No. 16 Blazers Use Big Second Half for 52-0 Shutout of Shorter

THE BASICS:

Score: #16 Valdosta State 52, Shorter 0

Records:  Valdosta State 4-0 (2-0 GSC), Shorter 0-4 (0-2 GSC)

Location: Valdosta, Ga. (Bazemore-Hyder Stadium)

THE LEAD:  No. 16 Valdosta State football team need a half for the high-powered offense to click, but the Blazers scored 48 points in the second half for a 52-0 shutout of Shorter Saturday evening at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Blazers marched down the field on their first drive, but settled for a field goal from senior Andrew Gray as the offense wasn't as crisp early as it had been in the first three contests. 
• Following punts by both teams, Shorter was driving, but Tyle Pullum was picked off by senior Raymond Palmer at the VSU 25 as he returned it 75-yards to the house for a touchdown and a 10-0 lead with 6:43 left in the first quarter. It was Palmer's eighth career pick and first touchdown.
• The INT was unable to spark the offense in the first half as the defense held Shorter out of the end zone in the first stanza and, blocked a 36-yard field goal from Kevin Cole as time expired in the first half to preserve the 10-0 lead.
• Shorter began the second half with the ball and turned it over on downs as VSU wasted no time on its next possession.   Following a 12-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Rogan Wells to senior Stewart Spence and junior Lio'undre Gallimore used an impressive 52-yard touchdown pass as he maneuvered the entire field for a 17-0 lead with 10:14 left in the quarter.
• Following a Shorter punt, Wells hit Gallimore for 22 yards and redshirt freshman Jamar Thompkinsscored from 38-yards out for a 24-0 lead. 
• VSU added another score as freshman running back Seth McGill scored on a 47-yard scamper for a 31-0 lead for the third consecutive touchdown drive to open the half.
• McGill scored his second touchdown early in the fourth quarter for the fourth-straight scoring drive and 38-0 lead.
• VSU stopped the Hawks on fourth down once again as senior Guito Ervilus came up with a sack on Coey Watson at the VSU 39. 
• Freshman quarterback Ivory Durham threw a pitch and catch to sophomore Kenny Benjamin for a 44-yard strike and a 45-0 lead with 4:48 left. 
• Durham, following a Shorter punt, tossed a 52-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman Reshad Washington for a 52-0 lead as VSU scored on all six of its possessions in the second half. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• VSU had just 157 yards in the first half on 38 plays, while holding SU to 102 yards on 39 plays. 
• Back-to-back reigning Gulf South Offensive Player of the Week, sophomore Rogan Wells, was just 5 of 20 passing for 40 yards with one interception in the half-his first of the year.
• Redshirt freshman running back Jamar Thompkins had six carries for 63 yards in the half in his first start.
• VSU was just 1 of 8 on third down in the half, while Shorter was 2 of 9. 
• Blazer senior punter Gavin Wilson had just 11 punts in the first three contests combined, but had five punts in the first half against the Hawks.
• For the game, VSU put up a season-high 583 yards of offense, including an impressive 426 yards in the second half.  The Blazers finished with 278 yards on the ground and 305 through the air.
• VSU held SU to just 223 yards of offense and a 2.8 average per play, while the Hawks had just 82 yards on the ground. 
• Thompkins finished the game with a game-high 115 yards on 11 carries and a score.  McGill had 98 yards and two scores. 
• Gallimore, had three catches for 82 yards and a score, while Washington had two catches for 92 yards and a score.  Three different Blazers had TD receptions in the game.
• Defensively, the Blazers tallied 15 tackles for loss for 31 yards and four sacks for 13 yards.  Palmer had the one INT for a score.
• Wells finished 12 of 30 for 192 yards and a touchdown, while Durham was 6 of 9 for 113 yards and two touchdowns.
• VSU improved to 7-0 all-time against Shorter and now has shutout the Hawks in three-straight games. 
• The Blazers handed Shorter its 32^nd-straight loss dating back to 2015.

UP NEXT:

• The Blazers head back on the road next Saturday at Mississippi College at 8 p.m. ET, Sept. 29. 
• Fans can listen to the game on 92.1 FM with Spencer Van Horn and Scott James having the call.
• Check back with vstateblazers.com for information on the upcoming game, along links to tickets and streaming information.