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By Jim O'Hara
ROME, Ga. – One can only wonder what went through David's mind when he saw Goliath stand before him, fully knowing that he was the decided underdog in a battle that no one believed he could win – save for God.
Of course, the outcome is well known and has served for centuries as an example of just what can be accomplished to overcome the odds using faith and, as David showed with his accurate slingshot, execution.
The Shorter head football coach Phil Jones and his team are well aware – and then some – of the type of Goliath they will face and the faith and execution they will carry with them Saturday in Valdosta when the Hawks, still searching for their first win in their third game of the season, go up against the defending NCAA Division II national champions and top-ranked Valdosta State Blazers in the first Gulf South Conference showdown of the season for both teams.
"They look very good on film and they may be better than last year," Jones said about the Blazers, who after opening the season two weeks ago downing Fort Valley State 36-21 in Macon have had a fortnight to get ready for the Hawks. "They look like a national champion."
"But that's not a surrender call by us," the coach quickly added. "Our guys intend to play well and win a football game."
The sense of optimism and the focus on execution comes thanks to the Hawks' understanding of the level of play the Blazers have attained, and this year's Valdosta squad seems poised to raise the bar even higher this season.
Back to direct Valdosta is senior All-American and All-GSC quarterback Cayden Cochran, who threw for 2,710 yards and 26 touchdowns during the Blazers' run to the school's third national title and the second under head coach David Dean.
In the first meeting between the GSC's Peach State foes last year, Cochran had a near perfect night by completing 20-of-23 passes – he hit his first 10 passes as VSU scored 17 first-quarter points – for 212 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another as the Blazers claimed a 37-6 win.
Cochran started off the new season without missing a beat when the Blazers out-gunned Fort Valley, completing 20-of-32 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another score as Valdosta finished the game with 454 yards of offense.
Adding to VSU's firepower was Cedric O'Neal, who led the Blazer rushing attack with 94 yards and a score, while Willie Downs had three catches for 97 yards and two scores and Regginald Lewis hauled in six receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown.
"He's very good finding out what you do in the secondary and adjusting to it," Jones said of the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Cochran, who transferred to VSU after starting his career at Oklahoma. "We've got to have a pass rush and put some pressure on him, and we have to be absolutely solid in the secondary."
"But our defensive staff is very good and coach Burton," the Hawks coach said about defensive coordinator Nathan Burton, "has a great grasp of how to defend against that kind of offense. We'll be prepared – we just need to execute."
Execution for four quarters is a trait the Hawks feel was missing in a season-opening road loss to NCAA Division I FCS Charleston Southern and last week in a heartbreaking non-conference loss to Mars Hill, a game Shorter led when it delayed in the fourth quarter due to a storm and ended with the Hawks being unable to maintain their momentum when it resumed.
The defeat overshadowed what had been a potent offensive showing by the Hawks, who rolled up more than 400 yards of offense – the two teams combined for over 1,000 yards – but could only add 50 more after the delay. Junior quarterback Eric Dodson led the Hawks turning in a career-high 319 yards in total offense, rushing for 187 yards and a touchdown and passing for 132 more yards and a TD.
Last year against VSU, Shorter picked up nearly 300 yards of offense with fullback Bradley Moon rushing for 116 yards and possessed the ball more than four minutes than the Blazers but could not finish off drives – Shorter opened the game with a drive that ended with a missed field goal – as the Hawks saw two of their three fumbles result in touchdowns for Valdosta
Once again, Shorter will line up against what has become a trademark for VSU – a 4-3 defense that is big, physical and fast. Against Fort Valley State, Justin Williams led his team with 10 tackles, including three for loss, while Lace Holder with eight tackles and an interception.
Still, Fort Valley State was able to compile 358 yards of total offense, 287 of that through the air.
"They rarely come out of (the 4-3 look) and have a real good scheme, and they have always recruited players they want to play it," Jones said about Valdosta. "It's hard to find a weakness.
"We have to execute," he said, "take care of the ball and move the chains. You can't give them the ball."
That, one would assume, would be like David handing over his stone to Goliath. That is also why the Hawks understand that they have to execute – and have faith.
"We've just got to step up," said Jones. "This is our first conference game and it's against the reigning national champions.
"But it's a great opportunity for us and it's a positive thing because of what could happen," he said. "This is a challenge for us to be able to step up to that next level.
"Our players feel that they are in a position to do big things and take that step."
