# 2024 Valdosta State Blazers football team

The 2024 Valdosta State Blazers football team represented Valdosta State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2024 NCAA Division II football season and played their home games at Bazemore–Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia. In their third year under head coach Tremaine Jackson, the team compiled a 13–1 record (6–0 in conference games) and won the GSC championship. The Blazers set a school record with 73 points against Erskine. They advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs, defeating Miles in the second round, Virginia Union in the quarterfinals, and Minnesota State in the semifinals before losing to Ferris State in the Division II national championship game.
Key players include quarterback Sammy Edwards, running backs Blake Hester and Alfonso Franklin, receiver Rodney Bullard, and safety Larry Elder.
On December 21, head coach Tremaine Jackson was hired as the head coach at Prairie View A&M. Assistant head coach and co-defensive coordinator Trent Earley was named the Blazers' interim head coach.

## Preseason

The Gulf South Conference released its preseason prediction poll on July 23, 2024. The Blazers were predicted to finish first in the conference, receiving 5 of the 8 first place votes.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 7:00 p.m. | Albany State* | No. 7 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, Georgia | W 42–10 | 5,782 |
| September 7 | 7:00 p.m. | at Newberry* | No. 7 | Setzler FieldNewberry, SC | W 27–14 | 2,520 |
| September 14 | 7:00 p.m. | Fayetteville State* | No. 6 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | W 34–0 | 4,001 |
| September 21 | 4:00 p.m. | at Erskine | No. 3 | J. W. Babb StadiumGreenwood, SC | W 73–0 | 375 |
| September 28 | 7:00 p.m. | West Alabama | No. 3 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | Cancelled | |
| October 5 | 12:00 p.m. | at Shorter* | No. 3 | Barron StadiumRome, GA | W 59–6 | 1,052 |
| October 12 | 3:00 p.m. | at North Greenville | No. 3 | Younts StadiumTigerville, SC | W 32–24 | 1,874 |
| October 19 | 3:00 p.m. | Mississippi College | No. 3 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | W 35–10 | 3,885 |
| November 2 | 3:00 p.m. | Chowan | No. 1 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | W 52–0 | 2,063 |
| November 9 | 3:00 p.m. | at Delta State | No. 1 | Parker Field at McCool StadiumCleveland, MS | W 49–20 | 2,517 |
| November 16 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 16 West Florida | No. 1 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA | W 28–7 | 3,833 |
| November 30 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 22 Miles* | No. 1 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA (NCAA Division II Second Round) | W 33–17 | 1,871 |
| December 7 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 25 Virginia Union* | No. 1 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal) | W 49–14 | 1,993 |
| December 14 | 12:00 p.m. | Minnesota State* | No. 1 | Bazemore–Hyder StadiumValdosta, GA (NCAA Division II Semifinal) | W 35–21 | 3,104 |
| December 21 | 2:00 p.m. | vs. No. 2 Ferris State* | No. 1 | McKinney ISD StadiumMcKinney, TX (NCAA Division II Championship) | L 14–49 | 3,228 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
| AFCA | 7 | 7* | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 (3) | 1 (18) | 1 (24) | 1 (25) | 1 (27) | 2 |
| D2 Football | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
* A new poll was not released for this week, so for comparison purposes, the previous week's ranking is inserted in this week's slot.

## Game summaries
### Albany State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Rams | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| No. 7 Blazers | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
| Statistics | ASU | VSU |
| First downs | 17 | 22 |
| Total yards | 318 | 462 |
| Rushing yards | 101 | 135 |
| Passing yards | 217 | 327 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:15 | 30:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Albany State | Passing | Isaiah Knowles | 19/31, 217 yards |
| Albany State | Rushing | Tiant Wyche | 8 rushes, 79 yards, TD |
| Albany State | Receiving | Javion Jackson | 8 receptions, 122 yards |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 18/25, 306 yards, 4 TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Jaedon Henry | 9 rushes, 34 yards |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Rodney Bullard | 4 receptions, 100 yards, 2 TD |

### At Newberry

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 7 Blazers | 7 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| Wolves | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Statistics | VSU | NEW |
| First downs | 25 | 15 |
| Total yards | 337 | 216 |
| Rushing yards | 190 | 166 |
| Passing yards | 147 | 50 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 34:42 | 25:18 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 16/24, 147 yards, TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Blake Hester | 11 rushes, 59 yards, TD |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Graeson Malashevich | 4 receptions, 41 yards |
| Newberry | Passing | Izayah Whiteside | 7/11, 50 yards |
| Newberry | Rushing | Izayah Whiteside | 12 rushes, 84 yards, TD |
| Newberry | Receiving | Tommy Washington | 3 receptions, 23 yards |

