Jan 19, 2025, 6:00 PM UTC
Dream Bowl
2024 West Florida vs Valdosta State

Valdosta State Football Wins The 2024 Gulf South Championship

Valdosta State Football Wins The 2024 Gulf South Championship

Valdosta State completes the mission after defeating West Florida to once again be crowned the champions of the Gulf South Conference.

Nov 17, 2024 by Cameron Belcher
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The Valdosta State football team is the 2024 Gulf South Champions and earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs. 

With the win, the Blazers are almost guaranteed to be the No. 1 seed for the entire playoffs. The conference title is the school's 11th, and they will be seeking their fifth national title. The signs look to be pointing to that happening, as they are entering the postseason undefeated for the first time since 2019, the team's last title.

West Florida finishes the season at 7-3 (5-2). Although it may be difficult for the team to make the playoffs with three losses, the Argonauts have nothing to be ashamed of. They have had great games throughout the year and ended the season winning six out of their last seven.

Sammy Edwards had a solid game, assisting in the Blazers' winning the Gulf South championship with two touchdown passes, including a 50-yard touchdown to Rodney Bullard. Alfonso Franklin and Blake Hester scored rushing touchdowns to seal the deal, along with another fantastic performance from the defense.

Subscribe to watch the replay above, or review the recap below.

Final: West Florida 7, Valdosta State 28

After a couple of first downs, Valdosta State wins and finishes the season undefeated.

The Blazers Causes One More Turnover On Downs - 4Q 4:24

West Florida 7, Valdosta State 28

West Florida can't answer Valdosta State's touchdown, and the Blazers' defense gets what could be the last stop of the game. The offense is just looking to run the clock now.

Another Touchdown From The Blazers May Do It - 4Q 6:14

West Florida 7, Valdosta State 28

Alfonso Franklin adds another rushing touchdown to his season, and Valdosta State can now taste victory.

Valdosta State Making It Hard For The Argos - 4Q 11:32

West Florida 7, Valdosta State 21

When it looked like West Florida may have had a promising drive, the Blazers got a clutch stop on fourth down, causing another turnover on downs.

End Of The Third Quarter

West Florida 7, Valdosta State 21

We have reached the final quarter of the Gulf South Championship. West Florida will start the quarter with a new set of downs at its 36-yard line.

West Florida's Defense Comes Up With Crucial Stop - 3Q 1:41

West Florida 7, Valdosta State 21

The Argonauts' defense quickly returns the ball to their offense after forcing the Blazers to a quick drive.

Take A Look At The Last Two Touchdowns From Each Team

West Florida 7, Valdosta State 21

Marcus Stokes Provides A Much Needed Score - 3Q 4:53

West Florida 7, Valdosta State 21

A 31-yard scrambling touchdown on fourth down gives the Argonauts a much-needed touchdown to keep them within striking distance.

Valdosta State Scores Again To Go Up Three Possessions - 3Q 7:04

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 21

After keeping the drive alive on fourth down, Sammy Edwards gets another passing touchdown, this time with a rollout off the play action for a 33-yard strike to Tyler Aijero.

West Florida Gets Much Stop To Begin The Second Half - 3Q 12:45

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 14

The Argonauts get a big stop to prevent them from going down three possessions and will start their first drive of the half on their 10-yard line.

Team Stats At Halftime

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 14

First Downs: West Florida 6, Valdosta State 9

Rushes-Yards (Net): West Florida 14-40, Valdosta State 18-100

Passing-Yards (Net): West Florida 55, Valdosta State 93

Passes Att-Comp-Int: West Florida 6-14-0, Valdosta State 7-9-0

Total Offense Plays-Yards: West Florida 28-95, Valdosta State 27-193

Fumble Returns-Yards: West Florida 0-0, Valdosta State 0-0

Punt Returns-Yards: West Florida 0-0, Valdosta State 1-11

Kickoff Returns-Yards: West Florida 3-77, Valdosta State 0-0

Interception Returns-Yards: West Florida 0-0, Valdosta State 0-0

Punts (Number-Avg): West Florida 3-39.3, Valdosta State 1-61.0

Fumbles-Lost: West Florida 0-0, Valdosta State 0-0

Penalties-Yards: West Florida 3-20, Valdosta State 4-26

Possession Time: West Florida 14:38, Valdosta State 15:22

Third-Down Conversions: West Florida 2-7, Valdosta State 4-6

Fourth-Down Conversions: West Florida 0-1, Valdosta State 0-1

The Blazers Go Into The Locker Room Up By 14 - Halftime

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 14

Two touchdowns on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter put Valdosta State up by double digits, and they will also receive the ball coming out of halftime.

