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| The Valdosta State defense will face yet another run-attack offense on Saturday when the Blazers visit the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks in the Division II national semifinals. (Ed Hooper | The VDT) |
The Blazers (10-2) will face the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks (12-0) Saturday at Blakeslee Stadium in Mankato with a trip the Division II National Championship Game on the line.
The Mavericks enter the game averaging 235.3 yards rushing per game and just 167 yards passing.
Sound familiar? It should be right in the comfort zone for the Blazers.
Valdosta State has seen these kinds of slanted numbers a lot this season. In the playoffs, West Alabama entered its matchup against the Blazers a week ago averaging 238 yards rushing a game. Carson-Newman, the Blazers' quarterfinal opponent, entered Saturday's game averaging 380.1 yards rushing a game.
The Blazers held both the Tigers and Eagles below their season averages. The Tigers gained just 69 yards rushing, as the Blazers won 49-21. Carson-Newman was able to gain 362 yards rushing, but that is still 18 yards less than its season average. Valdosta State won 48-26.
There is no denying the Blazers have shown weakness to the passing game this season. But the run, the Blazers have been able, for the most part, to stop it, or at least slow it down.
Once again, VSU will have to stop the run on Saturday in order to play in its fourth national championship game in 10 years and first since 2007, when the Blazes beat Northwest Missouri State.
In their win over Missouri Western State on Saturday, the Mavericks rushed for 289 yards behind freshman Connor Thomas' 159 yards.
On the season, Valdosta State is giving up 155.7 rushing yards a game, compared to 186.4 yards passing. The Blazers have allowed over 300 yards passing three times this season, including a season-high 389 in a win over Texas A&M-Kingsville last month.
On the ground, Valdosta State has held eight teams to under 150 yards rushing in a game, including three occasions where the Blazer defense held an opponent to under 100 yards rushing.
If Valdosta State gets past Mankato and advances to the national championship game, the Blazers will face either West Texas A&M or Winston-Salem State. West Texas is averaging 343.6 passing yards and 139.5 yards rushing per game. Winston-Salem is averaging 296.4 passing yards and 188.6 rushing yards per game.
— Follow me on Twitter at @Ed_Hooper.
