Blazers aim to return to dominant ways

By Bryan Fazio

September 27, 2007 02:08 am

— VALDOSTA — After winning its first two games by a combined score of 110-3, the Valdosta State football team slowed down the pace a little bit last week, escaping Arkansas Tech with a winning score of 28-27.
While it was the fewest points the Blazers have scored all season, and by far the most the defense has given up, in many ways, VSU still dominated.
Despite a slow first half against the Wonder Boys, the Blazers’ offense was able to control the game. After tallying 176 yards in the first half, the Blazers’ offense came back with 325 yards of total offense in the second.
The Blazers also controlled the time of possession, holding the ball for 36 minutes, 40 seconds, keeping their fate in their own hands.
However, the gaudy offensive numbers were dwindled down to just 28 points due to the Blazers’ largest amount of penalties this season. The Blazers earned 113 penalty yards, thanks to 10 infractions, often erasing large drives.
“We’d move the ball down, get penalties, and move it back,” VSU coach David Dean said. “It’s like we we’re spinning our wheels playing for the same real estate twice. And we can’t afford to do that.”
On two occasions, the Blazers would reel off drives of more than 15 plays and 50 yards, but thanks to penalties, would come up short on both.
In the first quarter, VSU started on its own 7-yard line and had pass plays of over 10 yards to Jeffrey Felton and Zach Parker, but penalties erased the drive. During that drive, VSU recorded two penalties for 20 yards, including a 15-yard personal foul.
VSU’s offense would be shortened 20 yards, forcing Steven Wright to punt from Arkansas Tech’s 40-yard line. VSU again would suffer a drive-stalling unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, turning what would have been a second-and-four into a second-and-19.
Because of the narrow victory, voters dropped the Blazers from No. 4 to No. 5 in the Division II national poll.
As the Blazers work toward Saturday’s Homecoming game against Ouachita Baptist, those types of penalties remain on their minds.
“We’re working on that, and we’ve just got to be mentally focused, and not get all the penalties,” VSU wide receiver Cedric Jones said. “The main thing that hurt us was the penalties. We would move the ball, and then move it back. If we don’t commit penalties, I think we’ll be fine.”
Aside from the penalties, the Blazers’ offense was putting up numbers. Their running game picked up 249 yards, and they had big receiving numbers from Jones. The sophomore from Waycross picked up 135 yards on 14 catches, and six other receivers had 10 yards or more.
“We’re starting to come together,” Jones said. “We started to come out slow in the last game, but we’re working hard to put it all together for four quarters.”
The Blazers’ running game had had several standout games this season, and last Saturday was one of its biggest. VSU rushed for 249 yards, including 137 by Michael Terry, and over five yards a carry for Ronnye Nelson, Thomas Arnold and Scott Palmer.
With both aspects of the offense playing well, if VSU is able to limit its penalties, another big game can be expected Saturday.
“Except for the penalties, I’ve been very pleased with the effort, and the way that we played,” Dean said. “We’re gradually getting a little better each week in the red zone, and that’s always been a little problem for us scoring in the red zone. We have to do a better job on that, and continue to improve.”

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