title image via Valdosta State Football
Courtesy of Valdosta State Athletics
10
ASU
42
Winner VSU
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASU | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| VSU | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
Behind four passing touchdowns and one rushing from Valdosta State senior quarterback, Sammy Edwards, the No. 6/7 Blazers raced out to a 21-3 lead at halftime en route to a 42-10 victory over visiting Albany State Saturday evening in the season-opener for both teams.
Edwards improved to 13-2 as a starter for his career as he went 18 of 25 passing for 306 yards, four passing touchdowns and had one rushing score. It marked his seventh game of throwing over 300 yards in his career. It also was his fifth game of throwing and running for a touchdown. A total of 11 different players caught passes in the game as graduate student Rodney Bullard finished with four receptions for 100 yards and two scores, while graduate student Graeson Malashevich had six catches for 93 yards and a score in his Blazer debut. VSU finished with 135 yards on the ground in the game led by nine carries for 34 yards from graduate student Jaedon Henry.
As a team, the Blazers finished with 462 yards on 62 plays for the game and forced ASU into two turnovers in the contest. The Blazer “D” held ASU to just 318 yards for the game with 217 through the air and 101 on the ground. Graduate student Larry Elder had a strong debut for the red and black, with nine total tackles and five solo stops to lead the team. The Blazers had seven pass deflections, along with one sack, two fumble recoveries, four tackles for loss and one sack.
Following some nice passes and runs by ASU on its first drive which stalled following a bad snap on third down, VSU used a 21-yard pass from Edwards to Henry put VSU at the ASU 43 on its first possession of the season. On a 3rdand 8 from the 41, Edwards hit graduate student Rodney Bullard for a 41-yard touchdown pass and a 7-0 lead with 8:48 left in the first quarter. The Blazer drive consumed just 1:41 on the clock.
The Blazer “D” stiffened and forced ASU into a three-and-out as VSU took over following the second punt of the game at its own 17 with 6:34 left in the first quarter. A great diving grab from n Malalshevich and a good run from graduate student Blake Hester began the second drive for VSU. On a 3rd and 9, Edwards scrambled and hit Malashevich for 21 yards to the ASU 28. Another third down, this time a 3rd and 6 from the 24, Edwards once again found Malashevich for a touchdown and a 14-0 lead with 3:18 left in the opening quarter.
Through the first quarter, VSU has 13 plays for 154 yards as Edwards was 5 of 8 passing for 129 yards and two scores. Malashevich had three catches for 67 yards and a score. VSU held ASU to 18 plays for 61 yards in the opening stanza and just 12 rushes for 24 yards on the ground.
ASU punted to begin the second quarter as VSU took over at its 33. Junior running back Joseph McKay began the frame with a nice gain to the ASU 49. On 3rd and 10, Edwards kept the hot hand in Malashevich for 24 yards and then found Bullard for his second touchdown of the game with 12:54 left in the half and a 21-0 lead. VSU began the game 4 of 4 on third down.
Following the fourth punt by ASU, the Blazers took over their own 20 with just over nine minutes left in the first half. Graduate student Tyler Ajiero caught a slant route for a first down on a 3rd and 4 continuing the drive as the Blazer passing attack continued to find success, especially on the pivotal down. However, ASU came up its first stop of the game on a big sack forcing a 3rd and 14 from the VSU 39. VSU would punt for the first time in the game.
ASU quarterback Isaiah Knowles hit Jamill Williams for 21 yards and a first down at midfield for the Golden Rams with just over four minutes left in the half. Knowles called his own number on 3rd and 6 and moved ASU to the VSU 42 for a first down. Knowles then threaded the needle before the two-minute timeout for a first down to the VSU 22 on a catch from Javion Jackson. The Golden Rams moved to the VSU ten for a first down with 1:06 to play in the half. On 3rd and 6 from the six, Knowles’ pass was incomplete as ASU settled for a 23-yard field goal by Kyle Wright as time expired in the half.
The Blazers finished the half with 238 yards on 24 plays as Edwards was 8 of 12 190 yards and three touchdowns. The Blazers had 48 yards on the ground on 12 carries, while going 5 of 6 on third down. Malashevich had four catches for 91 yards and a score, while Bullard had two receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns. The defense held ASU to 10 of 15 passing for 101 yards as the Golden Rams had 38 plays for 159 yards for the half. ASU had 58 yards on the ground on 23 carries.
The Blazers were backed up and had to punt on their first possession of the second half, but got a gift as Monte Gooden muffed the punt and VSU senior Jovon Jacksonrecovered at the ASU 23 for the second turnover of the game. With the short field and a 3rd and 5, Edwards found Bullard for a first down at the ASU three. Edwards then recorded his fourth passing score of the game, this time to junior tight end Harrison Hamsley, and a 28-3 lead with 10:35 to play in the third. It was Hamsley’s first touchdown reception as a Blazer.
ASU had its most successful drive to that point as Knowles tossed a 37-yarder to Jackson and then scored its first touchdown of the game with an 18-yard scamper from Tiant Wyche for a 28-10 VSU lead with 9:14 left in the third. Knowles finished 19 of 31 for 317 yards, while Wyche had eight rushes for 79 yards and the one score. Jackson finished with eight receptions for 122 yards.
Following punts by both teams, Edwards hit Bullard, once again, with an explosive play and a first down at the ASU 23 after a 25-yard catch and run. Graduate student Tyler Smith made his first grab as a Blazer and Edwards then called his own number for a 9-yard touchdown run for a 35-10 lead with 2:41 left in the third.
VSU then turned the Golden Rams over on downs early in the fourth quarter with 14:38 to play capped on a 4th down sack from senior Jamorey Jones as VSU began its next drive at the Blazer 28. The Blazers moved down field into the red zone highlighted by a 41-yard pass to senior Armani Hayes. A personal foul on the Blazers and a missed 39-yard field goal stymied the drive.
The Blazer “D” came up with a strip sack fumble from junior Dallas Robinson and a recovery by junior Mark Robinson for the third turnover of the game forced by VSU. A steady diet of graduate student Bud Chaney on the ground and sophomore quarterback Seth Smith hit Blazer junior newcomer Sherard Willis for eight yards down to the ASU ten at the two-minute timeout. Smith reconnected with Willis on a roll out for a 42-10 lead with 1:53 to play for the final margin. Smith finished 2 of 2 passing for 21 yards and a score. It was his second touchdown pass as a Blazer.
VSU improved to 11-2 all-time in August and a 15-2 record all-time in season-openers versus Albany State. The Blazers improved to 22-2 all-time in the series with the Golden Rams and they won their sixth-straight season-opener, improving to 30-12 all-time in the 42-year history of the program.
Albany State will lick their wounds and look to get on track in their season opener against Shaw on September 7.
