In 2022, Delta State and Valdosta State had opposite levels of success. Delta State earned a share of the Gulf South Conference title (with West Florida), while Valdosta State temporarily fell from prominence in a transition year under a new head coach.

Through five weeks of the 2023 season, VSU already has as many wins as it did a year ago, and the unbeaten Blazers (5-0) are getting set to host an undefeated DSU team (5-0) looking to remain in control of the Gulf South again this season.

There are three teams without a loss in GSC play this year—Delta State (3-0), Valdosta State (2-0) and West Florida (2-0) – but that will change Saturday when DSU travels to Valdosta. West Florida will have a conference matchup with Shorter (1-2 in conference play this year). 

Delta State has scored 35 or more points in each of its five contests this year, outscoring its opponents 228-82. The Statesmen are coming off a 47-17 road win against the University of West Alabama.

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• Valdosta State Football In 2023: What To Know About The Blazers

Valdosta State, which was 5-6 overall last year under first-year coach Tremaine Jackson, is outscoring its opponents 212-90 this season and is coming off a 51-36 victory over GSC newcomer Chowan. 

Delta State and Valdosta State have faced each other 41 times, with DSU owning a 21-19-1 advantage, including a 70-31 rout in 2022. 

Their first meeting came in 1982, with Delta State winning 27-0, and prior to last season’s lopsided loss, Valdosta State had won six consecutive times.

Coming into this week’s matchup, Delta State is No. 6 in the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll and No. 8 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches Poll, while Valdosta State is No. 25 and No. 19, respectively. It’s the first time since September 2022 that VSU has been ranked in both polls. 

When Is Delta State Vs. Valdosta State?

The Delta State Statesmen will play the Valdosta State University Blazers at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. ET.

How To Watch The Delta State Vs. Valdosta State Football Game

Football action is streaming live on FloFootball and the FloSports app, including the Delta State and Valdosta State football game during Week 6.

Replays and postgame highlights also will be available on both platforms. 

What To Know About Delta State Football

Delta State enjoyed a complete win last week against West Alabama, with five scores from the Statesmen offense (rushing, passing, field goal), a returned interception from Marlon Windham, a safety by Windham and a kick return from Robbie Evans.

The Statesmen are averaging 469.2 yards per game (209.2 rushing and 260 passing). 

Graduate quarterback Patrick Shegog is 78-for-118 for 1,190 yards and 16 touchdowns (with zero interceptions), and he also leads the team in rushing. He has collected 324 yards on 42 attempts and rushed for five scores. 

Following Delta State’s 56-20 win over Shorter on Sept. 23, Shegog was named the D2Football.com Offensive Player of the Week. In that victory, he accounted for seven of DSU’s eight touchdowns. He completed 15-of-19 passes for 218 yards and five touchdowns and added 138 yards and two more scores on 10 carries.

What To Know About Valdosta State Football

Valdosta States has been a dominant force for more than two decades, including Gulf South titles in 2018, 2019 and 2021 (shared with West Florida) and Division II national titles in 2004, 2007, 2012 and 2018, plus a runner-up finish in 2021.

After winning 22 games across two seasons with the Blazers, head coach Gary Goff left the program. Tremaine Jackson was hired in January 2022, and while he has helped his team grow academically and from a community service perspective, it took a bit for things to fall into place on the field.

The Blazers were 5-6 overall last season and 2-5 in conference play, but they’re experiencing a complete turnaround in 2023. They are outscoring their opponents 42.4-18 points per game in matching their win total from last season.

Junior quarterback Sammy Edwards has handled the majority of the snaps, going 97-for-140 for 1,591 yards,15 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Four VSU receivers have more than 250 receiving yards this season, and two Blazers have rushed for more than 240 yards.

Junior linebacker Kennedy Parker was one of VSU’s latest Steel’s Jewelry Athletes of the Week, the school announced Tuesday. 

In the Blazers’ win over Chowan last week, he had nine tackles (six solo). He’s now third on the team this year with 22 tackles, including a sack. 

Sophomore linebacker Terrell Dudley leads the team in tackles with 28.

What’s The Valdosta, Georgia Weather Forecast?

It may be October, but it’s still plenty warm in the South. 

Temperatures in Valdosta, Georgia, will be in the 80s on Saturday, with partly sunny skies, a 12 percent chance of rain and 42 percent humidity in the afternoon. There will be wind gusts up to 17 mph.

Into the evening, temps will drop into the 50s, while the winds and chance of precipitation also go down later in the day. 

Archived Footage On FloFootball

Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloFootball subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

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