Adam MacDonald
armacdonald@valdosta.eduThe dream of a perfect season is over. The Blazer defense bent and then broke last Thursday at Delta State in a 35-28 loss. The defeat disappointed the players, but the season is far from over. If the Blazers win their remaining four games they will be GSC champions and qualify for the playoffs.

“[The players] have to prepare like champions and our goals are all right there in front of us,” Head Coach Chris Hatcher said. “We can be conference champions; we can go to the playoffs and be national champions. We just have to take care of business each week and have a little more sense of urgency about ourselves.”

But before looking too far down the road, the Blazers have to stick with Hatcher’s philosophy that the most important game of the season is this week’s game- and that is against the West Alabama Tigers.

West Alabama has been a GSC doormat for years, but has been revitalized this season by legendary Coach Bobby Wallace.

Wallace, who won three consecutive national championships with North Alabama in the mid-90s, is back in the GSC and is back to winning.

“He’s a great coach, has a great track record,” Hatcher said. “He coached three national championships teams; there are not many people who have done that. He’s got his team playing really well. This is the best, most confident West Alabama team we’ve seen in a long time.”

Wallace has led UWA to a 5-2 record and has the Tigers poised for a winning season. A win over VSU would highlight UWA’s season and announce to the nation that Wallace is back in top form.

“We played them last year and they were pretty good. Now they have a proven coach in there,” Hatcher said. “[Wallace] has them playing with a lot of confidence and when you have confidence good things seem to happen to you.”

West Alabama runs a similar offense to the one that Southern Arkansas ran three weeks ago. The Tigers run the option, so it’s back to assignment for the Black Swarm.

Against Southern Arkansas, the Black Swarm was led by middle linebacker William Montford with eight tackles. “I have the fullback, quarterback and the pitch,” Montford said. “So I’m going to be running all over the field making plays when I can.”

For the most part, VSU’s defense was successful in assignment football against Southern Arkansas. But the Blazers did give up 248 yards through the air, having a tough time in manto- man coverage against the Muleriders’ receivers.

This could be cause for concern because West Alabama’s primary receiver, Chris Couch, is one of the best in the conference. Couch is second in the conference with 35 catches and he averages a touchdown and 95 yards per game. His 6-foot-2 frame could pose problems if he is left in single coverage.

Montford said the defense has been working harder in practice on coverage skills in preparing for Couch and that the defense will always have to know where Couch is on the field.

Stopping the run has been something the Blazers have done well all season with the exception of last week’s 100-yard rushing performance by Delta State. However, Montford and the defense are ready to put that behind them.

“Everybody is anticipating Saturday, ready to get back on the field to redeem ourselves,” Montford said. “Hopefully we’ll get a shutout. First thing get a win, but a shutout would be great; just redeem ourselves for the loss and bring one back for VSU.”

On offense, the Blazers need someone to step up at the wide receiver position. Cedric Jones, the freshman sensation, left last week’s game at Delta State with a leg injury and is questionable for this week. Hatcher said Jones is a game-time decision and that it’s too early to tell if Jones will be ready for next week’s showdown at North Alabama.

Jones is averaging over 100 yards per game and leads the conference in catches, so someone has to step up big and help quarterback Willie Copeland out.

Reggie Vickers and Raymond Thomas will take Jones’s spot if he doesn’t play.

Also look for more balls to be thrown in senior Tyler Aurandt’s direction. Aurandt caught seven passes and had his first career collegiate touchdown last week. Senior quarterback-turned-wide receiver Allan Tillman could also see time at wide receiver.

VERDICT: Will the Blazers be able to put Delta State behind them in time to focus on West Alabama? They should be able to. Montford admitted that the Blazers were outplayed at Delta State and that shows the maturity level of the Blazer team. What’s even more encouraging is that the Blazers realize they are a good team and are confident they can bounce back.

PREDICTION: VSU 28 West Ala. 17