Ed Hooper
Sports Writer
ephooper@valdosta.edu

Valdosta— After suffering their second loss of the season last week by the hands of Ouachita Baptist, the Valdosta State Blazers (2-2, 2-1) welcomed the West Alabama Tigers (3-2, 1-2) to Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Saturday night for their second Gulf South Conference game.

Unlike last week, the Blazers got out to an early lead and never surrendered the lead. The Blazers, who sported black pants with a red strip along with their black jerseys instead of their normal silver pants, started the game with a strong offensive drive which went 69 yards which put the Blazers up 7-0 thanks to 63 yards of passing from quarterback Kellen Lewis.

After punting the football on their next two possessions the Blazers knocked into the end zone for the second time in the game when quarterback Kellen Lewis ran in from two yards out which put the Blazers ahead 14-0.

The Blazers kept their offensive production going in the second quarter when Kellen Lewis ran in a 1-yard touchdown run which made the score 21-0 in favor of VSU. The Blazers added another score before the half to make the score 28-0 when Ronnye Nelson scored from 7-yards out.

The Blazers wasted little time to score in the third quarter. The Blazers quarterback Kellen Lewis found Cedric Jones for a 27-yard touchdown which put the Blazers ahead 35-0. For Jones the touchdown reception was his tenth and final reception of the game which is the most receptions for a Valdosta State receiver since Jones recorded ten receptions in the 2007 National Championship game.

Jones moved into second place on the all-time career receptions list in Valdosta State and Gulf South Conference history with 244 career receptions.

“It feels great,” said Jones. “Just going out there and help out the team as best as possible.”

Defensively the Blazers held the Tigers offense to only 235 yards of total offense which is the second lowest yards allowed by the Blazers defense this season. The Blazers defense forced three turnovers on the night which tied the entire season total.

“That’s great for us,” said Dean. “We had been talking to our guys about getting turnovers.”

Blazer quarterback Kellen Lewis was replaced by backup quarterback Russ Callaway midway through the third quarter when most of the Blazer starters were pulled from the game. Lewis finished the night 27 for 37 for 306 yards and 1 touchdown.

“I think we did a lot better of a job in watching film and knowing what we were supposed to do,” said Lewis. “That’s what happens when you get your back against the wall.”

The Blazers next game will be on Thursday night when they travel to Mississippi to take on Delta State University. Loser could find themselves out of the 2009 playoff picture. The Blazers will practice Sunday afternoon, Monday afternoon and Tuesday afternoon before loading onto the buses Tuesday night. The Blazers will practice one more time on Wednesday in Starkville, MS on the campus of Mississippi State before the game on Thursday.

Coach Dean confirmed that the entire Blazer team had no clue about the black pants until warm-ups were complete and that they will be wearing the black pants for the entire rest of the season.

Box Score:
Q 1 Q 2 Q 3 Q4 Total
West Alabama 0 0 0 6 6
Valdosta State 14 14 7 0 35

Scoring Summary:
Quarter 1:
Valdosta: 12:45-R. Nelson 2-yard run (D. Anderson kick)
Valdosta: 4:35 K. Lewis 2-yard run (D. Anderson kick)
Quarter 2:
Valdosta: 10:07- K. Lewis 1-yard rush (D.Anderson Kick)
Valdosta: 3:49- R. Nelson -yard rush (D. Anderson Kick)
Quarter 3:
Valdosta: 12:39- C. Jones 27-yard pass from K. Lewis (D. Anderson kick)
Quarter 4:
West Alabama: 1:40- R. Ross 5-yard run (kick failed)