### Fayetteville State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 6 Blazers | 7 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
| Statistics | FSU | VSU |
| First downs | 14 | 29 |
| Total yards | 216 | 502 |
| Rushing yards | 99 | 186 |
| Passing yards | 117 | 316 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 24:06 | 35:54 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Fayetteville State | Passing | Demari Daniels | 10/23, 104 yards |
| Fayetteville State | Rushing | Bryce Council | 8 rushes, 49 yards |
| Fayetteville State | Receiving | David Baros | 3 receptions, 50 yards |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 23/33, 290 yards, TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Blake Hester | 6 rushes, 102 yards, 3 TD |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Rodney Bullard | 3 receptions, 77 yards |

### At Erskine

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 3 Blazers | 14 | 24 | 21 | 14 | 73 |
| Flying Fleet | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Statistics | VSU | ERS |
| First downs | 24 | 4 |
| Total yards | 577 | 74 |
| Rushing yards | 293 | 5 |
| Passing yards | 284 | 69 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 29:04 | 30:56 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 11/15, 257 yards, 5 TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Alfonso Franklin | 10 rushes, 131 yards, 3 TD |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Rodney Bullard | 3 receptions, 114 yards, 3 TD |
| Erskine | Passing | Breylon Boyd | 4/9, 65 yards, 2 INT |
| Erskine | Rushing | Rashad Luckey | 11 rushes, 27 yards |
| Erskine | Receiving | Rodshaun Dorsey | 2 receptions, 53 yards |

### At Shorter

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 3 Blazers | 14 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 59 |
| Hawks | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Statistics | VSU | SU |
| First downs | 28 | 9 |
| Total yards | 557 | 195 |
| Rushing yards | 146 | 32 |
| Passing yards | 411 | 163 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 28:31 | 31:29 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 19/29, 348 yards, 2 TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Blake Hester | 7 rushes, 62 yards, TD |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Tyler Ajiero | 4 receptions, 97 yards, 2 TD |
| Shorter | Passing | Harold Cook | 12/20, 163 yards, INT |
| Shorter | Rushing | Lanear McCrary Jr. | 12 rushes, 32 yards |
| Shorter | Receiving | Cobie Mates | 2 receptions, 59 yards |

### At North Greenville

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 3 Blazers | 2 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 32 |
| Trailblazers | 14 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| Statistics | VSU | NGU |
| First downs | 25 | 19 |
| Total yards | 415 | 320 |
| Rushing yards | 169 | 117 |
| Passing yards | 246 | 203 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:41 | 27:19 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 22/34, 246 yards, TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Blake Hester | 24 rushes, 111 yards, TD |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Rodney Bullard | 4 receptions, 50 yards |
| North Greenville | Passing | Dylan Ramirez | 14/27, 203 yards, 2 TD |
| North Greenville | Rushing | Jacob Walker | 14 rushes, 87 yards, TD |
| North Greenville | Receiving | Dre' Williams | 5 receptions, 75 yards, TD |

### Mississippi College

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Choctaws | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| No. 3 Blazers | 14 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
| Statistics | MC | VSU |
| First downs | 15 | 19 |
| Total yards | 261 | 480 |
| Rushing yards | 223 | 191 |
| Passing yards | 38 | 289 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:50 | 27:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Mississippi College | Passing | Preston Godfrey | 1/3, 38 yards, INT |
| Mississippi College | Rushing | Marcus Williams | 25 rushes, 86 yards |
| Mississippi College | Receiving | Jacob Stephens | 1 reception, 38 yards |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 20/30, 289 yards, 4 TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Blake Hester | 11 rushes, 91 yards |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Tyler Ajiero | 4 receptions, 57 yards, 2 TD |

### Chowan

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hawks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. 1 Blazers | 0 | 14 | 17 | 21 | 52 |
| Statistics | CHO | VSU |
| First downs | 18 | 22 |
| Total yards | 292 | 573 |
| Rushing yards | 141 | 339 |
| Passing yards | 151 | 234 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 35:43 | 24:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Chowan | Passing | Maurice Smith | 17/27, 139 yards, INT |
| Chowan | Rushing | Maurice Smith | 12 rushes, 79 yards |
| Chowan | Receiving | Gabriel Jackson | 2 receptions, 48 yards |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 14/20, 225 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Blake Hester | 12 rushes, 121 yards, 3 TD |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Rodney Bullard | 2 receptions, 87 yards, TD |

