# 2004 Valdosta State Blazers football team

The 2004 Valdosta State Blazers football team was an American football team that represented Valdosta State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2004 NCAA Division II football season. In their fifth year under head coach Chris Hatcher, the team compiled a 13–1 record (9–0 against conference opponents) and won the GSC championship. The team advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs and defeated Pittsburg State, 36–31, in the championship game.
Two Valdosta player were honored by the Associated Press on its 2004 Little All-America team: kicker Will Rhody (first team) and offensive lineman Torry Howard (third team). Other key players included quarterback Fabian Walker and running back Vincent Brown.
The Blazers played their home games at Bazemore–Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia.

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | at No. 22 Albany State* | No. 3 | Albany Municipal StadiumAlbany, GA | L 22–24 | 11,855 |
| September 11 | at Ouachita Baptist | No. 15 | Williams FieldArkadelphia, AR | W 40–19 | 3,687 |
| September 18 | Harding | No. 13 | Bazemore-Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | W 32–19 | 5,386 |
| September 25 | at No. 19 Central Arkansas | No. 12 | Estes StadiumConway, AR | W 22–12 | 7,117 |
| October 2 | No. 11 Delta State | No. 12 | Bazemore-Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | W 51–48 | 3,204 |
| October 9 | at Henderson State | No. 10 | Henderson StadiumMacon, GA | W 27–18 | 2,912 |
| October 16 | West Alabama | No. 8 | Bazemore-Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | W 34–17 | 6,843 |
| October 23 | at No. 23 North Alabama | No. 5 | Braly Municipal StadiumFlorence, AL | W 24–20 | 3,577 |
| October 30 | Southern Arkansas | No. 5 | Bazemore-Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | W 45–28 | 2,711 |
| November 6 | at West Georgia | No. 5 | Grisham StadiumCarrollton, GA (rivalry) | W 35–12 | 4,101 |
| November 20 | No. 13 Carson–Newman* | No. 3 | Bazemore-Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA (NCAA Division II second round) | W 38–12 | 3,001 |
| November 27 | at No. 2 Albany State* | No. 3 | Albany State University ColiseumAlbany, GA (NCAA Division II quarterfinal) | W 38–24 | 10,227 |
| December 4 | No. 23 West Chester* | No. 3 | Bazemore-Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA (NCAA Division II seminfinal) | W 45–21 | 4,483 |
| December 11 | vs. No. 1 Pittsburg State* | No. 3 | Braly Municipal StadiumFlorence, AL (NCAA Division II Championship Game) | W 36–31 | 8,604 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game |||||||

## Game summaries
### Vs. No. 1 Pittsburg State (NCAA Division II Championship)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 3 Blazers | 0 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 36 |
| No. 1 Gorillas | 14 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at Braly Municipal Stadium, Florence, Alabama
* Date: December 11
* Game time: 4:05 p.m. EST/3:05 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 44 °F (7 °C)
* Game attendance: 8,604
* Referee: Thomas Delaney
* TV announcers (ESPN): Andre Ware and Eric Collins
* Box score
| Statistics | VSU | PSU |
| First downs | 21 | 22 |
| Total yards | 366 | 371 |
| Rushing yards | 201 | 163 |
| Passing yards | 165 | 208 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 31:09 | 28:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Fabian Walker | 19/27, 165 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Vincent Brown | 13 rushes, 72 yards |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Rod Dalton | 4 receptions, 48 yards |
| Pittsburg State | Passing | Andy Majors | 11/14, 148 yards, INT |
| Pittsburg State | Rushing | Neal Philpot | 20 rushes, 117 yards, TD |
| Pittsburg State | Receiving | Tim Austin | 8 rushes, 119 yards |