VALDOSTA — When Valdosta State and Delta State meet during the football season, it’s always a big occasion.
In the annals of Gulf South Conference history, VSU and Delta State have won more titles than any other. Their share of the conference crown this season was the 10th all-time for the Blazers and ninth for DSU. Only one other school in Gulf South history — former member North Alabama — can boast more league banners (former member Jacksonville State also has nine).
Few of their games will have higher stakes than Saturday’s Division II playoff game, set to kick off at 2 p.m. ET in Cleveland, Miss. The game will be broadcast on hudl for subscription fee, as well as over the air on local radio at WDDQ FM 92.1.
Though this will be 43rd all-time meeting between the two universities on the gridiron, only one of those previous meetings has been in the playoffs. The Statesmen won in 2000 en route to walloping Bloomsburg for the national title.
Both enter this second 2023 matchup with one loss. The Blazers fell to Delta State by a 49-25 score in October. For the Statesmen, the loss was 24-21 to West Florida, also in October.
The records are not the only similarities.
Each quarterback — Sammy Edwards for VSU and Patrick Shegog for DSU — are Harlon Hill Trophy nominees. Both offenses are extremely high-powered. The Statesmen average 44 points per game to Valdosta State’s 41.
The Blazers have leaned more towards passing this season. Edwards led the conference in yardage (3,733) and BK Smith (941 yards) and Council Allen (704) were in the GSC’s top five. Delta State’s Kelvin Smith was fourth in the Gulf South in rushing yards at 803. Shegog was tops with 11 rushing touchdowns, Bud Chaney second at 10.
To reach this round, VSU exploded early in a 62-41 victory over Limestone. Delta State won a 49-14 rematch over West Florida.
The Statesmen were up 35-0 at halftime against the Argos, all five touchdowns being Shegog passes. He threw for 318 yards and six touchdowns overall. Jaylen Green caught six passes for 105 yards and a score. Katerian LaGrone had two touchdown catches. Freddrick Hervey had a pick-six.
Valdosta State was up 31-7 at intermission against Limestone, Edwards throwing for four first half touchdowns. He had 344 yards for the game, 106 of them to Allen. Chaney ran for 132 yards on 14 carries for a touchdown. Though the Blazers had no defensive touchdowns, Nick Jackson had a big interception in the fourth quarter.
Delta State leads the all-time series 22-19-1, with a two-game win streak.
Saturday’s winner will take on either Lenoir-Rhyne or Benedict in the Super Region Two finals next week. Benedict is the No. 1 team in this section of the bracket and undefeated for the season. Lenoir-Rhyne advanced to the second round with a 63-17 win over Shepherd. If Lenoir-Rhyne pulls the upset, the VSU-DSU winner would host next week.