A host of Blazers tackle a Tiger ball carrier during a game at Ouachita Baptist earlier this season.

The Valdosta State Blazers are in the process of shaking off a 36-33 loss to Gulf South Conference rival Delta State.

The Blazers are also in the process of preparing for in-state rival West Georgia, who they host this Saturday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

On Tuesday, the Blazers (6-2) were given a glimpse of where they stand when it comes to the playoffs, as the first regional rankings for Division II football were released.  

The Blazers were tabbed the No. 3 team in Super Region 2, which is made up of schools from the Gulf South Conference, the South Atlantic Conference, the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and various independent schools in the Southeast.

Delta State was given the No. 1 ranking behind a 7-0 in-region record, while North Alabama is ranked second. West Alabama marked the fourth Gulf South Conference school to make the top 10 ranking. The Tigers came in seventh.

The top six teams in the final region rankings, which will be released on Sunday, Nov. 13, will mark the six teams that will represent Super Region 2 in the playoffs.

The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are rewarded with first round byes, while the No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed in the opening round. As of right now, that would put Valdosta State hosting Albany State, a team they defeated back on Sept. 17, in the first round of the playoffs.

The No. 4 seed will host the No. 5 seed. Mars Hill is currently fifth and North Greenville is sixth.

The Blazers can nearly lock in a playoff berth with a victory over West Georgia on Saturday. A Valdosta State victory this weekend, along with a North Alabama victory over West Alabama, would set the stage for a showdown between North Alabama and Valdosta State on Nov. 11.

The winner of the Valdosta State-North Alabama meeting could potentially secure the No. 2 seed in the region. Both schools have lost to Delta State this season.

Blazers fall in national poll

Along with the release of the regional rankings, the NCAA Division II American Football Coaches Association poll was released. Following the loss to Delta State, the Blazers fell to the No. 17 ranking in the country.

Delta State remained at the top of the poll. The Statesmen currently stand with an undefeated record against Division II competition.

Gulf South Conference rival North Alabama remained fifth in the poll, while West Alabama returned to the poll. The Tigers are ranked 23rd after spending last week unranked.

Albany State, who Valdosta State defeated on Sept. 17, is ranked 22nd after a victory over Clark Atlanta this past Saturday.

Valdosta State welcomes West Georgia to Bazemore-Hyder Stadium this Saturday for a 2 p.m. kickoff.

A complete listing of the regional rankings and AFCA Top 25 poll can be found on page 3B.