The Valdosta State Blazers are ready to begin their NCAA Division II playoff journey on Saturday, November 22, 2025, facing the Albany State Golden Rams. Following a thrilling overtime victory against No. 3 West Florida, where the Blazers clinched a 47-44 win thanks to a 37-yard field goal by Matt Rolader, the team enters the postseason with momentum and confidence. With a record of 6-4, the Blazers secured an automatic playoff berth by winning their 12th Gulf South Conference championship.
The Blazers’ recent success has been remarkable, particularly as they rebounded from a challenging 2-4 start to the season by winning four consecutive games. Quarterback Jameson Holcomb acknowledged the team’s playoff mentality, stating, “We’ve been in playoff mode for three weeks… We had to win out, and we did that.” The Blazers face a formidable opponent in the Golden Rams, who boast a 10-1 record.
Golden Rams Enter Playoffs as No. 1 Seed
The Albany State Golden Rams, champions of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), enter this matchup as the No. 1 seed in Super Region Two. They secured their playoff position with a 22-16 victory over Benedict College in the SIAC Championship. The Golden Rams have been on an impressive eight-game winning streak since their last loss on September 13, 2025, against Florida A&M.
Under the leadership of head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr., Albany State has established one of the nation’s top defenses. The team ranks among the top ten in six different defensive categories, including leading Division II in turnovers forced with 28. Additionally, they are fifth in total defense, allowing an average of 257.5 yards per game, and fourth in rushing defense, allowing just 74.7 yards per game.
Key players on defense include redshirt junior edge rusher Derrick Drayton, who has recorded 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss, and redshirt junior defensive lineman Isaiah Morrison, who adds depth with 8 tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hurries. In the secondary, redshirt sophomore defensive back Tyrell Gainey leads the team with four interceptions.
Focusing on Offensive Strategy
On the offensive side, quarterback Isaiah Knowles has thrown for 1,643 yards, accumulating 15 touchdowns against five interceptions. He is also a dual-threat, contributing 188 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns this season. The Blazers will need to apply pressure on Knowles, who faced significant challenges last week, being sacked five times in the victory over Benedict.
“Knowles has done a really good job scrambling and extending plays,” said VSU head coach Graham Craig. “We want to get some pressure, but he does a really good job of avoiding it.” Albany State’s rushing attack is potent, averaging 199 yards per game, led by sophomore running back Tiant Wyche, who has 759 rushing yards and nine touchdowns this season.
The Golden Rams’ offense features a balanced attack with four players contributing over 300 receiving yards and eight players recording at least one touchdown reception. Craig emphasized the importance of protecting the football against a team that forces turnovers effectively.
The rivalry between the Blazers and Golden Rams has been one-sided in recent years, with Valdosta State winning nine of the ten all-time meetings. Their most recent encounter saw the Blazers dominate with a 42-10 victory at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium last August.
As kickoff approaches, Holcomb and his teammates are focused on the task at hand. “I haven’t experienced this rivalry personally, but every game is getting better. It’s about understanding what we need to do to win,” he remarked.
The playoff game is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday and will be broadcast on ESPN, with radio coverage available on Talk 92.1 FM. Both teams have much to prove, and the stakes are high as they vie for a place in the next round of the playoffs.
