opening possession, the Blazers used Cochran’s passing to move into the red zone and set up a 38-yard field goal by Daniel Andersen, which made the score 3-0.

After a Shorter punt, Valdosta State was back at it with a 6-play, 65-yard touchdown drive, which ended with Cochran scoring on a 1-yard QB keeper. The Blazers led 10-0.

“That is what good teams do, they are supposed to take advantage of opportunities like that,” Cochran said. “If the defense does their job like they are so good at doing, we have to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Fifteen seconds after Cochran’s touchdown, the Blazer defense forced the first of its three fumbles when former Valdosta Wildcat Justin Williams stripped the ball from Hawks running back T.J. Talfair. Cornerback Dominique Wheeler scooped the fumble and returned it 17 yards for the score to give the Blazers a 17-0 lead.

“I was glad to see our defense finally get one in the end zone,” Dean said. “I thought for the most part, after the first series, our defense sort of settled down and started playing.”

Valdosta State scored its lone touchdown of the second quarter when Cochran connected with Ford on an 8-yard pass to put the Blazers in front 24-0. The short, 4-play scoring drive was set up by a fumble recovery by linebacker Ryan Smith, which was forced by defensive end Tevin Davis.

“We did what we practiced,” Davis said. “Everybody did what they were supposed to and took care of their keys.”

The Blazers continued their scoring in the second half when Cochran connected with Lewis on a 17-yard TD pass. The passing score was set up by VSU’s third fumble recovery, this time by Brooks County native Lawrence Virgil.

After the Hawks got onto the scoreboard with their only score of the game (a 5-yard touchdown run by Kirk Wilson), the Blazers re-extended their lead with a 4-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Cedric O’Neal, who set up his TD run with a 54-yard run on the drive. VSU missed the extra point and led 37-6.

Valdosta State coasted to the victory in the fourth quarter, playing several backup players throughout the quarter. Chris Caspari capped the game off with an interception with less than five seconds remaining.

The Blazers host Texas A&M-Kingsville next Thursday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. and will be broadcast as the GSC Game of the Week.