VALDOSTA – Valdosta State’s fate is now in its own hands.

With a big 27-24 win over North Alabama on Saturday, the Blazers have been rewarded with a second-place ranking in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings.

Valdosta State (7-1, 5-1) made the jump from third to second, while UNA (7-1, 5-1) fell to that third-place spot. Delta State (7-1, 6-0) took over first place after beating West Georgia, 41-7.

Rounding out the top six are: Catawba (8-1), Carson-Newman (8-1) and Fort Valley State (8-2), who moved up from seventh.

VSU sits in a tie for second place in the Gulf South Conference with North Alabama. Delta State, which beat VSU 35-31 earlier this month, leads the conference.

The Blazers have two games to go in the regular season, against opponents with a combined record of 5-11.

This Saturday, VSU makes the long trip to face the Arkansas-Monticello Boll Weevils (4-5, 3-3).

Then the Blazers wrap up the regular season with a Thursday night showdown against the West Georgia Wolves (2-7, 1-5) at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium on Nov. 9.

Though they are ranked second now in the Southeast, they can’t let off the gas peddle just yet.

Delta State wraps up their season against West Alabama (1-7, 0-5) and Arkansas-Monticello. North Alabama wraps up their season against West Georgia and West Alabama.

With all three of the top teams facing very beatable opponents in the final two games of the season, there is no room for error.

The region standings make or break a team destined for the postseason. Just ask the 2006 Blazers.

Last season, Valdosta State was ousted from the postseason due to the ranking system. VSU was bumped out by Albany State, the SIAC conference champions, despite beating them 20-16 in the first week of the season.