2024 West Florida vs Valdosta State

5 Things To Know About West Florida Football Vs. Valdosta State Football

5 Things To Know About West Florida Football Vs. Valdosta State Football

Here are five things to know ahead of the biggest Gulf South game of the year with West Florida vs. Valdosta State.

Nov 14, 2024 by Cameron Belcher
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Going into the season finale of college football in Division II, if you thought last week could be a game-of-the-year candidate, wait until this Gulf South matchup happens on Saturday. No. 16 West Florida takes on No. 1 Valdosta State at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, GA, for a primetime showdown at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Here are the five things to know about West Florida vs. Valdosta State.

How To Watch Valdosta State Football Vs. West Florida Football

Valdosta Sate vs. West Florida will be streamed live and archived live on FloFootball and the FloSports app.

1. Valdosta State Has High Stakes For Saturday

  • With a win, the Valdosta State Blazers could complete another undefeated season, which they haven't done since their last national championship in 2019.
  • Valdosta will also look to clutch the conference for the second year in a row and become the No. 1 overall team in the playoffs.

2. West Florida Can Also Win The Conference 

  • The way that the Blazers have dominated opponents all season you would think that the Gulf South Conference was already won by Valdosta State.
  • However, if West Florida football can come away with a victory they will be crowned the champions of the Gulf South for the third time in the program's history.
  • Winning the conference also grants the Argonauts an automatic bid to the playoffs.

3. Actually Expect This Game To Go The Distance

  • Last week, Valdosta State and Delta State seemed like a game that could go down to the wire. That would not be the case when the Blazers started off the game hot with an opening drive and special teams touchdowns.
  • That was the assumption since we knew the Statesmen had the potential to play with the best of them because they have done it against West Alabama but have yet to be consistent. Still, this week, Valdosta State will play a team that knocked Delta State out of the rankings earlier in the year and a more consistent team in West Florida.
  • The last two games between these teams have been decided by three points or less, and this one is shaping up to be another neck-and-neck battle, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

4. This Game Could Be A Battle Between Offenses

  • All the signs are pointing to this game being a battle of offenses. The Valdosta State offense, led by Sammy Edwards, has been nearly impossible to stop the whole season. The Blazers are averaging 44.7 points per game throughout nine games and have scored over 50 in three.
  • West Florida hasn't been a lounge either on the offensive side of the ball. They are averaging 32.1 points per game and are led by Marcus Stokes. 
  • Both teams would also have 70-point performances against Erskine, with 73 for Valdosta State and 70 for West Florida.

5. Whichever Team's Defense Shows Up The Most Will Win

  • These teams are extremely talented offensively, and it will be important for the defenses to get stops, as they will be expected to be hard to come by.
  • Valdosta State and West Florida are similar because both teams' defenses are very solid and complement their offense, but whichever defense plays the best will give its team the best chance to win this final Gulf South battle in the regular season.

AFCA NCAA Division II Football Rankings In Week 12

  1. Valdosta St. (Ga.) (25) 9-0
  2. Ferris St. (Mich.) (5) 9-1
  3. Kutztown (Pa.) 10-0
  4. Harding (Ark.) 9-1
  5. Grand Valley St. (Mich.) 9-1
  6. Charleston (W.Va.) 10-0
  7. Colorado St.-Pueblo 9-1
  8. Central Oklahoma 9-1
  9. Ouachita Baptist (Ark.) 9-1
  10. Western Colorado 9-1
  11. Slippery Rock (Pa.) 8-1
  12. West Alabama 8-1
  13. Pittsburg St. (Kan.) 7-2
  14. Indianapolis (Ind.) 9-1
  15. Augustana (S.D.) 8-2
  16. West Florida 7-2
  17. California (Pa.) 8-1
  18. Minnesota St. 8-2
  19. Carson-Newman (Tenn.) 9-1
  20. Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C.) 8-2
  21. Angelo St. (Tex.) 8-2
  22. Findlay (Ohio) 9-1
  23. Wingate (N.C.) 8-1
  24. Colorado School of Mines 7-3
  25. Central Washington 7-3

Dropped Out: Emporia St. (Kan.) (20)

Others Receiving Votes: Central Missouri, 25; Fort Hays St. (Kan.), 18; Southern Arkansas, 14; Emporia St. (Kan.), 9; New Haven (Conn.), 9; Miles (Ala.), 4; Saginaw Valley St. (Mich.), 4; Virginia Union, 2; Davenport (Mich.), 1; East Stroudsburg (Pa.), 1; Sioux Falls (S.D.), 1; Virginia St., 1.

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