Valdosta State University quarterback Willie Copeland (13) looks to pass down field as the Delta State players swarm in last Thursday at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

VALDOSTA — The Blazers were making all the big plays. The offense was keeping the Statesmen guessing, the defense was playing with spirit and special teams were producing more real estate than Century 21.

That was the story of the first half of Valdosta State’s 35-31 loss to Delta State last Friday.

In the second half the Statesmen proved they deserve to be the Southeast Region’s No. 2 team, and made enough big plays to shock everyone watching the game.

“They always say four or five plays determine the outcome of a game,” VSU coach David Dean said. “And, that’s exactly what happened to us the other night.”

VSU had two safeties in the first half, a blocked punt return and a good offensive drive.

Ahead 17-0, the Blazers were handing it to a terrific team. VSU even started out the second half, having the upper hand, scoring on a 24-yard pass and then recovering from Delta State’s first score for another time-consuming drive.

Then the terrific team proved they were great.

VSU gave the Statesmen an inch of breathing room, and they sucked the air out of Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

Just 62 seconds following Michael Terry’s 1-yard run for the Blazers final touchdown of the night, DSU’s Jeremy Ricks returned the kickoff for 85 yards, and Jerry Evans ran back a Willie Copeland interception for a 35-yard score, bringing the game within 10 points.

After the quick turnaround, the players saw the momentum change.

“After we threw the interception for a touchdown we returned the kickoff and got hit and fumbled,” Dean said. “I think everybody on the sideline said hey what’s happening, this isn’t supposed to happen. At that time we felt some uneasiness.”

While the uneasiness was there, the Blazers didn’t get a sense of panic.

“I still felt comfortable with what we were doing, and I felt comfortable with our players,” Dean said. “I don’t think we ever got into panic mode. I think what we did was, we allowed Delta to gain some confidence that we knocked out of them. They didn’t have any confidence in what they were doing, and we allowed them to gain that confidence back.”

The confidence and momentum turned in just a matter of seconds. It only took the time from Ricks to catch the ball, carry the ball through his team of blockers and erase a hard-fought VSU touchdown.

“I think if they don’t return the kickoff for a touchdown, it’s a whole different outcome,” Dean said.

After Delta’s big return and interception, it took most of the rest of the third quarter for a drive that resulted in a 40-yard pass from Dedrick Wilson to Jeremy Ricks.

Wilson took it to the Blazers during Delta State’s rally, compiling 88 rushing yards and 161 passing yards on the night. With Delta getting just an ounce of momentum the play of Wilson and other good players on a good team stunned the Blazers.

With the game 31-28, barely in favor of the Blazers, both teams looked for the devastating blow in the fourth quarter, and DSU was able to come up with it.

This time it was Brett Hyatt at quarterback, who hit Greg Betterson for 17 yards and the lead with 11:22 left.

While the Blazers were stunned with having lost a 24- point lead they kept playing and almost retained the victory.

VSU put on a late drive and marched down to Delta’s 12-yard line before an interception.

Although Copeland’s were the last pair of VSU hands to touch the ball before the Statesmen celebrations began, Dean said the burden does not fall on the senior quarterback.

“It’s absolutely not his fault,” Dean said. “We’re a team. It was a team effort. We should have stopped them on defense a few times. We should have taken the ball down and scored a few times, and on special teams we should have stopped the kickoff return and should have opened kickoff returns of our own. It was a total team effort.”

The Blazers stepped on to the practice field for the first time Sunday with an eye on West Alabama, having shuck off the hangover of the most disappointing game of the season.

“I was very surprised,” Dean said. “I thought we would still have a little bit of a hangover. They were able to put that behind and look ahead to West Alabama. They want to prove they’re a good football team, and what happened the other night was a fluke.

“I think they’re determined to not ever let that happen again. Maybe it’s a wake-up call.”