# 3 North Alabama vs. # 12 VSU
Watch it online 7 p.m. Sat. at www.cstv.comAdam MacDonald
armacdonald@valodtsa.edu

The fate of the 2006 VSU football season hangs in the balance this Saturday.

For the first time since winning the National Championship game in 2004, the Blazers return to Braly Municipal Stadium in Florence, Ala. to take on the best team VSU will play all season, arch-rival North Alabama. It won’t be for the National Championship, but the GSC and a trip to the playoffs is on the line.

If VSU loses to UNA, there is little chance of VSU winning the conference and making the playoffs. The Blazers have not missed the playoffs in six years with Chris Hatcher as head coach. A win vaults the Blazers to first in the GSC and almost guarantees a playoff berth.

North Alabama comes into the game 7-0 and ranked third in the country. The Lions are fresh off a 17-10 road victory over Delta State, the only team that has beaten the Blazers this season. UNA has returned most of its players from a team that demolished VSU 40-13 in last year’s playoffs and that team also reached the national semi-finals.

“They have one of the better defenses in the conference, if not the nation,” Hatcher said, “They are extremely fast and do an awesome job of running to the football. Offensively they have the best receiving corp. we’ll see all year long.”

To win, the Blazers are going to have to do a better job of scoring when they cross into UNA territory than it did last Saturday against West Alabama. VSU entered West Alabama territory eight times but only had three scores.

Despite racking up 413 yards of total offense and getting 13 catches for 123 yards from wide receiver Tyler Aurandt, the Blazer offense only managed 16 points in the game and three points in the second half.

The offense lacked the big-play ability of star wide receiver Cedric Jones. Jones, who leads the GSC in yards per game and receptions, sustained a leg injury at Delta State two weeks ago. He saw limited action against West Alabama and according to Hatcher, re-aggravated the leg injury in that game. Hatcher is not sure what Jones’ status will be Saturday.

“[Jones will] be strictly a game time decision,” Hatcher said. “Right now I don’t expect him to play. I hope he can play, but right now he’s doubtful for the game.”

A seemingly simple part of the offensive game plan would be to get on the field. However, that was nearly impossible for Delta State when it lost to UNA.

UNA’s offense controlled the ball for 12 minutes in the first quarter and ran 30 plays in its first two drives. Total time of possession was 38:51 to 21:09 in favor of UNA.

“We hope we get three-and-outs,” Hatcher said. “If they are going to drive the ball and convert on third downs it’s going to be a long day. We have to be really good on third downs and that’s something we weren’t good at versus Delta.”

The Black Swarm defense has the tough task of holding back the well-balanced Lion offense. “We have to be physical and get pressure on the quarterback,” Hatcher said. “They have a bunch of weapons and we have to take away the big play.” After VSU’s secondary struggled at Delta State two weeks ago, it rebounded by limiting West Alabama wide receiver Chris Couch to three catches.

The secondary will need to keep up the good work at UNA when it lines up against wide receivers Anthony Merritt and Jason Messing.

Merritt is UNA’s big play threat and was a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy last year. He averages over 50 yards per game, but one of his most important contributions is that he draws defenders away from Messing.

Messing averages 60 yards per game and has over 17-yards per reception. He leads the team with four touchdown catches.

The Black Swarm’s run defense has been good all season, giving up 109 yards rushing per game. UNA’s running attack will provide the biggest test yet. The Lions rush for 179 yards per games and have two running backs, Eric Parker and Tim Hicks, who average over 50 yards each. Quarterback A.J. Milwee is dangerous on the ground, rushing for 28 yards per game and four touchdowns. He also has nine touchdown passes and averages 195 yards passing per game.