Blazers need help from rivals to win GSC

VSU's Cedric O'Neal rushed for 160 yards with 2 touchdowns
in Saturday's win over Delta State. (Ed Hooper | The VDT)

VALDOSTA — In order to qualify for the Division II playoffs, the Valdosta State football team controls its own destiny. If the Blazers can win the final two games of the season, they will be one of the six teams from Super Region II that will be postseason bound.

As for winning the Gulf South Conference? The Blazers still need help.

With West Alabama still undefeated in GSC action this season (3-0), the Blazers trail the Tigers by one-game in the conference standings, following their 39-28 loss earlier this season. Now with the season quickly winding down, the Blazers find themselves in a position of rooting for a rival team, like Delta State or North Alabama.

With no tie-breakers being used in the Gulf South Conference, it will take a VSU victory Thursday night over conference newcomer Shorter and one West Alabama loss for the teams to be crowned Co-GSC champions.

The Tigers visit Delta State Saturday afternoon in Cleveland, Miss. The Blazers just beat the Statesmen 59-41, ending a six-game losing streak to their rival. If the Statesmen can't do it, the Blazers will find themselves rooting for rival North Alabama Nov. 8, when the Lions visit the Tigers in the regular season finale for both teams.

Valdosta State last won the conference championship in 2010 when it was named Tri-Champions, splitting with Henderson State and Delta State. The Blazers were eliminated from the playoffs with a first round loss to North Alabama.

While the Blazers can't control their own destiny in the conference race, they can when it comes to qualifying for the playoffs. That push towards securing a seed in Super Region II continues Thursday night when they visit Shorter in Rome. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

The game will be televised locally on CSS.