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2004 National Championship Team
VALDOSTA STATE 36, PITTSBURG STATE 31 BRALY STADIUM, FLORENCE, ALA. DECEMBER 11, 2004
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FLORENCE, Ala. - Valdosta State used a ground control offense and an opportunistic defense to defeat Pittsburg State 36-31 in Braly Stadium to earn the school’s first NCAA Division II Football National Championship.
The Gorillas jumped on the scoreboard quickly as they intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards for a score just 56 seconds into the contest. PSU pushed its lead to 14-0 seven minutes later as it scored on a Jermaine Carpenter 10-yard reception.
VSU used a turnover of its own to tally its first points of the game as Terrence Bell intercepted a pass and returned it to the Pittsburg State 19 yard line. Four plays later, Fabian Walker hooked up with Zach Parker for a one-yard scoring strike.
After a Gorilla field goal, Walker capped off a 9-play, 69-yard drive with a four-yard run to move the Blazers to within three points. The Valdosta State defense again made its presence felt as Tim Thompson sacked PSU quarterback Neal Philpot, who fumbled the ball on the play. Thompson recovered the fumble at the VSU 45 yard line with 47 seconds remaining, giving the Blazers time to march to the PSU seven yard line. Will Rhody tied the game with a 27yard field goal just three seconds before intermission.
A safety less than two minutes into the second half gave Valdosta State its first lead of the game before the Blazers extended their advantage to 26-17 on its next drive. VSU marched 72 yards on seven plays on the possession, capping it off with a 23-yard run by Tyran Robinson.
Pittsburg State responded with an 11-play, 80 yard drive on its ensuing possession to close to within two points only to have Valdosta State again find the end zone as it took over possession of the ball after the kickoff. Walker proceeded to complete two passes for 13 yards while rushing twice for 22 yards on the drive, which ended with a seven-yard completion to Raymond Thomas with 14:15 remaining in the contest.
The Black Swarm defense forced its third turnover of the contest on the ensuing drive, leading to VSU’s final points of the game. On the first play from scrimmage, Terel Toomer forced a fumble that was recovered by the Blazers’ Scott Foss at the PSU 31. The Blazers closed to the Gorilla eight yard line before kicking a 28-yard field goal to build its largest lead at 36-24.
Pittsburg State closed to within five points on a Neal Philpot one-yard touchdown with 7:27 to go, but VSU answered with a drive that took 5:36 off the clock. After a punt, Bell registered his second interception of the day, sealing the victory for the Blazers, which held the Gorillas to 250 offensive yards under their season average.
Individual Statistical Leaders
Rushing: VSU - Brown 13-72; Robinson 11-68/1td; Walker 11-55/1td. PSU - Philpot 20-117/1td; Race 8-39. Passing: VSU - Walker 19-27-1, 165yds/2td. PSU - Majors 11-14-1, 148yds. Receiving: VSU - Dalton 4-48; Robinson 4-22; Parker 2-12/1td. PSU - Austin 8-119; Carpenter 4-38/1td; Ward 2-31. Defense: VSU - Foss 11tckls/1fr/1pd; Fortson 9tckls/1tfl; Toomer 8tckls/2tfl/1ff. PSU - Miller 12tckls/1ff/1fr; Lattimer 10tckls/1tfl/1pd; Dellasega 6tckls.
Team
Valdosta State Pittsburg State
VSU
1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final
0 17 9 10 36 14 3 7 7 31
Team Stats First Downs Rushing Attempts Net Rushing Yards Comp. - Att. Passing Yards Total Plays - Yards Sacks By - Yards Interceptions - Yards Fumbles - Lost Penalties - Yards Punts - Average Yards Third Down Conversions Time of Possession
PSU
The Road to Florence
Second Round - Valdosta State 38, Carson-Newman 12
Valdosta State shut down the nation’s second-ranked offense as the Blazers topped Carson-Newman 38-12 in Bazemore-Hyder Stadium ... The Eagles managed 364 total yards in the contest, but also turned the ball over four times ... The Blazers jumped to a 17-0 halftime lead before CN scored on an 86-yard third quarter punt return ... The only Eagle offensive score came on a touchdown with 51 seconds remaining ... The VSU special teams unit blocked both Carson-Newman extra point attempts in the game.
In a tale of two halves, Valdosta State overcame a 24-0 halftime deficit to defeat Albany State 38-24 ... The Golden Rams rolled up 270 offensive yards in the first half while limiting VSU to 106 ... The second half saw the Blazers tally 258 yards of offense while holding ASU to 76 ... After forcing a punt on the first Albany State possession of the second half, Valdosta State scored less than three minutes into the frame on a Tyran Robinson 22-yard run ... Robinson scored again six minutes later while Vincent Brown also scored two second half touchdowns for the Blazers ... The victory avenged Valdosta State’s only loss of the season as Albany State claimed a 24-22 victory in the season opener.
Semifinals - Valdosta State 45, West Chester 21
Valdosta State never trailed as it jumped to a 31-7 halftime lead en route to a 45-21 victory over visiting West Chester ... VSU scored on five of six first half possessions ... The Blazers scored two first half touchdowns on the ground while getting two more through the air ... The Golden Rams scored two third quarter touchdowns to close to within 31-21, only to have Valdosta State respond with two fourth quarter scores ... The VSU offense tallied 476 yards in the game, as opposed to 316 for WCU, while the defense forced four turnovers in the contest.
2004 National Championship Bracket
