American college football season
2018 Valdosta State Blazers football |
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NCAA Division II champion GSC champion |
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Conference | Gulf South Conference |
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Ranking |
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AFCA | No. 1 |
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Record | 14–0 (8–0 GSC) |
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Head coach | |
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Offensive coordinator | Kade Bell (1st as OC, 3rd overall season) |
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Defensive coordinator | Danny Verpaele (2nd season) |
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Home stadium | Bazemore–Hyder Stadium |
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Seasons |
The 2018 Valdosta State Blazers football team represented Valdosta State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2018 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by third-year head coach Kerwin Bell, who also served as offensive coordinator. The Blazers played their home games at Bazemore–Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia. Valdosta State compiled an overall record of 14–0 with a conference mark of 8–0, winning the GSC title. They beat Ferris State in the NCAA Division II Championship Game to win the program's fourth national title.
Preseason
Gulf South Conference coaches poll
On August 2, 2018, the Gulf South Conference released their preseason coaches poll with the Blazers predicted to finish in fifth place in the conference.[1]
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
1 | West Alabama | 62 (6) |
2 | West Florida | 59 (3) |
3 | West Georgia | 44 |
4 | Delta State | 41 |
5 | Valdosta State | 38 |
6 | Florida Tech | 32 |
7 | North Greenville | 24 |
8 | Mississippi College | 16 |
9 | Shorter | 8 |
Preseason All-Gulf South Conference Team
The Blazers had five players at five positions selected to the preseason all-Gulf South Conference team.[2]
Offense Kenny Benjamin – AP Jeremy King – OG Defense Raymond Palmer – DB Special teams Jairus Jones – BT Stewart Spence – UTL |
Schedule
Valdosta State's 2018 regular season football schedule consisted of five home games, four away games, and one neutral site game. The Blazers hosted GSC foes Delta State, North Greenville, Shorter, and West Georgia, and traveled to Florida Tech, Mississippi College, West Alabama, and West Florida.[3] Three games were broadcast on ESPN3, as part of the Gulf South Conference Game of the Week.[4]
The Blazers hosted non-conference foe Albany State from the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and competed in the Okefenokee Classic against Fort Valley State, also from the (SIAC).
After an undefeated regular season, the Blazers were the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 1 | 7:00 p.m. | Albany State* | | | | W 45–14 | 6,770 |
September 8 | 7:00 p.m. | vs. Fort Valley State* | | | ESPN3 | W 55–6 | 3,107 |
September 15 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 8 West Alabama | | | | W 58–24 | 3,285 |
September 22 | 7:00 p.m. | Shorter | No. 16 | - Bazemore–Hyder Stadium
- Valdosta, GA
| | W 52–0 | 5,130 |
September 29 | 8:00 p.m. | at Mississippi College | No. 13 | | | W 63–42 | 2,654 |
October 6 | 1:00 p.m. | Delta State | No. 10 | - Bazemore–Hyder Stadium
- Valdosta, GA
| | W 59–28 | 2,036 |
October 13 | 1:00 p.m. | at Florida Tech | No. 8 | | | W 51–21 | 3,679 |
October 20 | 3:00 p.m. | North Greenville | No. 7 | - Bazemore–Hyder Stadium
- Valdosta, GA
| | W 44–21 | 5,514 |
November 3 | 5:00 p.m. | at West Florida | No. 7 | | ESPN3 | W 48–21 | 5,893 |
November 10 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 3 West Georgia | No. 5 | - Bazemore–Hyder Stadium
- Valdosta, GA (rivalry)
| ESPN3 | W 47–31 | 10,558 |
November 24 | 1:00 pm | No. 25 Bowie State | No. 3 | | | W 66–16 | 2,467 |
December 1 | 1:00 pm | No. 17 Lenoir–Rhyne | No. 3 | - Bazemore–Hyder Stadium
- Valdosta, GA (NCAA Division II Quarterfinal)
| | W 61–21 | 1,999 |
December 8 | 12:00 pm | No. 11 Notre Dame (OH) | No. 3 | - Bazemore–Hyder Stadium
- Valdosta, GA (NCAA Division II Semifinal)
| ESPN3 | W 30–24 | 4,672 |
December 15 | 4:00 p.m. | vs. No. 2 Ferris State | No. 3 | | ESPNU | W 49–47 | 4,306 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
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[5]
Rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
RV = Received votes | Week |
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Final |
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AFCA | RV | RV | RV | 16 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
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Game summaries
Albany State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Rams | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
Blazers | 14 | 14 | 10 | 7 | 45 |
Fort Valley State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Wildcats | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Blazers | 21 | 0 | 6 | 28 | 55 |
At West Alabama
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Blazers | 21 | 14 | 10 | 13 | 58 |
Tigers | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
Shorter
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Hawks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Blazers | 10 | 0 | 21 | 21 | 52 |
At Mississippi College
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Blazers | 7 | 35 | 14 | 7 | 63 |
Choctaws | 7 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
Delta State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Statesmen | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
Blazers | 14 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 59 |
At Florida Tech
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Blazers | 14 | 10 | 0 | 27 | 51 |
Panthers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
North Greenville
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Crusaders | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
Blazers | 13 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 44 |
At West Florida
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Blazers | 14 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 48 |
Argonauts | 0 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
West Georgia
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Wolves | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
Blazers | 10 | 24 | 3 | 10 | 47 |
Bowie State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bulldogs | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Blazers | 0 | 21 | 17 | 28 | 66 |
Lenoir-Rhyne
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bears | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
Blazers | 10 | 24 | 13 | 14 | 61 |
Notre Dame (OH)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Falcons | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Blazers | 9 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 30 |
Ferris State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Bulldogs | 10 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 47 |
Blazers | 7 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 49 |
Players drafted into the NFL
References
- ^ "West Alabama Tops GSC Football Preseason Poll". Gulf South Conference. August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
- ^ "Gulf South Conference" (PDF). s3.amazonaws.com. 2018. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
- ^ "Okefenofee Classic among games on VSU's 2018-19 football schedule" (Press release). Valdosta Daily Times. February 14, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
- ^ "GSC Announces 2018 Football Game of the Week Schedule". Gulf South Conference. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- ^ "2018 Valdosta State Blazers Football Schedule". Valdosta State University of Athletics. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
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