This Saturday, two of Valdosta’s premier football teams, the Lowndes Vikings and the Valdosta State Blazers, will both be fighting to keep their seasons alive.

The only problem? The two schools are set to play in two different regions of the state. The Vikings (7-3) are set to visit the Stephenson Jaguars in Clarkston, a suburb of Atlanta, while the Blazers (6-3) are set to host rival North Alabama.

Since the two schools nearly share a fan base, Valdosta State head coach David Dean has received numerous inquries to move kickoff to the VSU game up two hours to noon, which would allow Lowndes fans enough time to head north to watch the Vikings in the first round of the state playoffs.

Dean, himself, is in favor of the plan.

“I’ve had no less than 10 or 12 people that have called me and asked me if there was any way we could move the game up,” Dean said. “They want to come to our game and then go watch Lowndes play, and we are going up against the Georgia-Auburn game at 3:30. For us, I think it would be great, but it is out of my hands.”

Unfortunately for fans of both teams, the Valdosta State game time won’t be moved, according to VSU athletic director Herb Reinhard.

Reinhard confirmed on Tuesday night the game time between Valdosta State and North Alabama will remain at 2 p.m., and moving the game is not an option.

“I am not looking into moving the game,” Reinhard said. “We have always done a tremendous amount of advertising and publicity surrounding the 2 o’clock kickoff. … It is definitely not something we are considering. Plus, you have to remember that there is a game here on Friday night and we have to turn that stadium around and that doesn’t happen right away. … It is just impossible to accomodate everybody.”

Despite the obvious loss in fans, as many will choose to head north to watch Lowndes (based upon the attendance from previous game this season), the Blazers are expecting a good turnout for Saturday’s contest. The local community has shown interest in the game, as ome local Valdosta residents have even gone as far to create ‘Beat UNA’ signs, which have been placed all around campus, including outside of the football practice facility.

Saturday’s meeting between the Lions and Blazers will act as an elimination game for both teams. Currently, the Lions are ranked No. 5 in the latest Super Region 2 standings, while the Blazers are ranked sixth.

Much like North Alabama last weekend, the Blazers enter this weekend’s contest riding a two-game losing streak, after falling to Delta State and West Georgia.

“All I know is that we lost two straight ball games and our backs are against the wall,” Dean said. “It is time for us to get off a two-game losing streak, and win and get ourself into a position to be in the playoffs.”

Although the playoffs don’t officially start until next week, the Blazers have been in so called playoff mode since their loss to West Georgia.

“Do or die,” Offensive lineman Cam Short said. “It is what we look ed at last week. Playoffs start right here.”

The Blazers are all to familiar with North Alabama, having met three times over the past two seasons. VSU got the first laugh last season, knocking off UNA, 5-0. North Alabama got the final laugh, eliminating the Blazers from postseason play.

“This is really a big deal for us,” Short said. “We get to come out and do some great things and start our playoffs off right. We know we can go a lot of places, and go far.”

The Blazers will see the return of senior quarterback Austen Roberts, who has been out with a shoulder injury since leaving the Ouachita Baptist game. Roberts will serve as the backup quarterback for the rest of the season, as sophomore Cayden Cochran has earned the right to remain the starter.

“(Austen) is now back 100 percent, but he is throwing the ball real well,” Dean said. “He is good enough to go in there and do some stuff if we needed him do it. Cayden is still going to be the starter, and Austen knows that.”