VALDOSTA — The postseason is upon Valdosta State again. The undefeated Blazers, the top-seeded Super Region Two for Division II hosts Miles College today at 1 p.m. at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

Miles enters with new history under its belt. The Golden Bears won their first ever Division II football playoff game last week over Carson-Newman, 14-13.

It was a first round by to open nations for Valdosta State, courtesy of a 10-0 regular season and another Gulf South championship win.  The Blazers’ average score this year has been 43-9. They shut out three opponents.

Today’s winner will face either Virginia Union or Lenoir-Rhyne in the national quarterfinals. If VSU advances, the game will be next Saturday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

VSU and Miles have only met once in their history, a 55-7 thumping on Sept. 17, 2022. That season was not a good one for the Golden Bears, who won only one game (over Central State) and dropped nine of them.

They’ve forgotten that season quickly. Miles rebounded to 7-3 in 2023, but two losses in the SIAC meant they only finished in a tie for third with Tuskegee and Albany State.

The 2024 season has been even better, 10-2, and sparkling 8-0 mark in conference play. They come to Valdosta State having won 10 in a row. Only Carson-Newman has been a close call during the streak. No other opponent has been closer than nine points.

Miles’ only losses were to West Alabama — by a single point — and Alabama State. They have 1.5 opponents in common with the Blazers. Both have won over Albany State, VSU 42-10 to Miles’ 32-21. The half-game is West Alabama, a team the Blazers were supposed to play this year but had to cancel because of Hurricane Helene.

The football history of Miles dates back to 1910, according to its Sports Hall of Fame. An HBCU in Fairfield, Alabama, Miles joined the SIAC in 1927, the conference in which it currently plays.

Miles is an eight-time SIAC champion. Before this season, their last had been in 2019.

Running backs have been responsible for most of the Golden Bears’ touchdowns in 2024. Jonero Scott leads in yardage at 657, though he is second on the team in TDs scored to Javonte Leatherwood. As good they are running, they are better at stopping it; Miles’ defense has surrendered but eight rushing scores.

Kamren Ivory has thrown for 14 touchdowns while completing 118 of 219 attempts. He has 1,476 yards. Jaquel Fells is Ivory’s favorite, with 33 catches for 427 yards. He is far from the only one, however. Keidarris Griffin, Franck Pierre, Jaih Andrews and Travaunta Abner range between 305-363 yards. Pierre has the most receiving TDs at five.

Defensively, the Blazers will have to watch for Lashon Young, who has eight interceptions, and Cam Williams who has broken up 11 passing and picked three of them.

In contrast, special teams have not been Miles’ forte. Roderick Smith handles placekicking and punting duties. He averages 38 yards per punt, but is only 7-for-14 on field goals, with a long of 44. Two kickers kickoff for the Golden Bears and on 69 kickoffs, only six have been touchbacks.

Valdosta State has played few close games this year. North Greenville fell by eight points, the only team to be closer than 13. The West Florida game was expected to be tight, but the Blazers went ahead 14-0 in the second period. The second half saw them tighten their grip on the Argos like a boa constrictor, wearing the visitors down without having to do anything fancy.

Sammy Edwards only passed for 154 yards in that game. The Harlon Hill nominee didn’t need to do more as Blake Hester, Alfonso Franklin, and even Edwards himself kept the sticks moving on rush plays. VSU ran 41 times and passed only 20.

Edwards has been extremely accurate this year, completing 68% of his throws for 2,449 yards and 23 touchdowns. Opponents have intercepted only two of his 249 passes.

Hester and Franklin have complemented him well, combining for more than 1,300 on the ground, and 22 touchdowns.

Receiving-wise, Rodney Bullard has been outstanding again, with nine touchdowns and 766 yards. Tyler Ajiero, the grad student from Tift County, has 446 yards and five touchdowns and lots of speed. Graeson Malashevich is third in yardage and touchdowns, 395 and four, respectively.

Larry Elder’s name is a household one for Gulf South fans this year. Elder has already earned numerous awards on account of his 69 tackles, 9.5 stops for lost yardage. As a team, the Blazers have 30 sacks.