SAGINAW VALLEY, Mich. — The Valdosta State Blazers kickoff
their 2012 campaign Saturday against the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
By the numbers
In 2011, Saginaw Valley averaged an impressive 31.5 points
per contest, while VSU averaged 27.3. Offensively, the Cardinals produced more through
the air, averaging 150 yards on the ground and 267.2 yards through the air. VSU
averaged 391.5 yards per game last season. Blazers looking for 21st win on opening day
The Blazers are 20-10 all-time in season openers, including
a 4-1 mark under head coach David Dean. The Blazers’ lone season opening loss
under Dean was in 2009, when VSU lost to Newberry, 31-24. Last season, the
Blazers beat Wingate University, 34-28, in double overtime.
Andersen listed as punter
Senior kicker Daniel Andersen is listed as the Blazers’
starting punter, on the latest depth chart, released by the sports information
office. Andersen battled sophomore Dominic DeMasi for the starting punter
position throughout training camp. He started as the Blazers’ punter in the
2011 season finale against North Alabama. DeMasi, a pitcher on the Blazer baseball
team, is listed as the team’s second string punter.
Long distance, short time
The Blazers will travel 869 miles north to Saginaw Valley,
Mich., the third longest trip in VSU football history. The Blazers flew to
Saginaw Valley via a chartered Delta flight on Friday. The flight took just 1
hour and 45 minutes. Last season, VSU’s bus trip to Wingate was over 7 ½ hours.
Blazers non-shutout streak
The last time Valdosta State was shutout in a game, some
current members of the Blazers weren’t alive. VSU has gone 245 consecutive
games without being shutout. Central Florida, a former Division II school, last
shutout the Blazers, in a 12-0 win on Sept. 14, 1991. The Blazers’ non-shutout
streak is the longest in Division II football.
On the radio
For the third consecutive season, the Valdosta State Blazer
Radio Network is the largest in Division II athletics. The Blazers can be heard
throughout the state of Georgia, including in Atlanta and Macon. In Valdosta, the Blazers can be heard on Talk
92.1 FM, 92.9 WAAC and The Jock 1150 AM, 96.1 FM. The games are also streamed
live on www.thejock1150.com.
