By Bryan Fazio
November 04, 2007 03:23 am
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MONTICELLO, Ark. — Despite possible worries following Valdosta State’s big win against North Alabama a week ago, the only hangover the Blazers experienced Saturday was from the whiplash of seeing Zac Williams’ extra points clear the uprights.
The Blazers traveled to Arkansas-Monticello and routed the Boll Weevils 63-28 Saturday night in their second-to-last game of the regular season.
VSU (8-1, 6-1 in the Gulf South Conference) traveled to Monticello to face a team that averaged a Gulf South Conference-best 476.8 yards of total offense, and held the Boll Weevils (4-6, 3-4) to 126 yards under their average.
While the Boll Weevils’ offense didn’t live up to its reputation, the Blazers’ certainly lived up to theirs.
VSU put up 541 yards of total offense, including the biggest night of Willie Copeland’s senior season. The senior quarterback, whose previous high this season was 283 yards against Southern Arkansas on Oct. 6, threw for 294 yards, completing 19-of-27 passes against the Boll Weevils.
While Copeland’s game was impressive, his first half was terrific. Not only did his four touchdown passes tie current VSU assistant coaches Buster Faulkner and Barrett Wilkes for fifth on the all-time list with 44 (a spot he would take sole possession of in the third quarter with two more TD tosses), but his 252 yards in the first half were 12 more than his average yardage this season.
“I thought Willie played very well,” Valdosta State head coach David Dean said. “He made good decisions. I think he’s starting to play his best football of the year. If we’re going to make a playoff run, we’re going to need him to get hot.”
The Blazers’ 355 passing yards were their most of the season, with 321 yards through the air at Fort Valley being the previous high.
The outpouring of yards was well spread throughout his receiving corps. Four players had at least 50 yards receiving. Senior Jeffrey Felton led the way with four catches for 84 yards, followed by 61 yards on three catches from Travis Taylor, 58 yards on four catches by Cedric Jones and 50 yards on two catches from Zach Parker.
The first quarter lived up to the game’s billing as a battle of top-flight offenses, with both teams combining for 271 yards in 15 minutes. The yards were coming so frequently that the first punt didn’t come until 1:29 left in the first on a kick by Anthony Stanford of UAM.
The punt came after three touchdowns by VSU and two by the Boll Weevils.
Valdosta State started the scoring early, needing just two plays to get on the board. After a pass interference call on Arkansas-Monticello, and a 7-yard pass from Copeland to Ronnye Nelson, the Blazers ran a screen pass to get them into the end zone. Copeland tossed a short pass to the right side to Felton, who was escorted by blockers 37 yards into the end zone, giving the Blazers a 7-0 lead.
The Boll Weevils, boasting the GSC’s No. 1 offense, were not to be outdone. On next drive, UAM answered, with help from Blazers’ penalties. VSU committed 27 yards of penalties, assisting on an 86-yard, eight-play drive, which was finished by Lindsey Spinks on a 3-yard run.
“The first of the game, it was a little scary, because they came out and did just what they showed on film,” Dean said. “They’re a real powerful offense, a good offense, and they’re well-coached.”
On the next set of downs, Copeland threw a 17-yard pass to Cedric Jones for the third part of the answer-that session with the Boll Weevils, as the clock ticked down to 9:24 in the first quarter.
Arkansas-Monticello answered back, taking 4:21 off the clock before Johnny Polite scored from the 1-yard line. The Boll Weevils started at their own 36 yard line, converting on a first down, then went for it on fourth-and three from VSU’s 45-yard line. The Boll Weevils converted, as quarterback Scott Buisson broke a run for 12 yards.
“That quarterback they have has a heck of a future here at Arkansas-Monticello,” Dean said.
The Blazers then marched 58 yards down the field, getting a big catch-and-run from Cedric Jones on third-and-six, and then a 6-yard catch into the end zone by fullback Scott Palmer.
Each team went back and forth, and it was 21-14 at the end of the first quarter.
VSU scored its next touchdown in the second quarter, giving itself the cushion it would need to break the game open.
The Blazers’ fourth touchdown started with a big run, and ended with a big run. Reshawn Robinson took the first play from scrimmage in the second quarter for VSU, and delivered the forearm of the year on the way to a 22-yard gain. Nine plays later, Michael Terry rushed over the goal line from 10 yards out, capping the 81-yard drive and making it 28-14.
With 41.3 seconds left in the first half, Copeland continued to pad his stats, tossing a 41-yard pass to Josh Rayam on first down, and then went back to the air. Copeland found Felton for a 25-yard touchdown, finishing off a quick three play, 66 yard drive.
Even with VSU going to its reserve players for much of the second half, the offense continued.
Thanks to a 47-yard punt return by Sherard Reynolds, Copeland was able to toss his fifth touchdown pass on a 15-yard slant to Felton with 12:37 remaining in the third quarter.
Copeland would throw one more touchdown before handing the ball over to Tucker Pruitt. The score came on a 24-yard throw to Parker with 6:46 left in the third quarter.
The Blazers’ defense also played a solid game. However, its second-half shutout attempt was thwarted when Buisson kept the ball on a 44-yard touchdown run with 4:55 left in the third quarter.
VSU’s passing game wasn’t the only way the Blazers got into the end zone. They scored twice on runs. Terry’s second quarter rush was the first, and a fourth quarter 5-yard run by Robinson was the second. Robinson’s touchdown play was set up by a 36-yard reception by Travis Taylor from Pruitt, making the score 56-21.
VSU’s Dan Burdette, who had his first rush and reception, also earned his first touchdown in this game. The freshman from Forsyth, who replaced the injured Donnie Powell as the No. 2 fullback, plowed in for a 9-yard touchdown late in the fourth.
The Blazers conclude their regular season just four days from now, as West Georgia comes to Bazemore-Hyder Stadium for Military Appreciation night Thursday at 8 p.m.
“We’ve got one more,” Dean said. “We’ve got a big rival this week with West Georgia. We have a quick week, and we have a lot to do (today) for a Thursday game.”
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