Blazers back to normal, routine schedule

Blazer quarterback Cayden Cochran (11) avoids the rush
during Saturday's playoff game against West Alabama.
(Ed Hooper | The Valdosta Daily Times)

VALDOSTA — For the first time in what seems like months, the Valdosta State football team will have a normal practice schedule, as the Blazers prepare for their national quarterfinal matchup against Carson-Newman.

After two straight Thursday night football games to end the regular season and a 23-day break in game action due to back-to-back bye weeks, Valdosta State finally played a Saturday game this past weekend, beating conference rival West Alabama 49-21 in the second round of the Division II playoffs.

Now as the Blazers prepare for their upcoming matchup against the Eagles on Saturday in Valdosta, they are back in a normal, Saturday-to-Saturday, practice routine.

"It is going to be great," Valdosta State head coach David Dean said following Saturday's game against the Tigers. "We haven't had that in a while."

The Blazers' last Saturday-to-Saturday practice week came the week leading up to their game against Delta State on Oct. 20 in Valdosta.


Since that game, Valdosta State visited Shorter Oct. 25 and hosted Texas A&M-Kingsville the following Thursday (Nov. 1), before having back-to-back bye weeks to end the regular season and begin the postseason.

With the normal practice schedule, the Blazers worked out Sunday afternoon and are off Monday. They return to the practice field for three straight practices Tuesday-Thursday and will hold a walk-through on Friday afternoon.

— Follow me on Twitter at @Ed_Hooper.