West Georgia Game Notes

Blazers, Wolves play Thursday at 7 pm

Today's Game: Valdosta State hits the road for the final time in 2009 as the Blazers visit Carrollton, Ga. and the University of West Georgia for the annual Battle for the Peach Basket. The Blazers enter the game with a 4-4 record, including a 4-3 mark in Gulf South Conference play after a 62-27 loss to North Alabama last week, while the Wolves are 1-7 and 1-5 in league play, including a 10-9 victory over West Alabama in their last outing. The game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.

VSU averages 404.2 yards of total offense on the season while surrendering 364.0 yards per game. Quarterback Kellen Lewis leads the offense as he has completed 194-of-318 passes for 2,050 yards and 11 touchdowns while also rushing for 307 yards and seven scores. Wide receiver Cedric Jones has caught 52 passes for 489 yards and two scores and linebacker Larry Dean leads the defense with 73 total tackles, including 7.5 for loss.

West Georgia is averaging 274.6 yards per game while surrendering 471.8 per outing. Running back Yusuf Holloway leads the Wolf attack with 74.9 rushing yards and 24.9 receiving yards per game. Linebacker Travis Payton leads the UWG defense with 40 tackles, including an assist on a tackle for loss, and two fumble recoveries.

The 2009 season marks the 28th year of Valdosta State football while the West Georgia game will be the 319th game in school history. The Blazers have won 214 contests, lost 100 and tied four times, a winning percentage of .679.

Blazer Fast Facts: 2009 Record: 4-4 (.500); 2009 Gulf South Conference Record / Rank: 4-3 (.571) / 3rd; Last Five Games: 3-2 (.600); Last 10 Games: 5-5 (.500); Last 15 Games: 9-6 (.600).

Head Coach David Dean: David Dean is in his third season at the helm of the Valdosta State Blazers and sports an all-time record of 26-8 (.765). In 2007, Dean became just the second NCAA Division II first-year head coach to lead his team to a national title, joining North Dakota State's Earl Solomonson, while leading VSU back to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in 2008. He has tallied a 17-6 record (.739) in Gulf South Conference play.

West Georgia Fast Facts: 2009 Record: 1-7 (.125); 2009 Gulf South Conference Record / Rank: 1-5 (.167) / 11th; Last Five Games: 1-4 (.200); Last 10 Games: 1-9 (.100); Last 15 Games: 1-14 (.067).

Head Coach Daryl Dickey: Daryl Dickey is in his second year as the leader of the West Georgia football program, having accumulated an 1-17 (.056) record with the Wolves. Dickey has also served as the head coach at Presbyterian College, where he tallied a 28-15 mark in three years, while also filling assistant coaching roles at Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida State.

Television: The game will be broadcast live as part of the GSC Game of the Week package on Comcast SportSouth and Cox Sports. In Valdosta, the game will be carried by Mediacom Channel 77.

Internet Webcast: There will be no webcast of the game.

Radio Network: WDDQ, Talk 92.1 FM (Valdosta, Adel); WSFB 1490 AM/97.7 FM (Quitman); WHLJ, Foxy 97.5 FM (Valdosta, Statenville); WKZZ, Z 92.5. FM (Tifton); WVOH, Classic 93.5 FM (Hazlehurst); WDMG, The Big Dog 97.9 FM (Douglas); WTHV, 810 AM (Valdosta); W241BG, 96.1 FM (Valdosta). Dick Rockey (play-by-play), Wes James (analysis) and Tom Odom (sideline) call the action.

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