### At Delta State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 1 Blazers | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
| Statesmen | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Statistics | VSU | DSU |
| First downs | 17 | 24 |
| Total yards | 356 | 352 |
| Rushing yards | 169 | 239 |
| Passing yards | 187 | 113 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 27:32 | 32:28 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 12/19, 187 yards, TD, INT |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Alfonso Franklin | 14 rushes, 107 yards, 3 TD |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Rodney Bullard | 3 receptions, 121 yards, TD |
| Delta State | Passing | Cole Kirk | 13/32, 113 yards, TD |
| Delta State | Rushing | Kelvin Smith | 25 rushes, 112 yards |
| Delta State | Receiving | Kelvin Smith | 4 receptions, 57 yards |

### No. 16 West Florida

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 16 Argonauts | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| No. 1 Blazers | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Statistics | UWF | VSU |
| First downs | 10 | 20 |
| Total yards | 209 | 358 |
| Rushing yards | 80 | 204 |
| Passing yards | 129 | 154 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:14 | 34:46 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Florida | Passing | Marcus Stokes | 11/24, 129 yards |
| West Florida | Rushing | Marcus Stokes | 9 rushes, 33 yards, TD |
| West Florida | Receiving | Javon Swinton | 3 receptions, 47 yards |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 14/20, 154 yards, 2 TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Blake Hester | 21 rushes, 118 yards, TD |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Rodney Bullard | 3 receptions, 74 yards, TD |

### No. 22 Miles (NCAA Division II Second Round)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 22 Golden Bears | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| No. 1 Blazers | 13 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 33 |
| Statistics | MIL | VSU |
| First downs | 19 | 18 |
| Total yards | 307 | 408 |
| Rushing yards | 83 | 230 |
| Passing yards | 224 | 178 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:21 | 29:39 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Miles | Passing | Kam Ivory | 22/41, 224 yards, 2 TD, INT |
| Miles | Rushing | Jonero Scott | 17 rushes, 54 yards |
| Miles | Receiving | Jaquel Fells | 7 receptions, 92 yards |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 14/28, 178 yards, TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Blake Hester | 20 rushes, 132 yards, 2 TD |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Graeson Malashevich | 4 receptions, 68 yards |

### No. 25 Virginia Union (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 25 Panthers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| No. 1 Blazers | 7 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
| Statistics | VUU | VSU |
| First downs | 12 | 21 |
| Total yards | 227 | 560 |
| Rushing yards | 139 | 223 |
| Passing yards | 88 | 337 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 29:21 | 30:39 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Virginia Union | Passing | R. J. Rosales | 8/16, 88 yards, TD |
| Virginia Union | Rushing | Jada Byers | 22 rushes, 109 yards, TD |
| Virginia Union | Receiving | Keon Davis | 1 reception, 42 yards |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 13/19, 302 yards, 4 TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Alfonso Franklin | 15 rushes, 64 yards, 2 TD |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Rodney Bullard | 5 receptions, 158 yards, 3 TD |

### Minnesota State (NCAA Division II Semifinal)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Mavericks | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| No. 1 Blazers | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
| Statistics | MSU | VSU |
| First downs | 18 | 21 |
| Total yards | 325 | 385 |
| Rushing yards | 177 | 213 |
| Passing yards | 148 | 172 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 30:09 | 29:51 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Minnesota State | Passing | Hayden Ekern | 14/25, 148 yards, TD, INT |
| Minnesota State | Rushing | Sam Backer | 10 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TD |
| Minnesota State | Receiving | Grant Guyett | 4 receptions, 47 yards |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 14/19, 172 yards, 2 TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Alfonso Franklin | 24 rushes, 152 yards, 3 TD |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Alfonso Franklin | 4 receptions, 66 yards, 2 TD |

### Vs. No. 2 Ferris State (NCAA Division II Championship)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 2 Bulldogs | 14 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
| No. 1 Blazers | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Statistics | FSU | VSU |
| First downs | 21 | 19 |
| Total yards | 465 | 311 |
| Rushing yards | 251 | 121 |
| Passing yards | 214 | 190 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 29:15 | 30:45 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Ferris State | Passing | Trinidad Chambliss | 11/20, 153 yards, 3 TD |
| Ferris State | Rushing | Kannon Katzer | 14 rushes, 97 yards |
| Ferris State | Receiving | Cam Underwood | 3 receptions, 86 yards, 2 TD |
| Valdosta State | Passing | Sammy Edwards | 25/42, 190 yards, 2 TD |
| Valdosta State | Rushing | Alfonso Franklin | 14 rushes, 102 yards |
| Valdosta State | Receiving | Tyler Ajiero | 5 receptions, 57 yards, TD |