Watch Hester Take It To The House

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 14

Valdosta State Scores Again Before The Break - 2Q 1:18

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 14

Even though the Blazers' first three possessions resulted in punts, the last two have ended in touchdowns, with running back Blake Hester scoring a 21-yard rushing touchdown before the intermission.

Here Is A Look At The Score

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 7

Valdosta State Scores First In The GSC Championship - 2Q 8:55

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 7

Sammy Edwards makes two big plays, one off a scramble and a touchdown on a rollout to wide receiver Rodney Bullard for a 50-yard touchdown.

No Team Willing To Blink So Far - 2Q 12:22

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 0

Another defensive stop is made from the Valdosta State Blazers and they will receive the ball for their first possession of the quarter.

End Of The First Quarter

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 0

Through one-quarter of play, both teams are still scoreless, each committing a turnover on downs.

West Florida Returns The Favor After Forcing Valdosta State To A Turnover On Downs - 1Q 1:23

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 0

A delay of the game from the Blazers on 4th and 1 puts them back five yards, and quarterback Sammy Edwards misses a wide-open Rodney Bullard, resulting in a turnover on downs.

Blazers Go Three-And-Out - 1Q 7:55

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 0

Both defenses came up big for their teams in the opening quarter, with West Florida now forcing a stop on the Blazers' first drive.

Valdosta State Gets The Stop On West Florida's Drive - 1Q 10:05

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 0

After a couple of first downs, West Florida gets denied on fourth down and turns the ball over on downs. VSU takes over on its 34-yard line.

The Argonauts Will Have The First Possession Of The Game

West Florida 0, Valdosta State 0

West Florida receives the ball for the first possession in the Gulf South Championship.

Valdosta State GameDay Post

When Is Kickoff Time?

West Florida and Valdosta State will kickoff at 7:00 p.m. EST at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, GA on FloFootball.

Series History

Valdosta State has the edge with a 5-3 series lead and a close 31-28 win last season. Three out of the previous four games have been decided by three points or less.

West Florida 2024 Football Schedule

  • Sep. 5: McKendree 6, West Florida 38 (W)
  • Sep. 21: West Alabama 35, West Florida 33 (L)
  • Sep. 28: West Florida 7, Grand Valley State 31 (L)
  • Oct. 5: Mississippi College 0, West Florida 31 (W)
  • Oct. 12: Delta State 28 West Florida 40 (W)
  • Oct. 19: West Florida 35, Chowan 6 (W)
  • Oct. 26: Shorter 16, West Florida 35 (W)
  • Nov. 2: West Florida 70, Erskine 0 (W)
  • Nov. 9: North Greenville 14,  West Florida 35 (W)
  • Nov. 16: at Valdosta State, 7 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. CT

Valdosta State 2024 Football Schedule

  • Aug. 31: Albany State 10, Valdosta State 42 (W)
  • Sep. 7: Newberry College 14, Valdosta State 27 (W)
  • Sep. 14: Valdosta State 34, Fayetteville State 0 (W)
  • Sep. 21: Erskine College 0, Valdosta State 73 (W)
  • Sep. 28: Canceled: West Alabama vs. Valdosta State
  • Oct. 5: Shorter 6, Valdosta State 59 (W)
  • Oct. 12: North Greenville 24, Valdosta State 32 (W)
  • Oct. 19: Mississippi College 10, Valdosta State 35 (W)
  • Nov. 2: Chowan 0, Valdosta State 52 (W)
  • Nov. 9: Delta State 28, Valdosta State 40 W)
  • Nov. 16: West Florida at Valdosta State, 7 p.m.

West Florida 2024 Football Roster

This is where fans can find the West Florida roster.

Valdosta State 2024 Football Roster

This is where fans can find the Valdosta State roster.

How To Watch West Florida Vs. Valdosta State Football

Fans can catch West Florida vs. Valdosta State streaming live on FloFootball and the FloSports app.

Watch Live

Replays and highlights will be also available on both platforms.

Gulf South Conference Week 12 Schedule

AFCA Division II Football Rankings For 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.

Watch Division II Football On FloFootball

Here is the FloFootball Division II broadcast schedule for Week 12 of the 2024 college football season. Subscribe to watch

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