By Jim O'Hara

VALDOSTA, Ga. – The defending NCAA Division II national champion Valdosta State Blazers withstood an early challenge by the Shorter Hawks and took control in the second half to claim a 41-0 win Saturday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in the Gulf South Conference opener for both teams.

The loss leaves the Hawks with an 0-3 overall record – it's the first time Shorter has started the season dropping its first three games – heading into another GSC test next week at Barron Stadium in Rome against West Georgia.

Trailing 13-0 at the end of the first half, one in which Shorter had the advantage in nearly all of the statistical categories but had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard, the Hawks saw Valdosta explode for 21 points in the third period to take full control of the game.

The Hawks finished the game compiling 312 yards in total offense but hurt themselves by fumbling the ball five times with Valdosta recovering it four times and converting three of them into scores.

Although the scoreboard at halftime showed the Hawks down, Shorter won the first half battle of the statistics.
Most noticeable was how long the Hawks held on to the ball, holding a 23:03 to 6:57 time of possession edge. Shorter also had the edge in total yards, rolling up 198 yards to VSU's 149, but penalties and fumbles proved to be the thorn in the Hawks' claws.

The Hawks missed an opportunity to take the early lead on their second series of the night when Shorter marched down to the Valdosta19 but came away empty-handed when Guy Hunt saw his 41-yard field goal attempt miss just to the right of the upright.

Shorter's defense then turned away a threat by the Blazers late in the first quarter when the Hawks recovered a VSU fumble at their own 1 but after Shorter was unable to get out from the shadow of their own end zone, Valdosta made the most of great field position with Austin Scott finding a hole up the middle and ran 18 yards into the end zone with 11:17 remaining until the break and after Thomas Bailey hit the PAT the Blazers held a 13-0 lead that stood at the half.

The Hawks did have another shot at putting some points on the board in the final seconds but a 37-yard field goal try by Hunt again went wide of the uprights.

Valdosta started the third quarter surge when Cochran hit Regginald Lewis with a 65-yard touchdown pass on the first series, then on a four-and-goal situation at the Shorter 1 with 7:05 left in the period. The Blazers closed out the third quarter outburst when Cedric O'Neal broke free for a 38-yard touchdown, and Austin Scott ended the night with a 45-yard touchdown romp midway through the final quarter.

Junior quarterback Eric Dodson ended the night completing 13 of 20 passes for 207 yards with Darius Turner hauling in five passes for 83 yards.

Cochran led the Blazers (2-0, 1-0) passing for 177 yards and three touchdowns, while Lewis rushed for a game-high 91 yards.


GAME NOTES: Missing for almost all of the game was senior Bradley Moon, who after his first carry left the field with an injury and did not return. Freshman B.J. McCoy stepped in to rush for 40 yards on 15 carries… The Hawks also had injury woes on the offensive front with center David Richardson and backup center Noah Henson having to leave the game. Junior guard Ben Peterson was pressed into service to snap the ball.