Box Score / Event Stats

Blazers Top Henderson State 27-23

VSU scores 20 points in fourth quarter comeback

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Valdosta State scored 20 fourth quarter points to come from behind and defeat Henderson State 27-23 in Gulf South Conference football action at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Henderson State (3-4, 2-3) opened the scoring on its initial drive as they kicked a 25-yard field goal, only to have Valdosta State (5-1, 3-1) respond with an eight-play, 61-yard touchdown drive. Chris Hart completed three-of-four passes on the drive for 29 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown completion to T.J. Williams after being forced from the pocket to give VSU a 7-3 advantage with 7:20 to go in the first quarter.

The Reddies answered on their next drive as they marched 72 yards on 14 plays to score on a Greg Godfrey touchdown reception. Roch Charpentier completed eight-of-nine passes on the drive and Bernard Palmer picked up 24 as Justin Putnam%u2019s extra point attempt gave HSU a 10-7 advantage.

Godfrey tallied his second touchdown of the game with 1:25 to go in the first half as he caught a screen pass and cut into the middle of the VSU defense. The scoring play ended a 13 play drive that ate 4:31 off of the clock, but the extra point was no good as Henderson State settled for a 16-7 halftime lead.

A Valdosta State fumble led to a 23-7 Reddie lead in the third quarter as Taylor Alloway stripped Ronnye Nelson, allowing Nick Finley to recover the ball on the VSU 16. Bernard Palmer carried the ball three times to move the ball to the Blazer two before Charpentier hit Garret Manning for a two-yard touchdown pass with 5:07 to go in the frame.

The momentum shifted on the next HSU drive as Valdosta State cut its deficit to 23-13 with 13:50 to go the contest. The Blazer defense forced a four-and-out on the drive and Roger King fielded the ensuing punt on the VSU 35 before running into a mass of players at midfield. He broke out of the pack and raced the remaining 50 yards to the end zone for the touchdown. A two-point conversion pass from Tucker Pruitt to Cedric Jones was completed on the point after attempt, but Jones was unable to stay in-bounds on the play.

After another Henderson State punt, Valdosta State marched 67 yards on 11 plays to close to within 23-20 with 8:00 to play. Pruitt hit Williams for a seven-yard gain on first down on the play before Nelson picked up two more yards on a screen pass. After a Pruitt rush gave VSU a first down, the Williams was dropped for a one-yard loss on a pass, but Albert Dukes caught a pair of passes for 14 yards to move the ball to the HSU 43.

Pruitt proceeded to pick up 24 yards on a pair of runs before Markus Manson gained seven more on the ground. An incomplete pass followed, but Pruitt completed a slant pass to Dukes, who broke a tackle and used a block from Jones to score from 12 yards out.

The Blazers again forced a Reddie punt and took over on their own 15-yard line before picking up a first down on fourth-and-five from the VSU 20 when Markus Manson took a direct snap and ran for seven yards. After three incomplete passes, Pruitt threw a pass to Dukes that was deflected. However, R.J. Bastone came down deflection and raced to the HSU 33. After a Manson pick-up of five yards on the ground and an incomplete pass, Pruitt hit Bastone on a quick pass. The junior wide receiver broke a tackle and raced 28 yards to the end zone to give VSU a 27-23 lead with 1:06 to go in the contest.

Henderson State returned the ensuing kickoff to its own 39 and Charpentier and Manning hooked up for a 16-yard gain before two more complete passes moved the ball to the Blazer 31 with 34 seconds remaining. A false start moved the ball back to the VSU 36 before a 10-yard sack forced a third-and 25, but Charpentier proceeded to find Manning for a 22-yard gain. However, time ran out before the Reddies could run another play, sealing the victory for the Blazers.

Pruitt completed 17-of-25 passes for 153 yards and two scores while Jones caught a season-high nine passes for 65 yards. Manson carried the ball for 44 yards as Valdosta State compiled 375 yards of total offense in the game.

Carlos Anderson led the Blazer defense with 12 tackles, including a sack and two tackles for loss, while Sherard Reynolds tallied eight stops in the game. The VSU defense registered four sacks in the game and had 12 tackles for loss.

Charpentier completed 33-of46 passes in the contest for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Nine of his completions went Godfrey, who tallied 64 yards to go along with his two touchdowns. Palmer carried the ball 22 times for 80 yards as the Reddie offense compiled 359 yards of total offense. Henderson State also owned a 35:05 to 24:55 advantage in time of possession and converted on 11-of-18 third down attempts.

Darnei Bates led the Reddie defense with 12 tackles while Demarcus Robinson finished with eight.

Valdosta State returns to action Saturday, October 18 when it hosts Harding at 1:00 p.m. in Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. The

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