2004 Valdosta State Blazers football
NCAA Division II champion
GSC champion
ConferenceGulf South Conference
Ranking
AFCANo. 1
Record13–1 (9–0 GSC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDavid Dean (5th season)
Offensive schemeAir raid
Defensive coordinatorAshley Anders (3rd season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumBazemore–Hyder Stadium
2004 Gulf South Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 1 Valdosta State $^  9 –0   13 –1  
No. 16 Arkansas Tech ^  8 –1   10 –2  
Central Arkansas  6 –3   8 –3  
Delta State  6 –3   6 –4  
Arkansas–Monticello  5 –4   6 –5  
Harding  4 –5   6 –5  
North Alabama  4 –5   5 –5  
Southern Arkansas  3 –6   5 –6  
West Georgia  2 –6   2 –7  
Ouachita Baptist  2 –6   2 –7  
Henderson State  2 –7   2 –8  
West Alabama  2 –7   2 –9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from AFCA poll

The 2004 Valdosta State Blazers football team was an American football team that represented Valdosta State University as a member of the Gulf South Conference (GSC) during the 2004 NCAA Division II football season. In their fifth year under head coach Chris Hatcher, the team compiled a 13–1 record (9–0 against conference opponents) and won the GSC championship.[1] The team advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs and defeated Pittsburg State, 36–31, in the championship game.[2]

Two Valdosta player were honored by the Associated Press on its 2004 Little All-America team: kicker Will Rhody (first team) and offensive lineman Torry Howard (third team).[3] Other key players included quarterback Fabian Walker and running back Vincent Brown.[4]

The Blazers played their home games at Bazemore–Hyder Stadium in Valdosta, Georgia.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 4at No. 22 Albany State*No. 3
L 22–24 11,855
September 11at Ouachita BaptistNo. 15
W 40–19 3,687
September 18HardingNo. 13
W 32–19 5,386
September 25at No. 19 Central ArkansasNo. 12
W 22–12 7,117
October 2 No. 11 Delta StateNo. 12
  • Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
  • Valdosta, GA
W 51–48 3,204 [5]
October 9at Henderson StateNo. 10
W 27–18 2,912
October 16West AlabamaNo. 8
  • Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
  • Valdosta, GA
W 34–176,843
October 23at No. 23 North AlabamaNo. 5
W 24–20 3,577
October 30Southern ArkansasNo. 5
  • Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
  • Valdosta, GA
W 45–28 2,711 [6]
November 6at West GeorgiaNo. 5
W 35–12 4,101
November 20 No. 13 Carson–Newman*No. 3
W 38–12 3,001 [7]
November 27at No. 2 Albany State*No. 3
W 38–2410,227[8][9]
December 4 No. 23 West Chester*No. 3
  • Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
  • Valdosta, GA (NCAA Division II seminfinal)
W 45–214,483[10][11]
December 11vs. No. 1 Pittsburg State*No. 3
  • Braly Municipal Stadium
  • Florence, AL (NCAA Division II Championship Game)
W 36–318,604[2][12][13]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game

References

  1. ↑ "2004 Football National Championship Team". Valdosta State University. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Valdosta State vs Pittsburg State (Dec 11, 2004)". Pittsburg State University. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  3. ↑ "AP Little All-America team". The Atlanta Constitution. December 17, 2004. p. D11 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "They take all kinds". The Atlanta Constitution. December 10, 2004. p. D6 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Valdosta St. turns back Delta St. 51-48: Blazers seal deal with last-second goal line stand". The Clarksdale Press Register. October 3, 2004. p. 1B – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Blazers earn eighth win in row". The Atlanta Constitution. October 31, 2004. p. F8 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "Blazers cruise to playoff win". The Atlanta Constitution. November 21, 2004. p. H7 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Comeback kids; Furious second-half rally snaps Rams' streak". The Atlanta Constitution. November 28, 2004. Retrieved June 3, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Valdosta State 38, Albany State 24". The Greenville News. November 28, 2004. p. 4C – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ Ira Josephs (December 5, 2004). "W. Chester ride comes to an end". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. D4.
  11. ↑ Rob Morton (December 5, 2004). "Blazers play keep-away". The Atlanta Constitution. p. C2 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ Rob Morton (December 12, 2004). "First title for Blazers". The Atlanta Constitution. p. E7 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Pitt Stopped". The Kansas City Star. December 12, 2004. pp. C1, C11 – via Newspapers.com.
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