Adam MacDonald
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta State Blazers responded from their second loss of the season with their best performance so far in 2009.
The Blazers crushed the West Alabama Tigers 35-6 on Saturday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, one week after they suffered a 24-14 loss to Ouachita Baptist.
The Blazers (2-2, 2-1 in the Gulf South Conference) came out clicking on all cylinders on offense and played suffocating defense in what was a must-win game.
“I was very pleased with them,” Dean said. “They took the fight to West Alabama right off the bat. That’s a good football team, especially offensively, and our defense came out and hit them in the mouth. I was very, very happy to see that ... For the first time I think we put together a good, physical football game.”
Not only did the Blazers look like the Blazers of old when it came to their on-field performance, they also resorted to the fashion style of former VSU teams. The Blazers wore black pants to match their black jerseys for the first time since 2005.
“We had those and we were saving them for a good time,” Dean said. “We felt like tonight would be a good time to do it. They did not know they were going to wear black pants. They went into the locker room and the black pants were there.”
Dean said the decision to wear black pants was his and said the team liked it so much it will probably wear those for the rest of the season.
While the black pants seemed to inspire the Blazers, a more likely reason for their victory was because wide receiver Cedric Jones caught 10 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown. It was a breakout game for Jones, whose VSU career has fallen on hard times. After earning All-American honors in 2007, Jones only caught one touchdown pass in 2008 and did not travel to last week’s game at Ouachita Baptist after violating a team rule.
Saturday’s game was a return to the standard that is expected of Jones.
“It means a lot,” Jones said. “I feel bad for not being able to help the team (last week). I feel like I let the team down, so I felt like I had to come out and do extra this week to help the team.”
“I just look at it as me learning from my mistakes and just moving on and helping out the team.”
With his 10 catches, Jones moved to second on the list for all-time receptions at VSU with 244. He moved to third on the all-time receiving yardage list at VSU. He is now third all-time in the GSC in receptions.
“It feels great,” Jones said. “I’m just going out and working hard everyday and trying to help the team as much as possible so we can make this run and hopefully make the playoffs.”
VSU quarterback Kellen Lewis was a big reason why Jones was able to haul in 10 catches. Lewis played his best game so far for VSU, going 27-for-37 for 306 yard and a touchdown. He also rushed for two touchdowns in the first half. Lewis was removed from the game halfway through the third quarter with the game in hand.
“Out there on the field there was no real indecisiveness by me,” Lewis said. “It was kind of what I saw on film is what I rolled with. I think (quarterbacks) coach Brown did a good job of coaching me and letting me know your a good a player, just go out there and play.”
Heading into the game, Dean wanted his offense to play with more urgency. The Blazers only needed 2 minutes and 15 seconds to score their first touchdown. Lewis orchestrated a 10 play, 69-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Ronnye Nelson.
VSU’s special teams set up the offense’s next touchdown when it blocked a West Alabama punt and recovered it at the three yard line. Lewis ran in for a touchdown on the next play to put VSU up 14-0.
That was all the points the VSU defense needed because it shut down the Tigers’ offense. The Tigers only 79 yard of offense in the first half. The defense forced three turnovers after creating just three in the first three games.
“I was very proud of our guys,” Dean said. “That’s what we’ve been preaching to them, and I think all the stuff we are hammering to them they are beginning to understand. They’re creating those turnovers. We’re getting our hands on balls that are thrown and when you do that a lot of good things happen.”
A scary moment occurred in the second quarter when VSU defensive tackle Tommie Duhart slammed UWA quarterback Deon Williams into the turf. Williams, a running back for VSU in 2006, remained on the ground for over 20 minutes and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. He was taken to South Georgia Medical Center where he was said to be conscience and alert.
About the only thing that seemed to go wrong for the Blazers was they hampered by penalties for the second consecutive week. The Blazers committed 13 penalties for 85 yards. Most of the penalties were on the offense.
The Blazers know those kinds of penalties will hurt them badly in their next game against Delta State.
“We’ve got to eliminate those,” Dean said. “Those are going to end up hurting us. They should have hurt us tonight, but our defense played so well and our offense made big plays so we were able to overcome them.”
The Blazers’ next game is Thursday at 8 p.m. at Delta State. Ouachita Baptist beat Delta State (3-2) 38-14 on Saturday, so Thursday’s game is essentially a playoff game.
“That game on Thursday night is going to be huge,” Dean said. “It was already huge, but it just got bigger.”
