If things weren't already serious, here we are at Week 7 and the pressure starts to mount with an All-GSC slate of games. The quest to win the conference and make the playoffs is in full force.

The Thursday night GSC-TV Game of the Week will feature West Alabama traveling to Rome, GA to take on Shorter. While Saturday's line-up has the Big 3 on the road as West Georgia hosts DSU, VSU goes to Mississippi College, and Florida Tech welcomes UNA.

THURSDAY:

West Alabama (3-3, 0-2) vs. Shorter (3-2, 1-2) @ 7 PM

UWA is hurting after a tough loss to their old coach and then the last-minute heartbreaker to FIT. Shorter had some initial success against the Statesmen but ran out of steam after that. I envision a determined effort from West Alabama that will be too much for the Hawks, even at home.

Leading the SC option attack is their tough quarterback Eric Dodson, averaging over 4.5 yards per carry and 70 yard per game. He shares the rushing duties with B.J. McCoy (averaging 60 yards per game) and Erik Wilson (averaging 10 yard per carry). They don't pass very often, but when they do connect they tend to be for long gains. Six different Hawks have catches for 20+ yard gains. They surprised many last week with several accurate passes and will need to do so again this week to compete with the Tigers. Shorter's Defense will be trying to read the eyes of Caldwell with the hopes of another possible interception. They have 13 on the season lead by D2 INT-leader Jordan Shaw, who is also the leading tackler on the team (43). He is supported by Jevaris Jones with 34 total tackles (4.5 TFL/2 Sacks) and Trevaris Horton (6.5 TFL/5.5 Sacks).

The Tigers are anchored by their standouts from the past couple of seasons, Kyle Caldwell and Chad Toocheck, who both had good games last week in the losing effort. Caldwell averages over 170 yards passing and 50 yards rushing per game with 8 touchdowns on the season, while Toocheck averages over 13 yards per catch. Doing their part on offense for the Tigers are Javae Swindle and Jabari Barker who both average about 65 rushing yards per game. One advantage for the UWA Defense is that new Coordinator Nathan Burton was Shorter's DC for the past two seasons. He should know a thing or two about how to stop the triple-option. The Tigers also have the current GSC Defensive Player of the Week, Fred Barnes, to help contain the Hawks. He leads the team with 31 total tackles (4 TFL).

I feel the Hawks will keep this competitive during the first three quarters at home and then the talent of the Tigers will pull away in the last period.


Tigers 28-14



SATURDAY:

Valdosta State (3-2, 1-2) vs. Mississippi College (1-4, 0-2) @ 3 PM

VSU has played well despite their losses to highly ranked UNA and DSU, while MC hasn't fared well when competing with real NCAA schools this year. That said, they looked decent against Shorter. Yet, the Choctaws should have scheduled Homecoming for last week. This isn't going to be the game they want the alumni to see.

MC's new coach brought his option attack from NAIA Cumberlands (led nation in rushing offense and scoring). At MC, the rushing duties are handled by QB Kyle Smith (4 TD's) and RB Chris Ingram (averaging 4.3 yards per carry and 60 per game with 3 TD's total). There's not much passing going on with the Choctaws, but they have completed a 62 yard TD pass this season. The defensive unit is led by Jake Weddle (54 total tackles) and Dylan Klibert, who has 2 INT's and one fumble recovery with two of those take-aways going for scores.

Coming off a great performance in all aspects of the game, the Blazers are led by current GSC Offensive Player of the Week, Jake Medlock, who leads the team in passing and rushing. This past week he threw for 3 TD's and rushed for one, while being joined in the backfield by two great running backs, Austin Scott (averaging 75 yards a game and over 6 yards per carry) and Cedric O'Neal (averaging 4.7 yards per carry with 4 scores). The receiving corp is impressive with three Blazers averaging around 14 yard per catch, including Chris Anderson and Shane Henderson, who have the bulk of the receptions this season so far. Justin Williams anchors the defense with 40 total tackles (6 TFL/1 Sack).

There could possibly be some competition in the 1st quarter, but I see the Blazers putting this one away early.


Blazers 42-7



#11 Delta State (5-0, 3-0) vs. West Georgia (5-1, 1-1) @ 2 PM

This is going to be an interesting game, for sure. Don't think for one minute that Will Hall will not have his team fired up after taking that rout in Valdosta. Meanwhile, DSU, while looking good parts of the game last week, didn't play their best, especially with four turnovers (and four other of their own fumbles that they recovered).

Dallas Dickey is at the helm of the UWG offense and things were running pretty smoothly until last week when the Wolves only put up 6 points on two field goals. Dickey has a good mix of pass/run in his stats as he averages over 50 yards per game rushing while completing over 60% of his passes. Joining him in the backfield are Seth Hinsley (averaging 5.4 yards a carry and 72 yards a game) and Brandon Lucas (6.2 yards a carry and 62 yards per game) with have 4 scores each. Dickey's favorite targets in the passing game are Alex Macauley (10.9 yards per catch) and Shaq Hall (17.5 yards per catch). The Wolves Defense (ranked #15 in the division) is anchored by Laronji Vason with 35 total tackles (29 solo) and Tyrell Adams with 33 total tackles (4.5 TFL/2 Sacks). The team has 5 interceptions and 9 fumble recoveries.

DSU brings in the nation's top-rated scoring and second-ranked overall offense to Carrollton averaging 54 points and 547 yards per game. They are led by QB Tyler Sullivan, who, with a 164 Efficiency Rating, has already amassed 1737 yards this season and thrown for 15 touchdowns. His favorite targets are Casey Osborne (averaging 15 yards per catch and 119 yards per games with 7 TD's) and Justin Leavy (averaging 20.5 yards per catch with 5 TD's). Top rushers include D'Juan Bellaire (5.6 per carry and 4 TD's) and Eddie McCadney (5.6 yards per carry and 5 TD's). The Statesmen rushing defense is ranked #25 in the division as Landry Tullo has 28 tackles (7 TFL/4 Sacks).

I'm foreseeing a game deadlocked or even a slight Wolves lead at the half with the Statesmen owning the second half (especially the 3rd quarter), once again this week. However, if DSU gets turnover happy again, this could turn out in favor of the Wolves. If not, I feel confident that the Okra's "basketball on grass" will win this match-up.


Statesmen 35-21



#5 North Alabama (5-0, 2-0) vs. Florida Tech (4-2, 1-1) @ 6 PM

Another interesting match-up has UNA traveling to Melbourne, FL to take on FIT. Mark Cato is passing like a candidate for the Harlon Hill and is all but a lock for the GSC Freshmen of the Year honor, while the Lions have had three starting QB's this season due to injuries.

FIT's offense is ranked #31 in D2 averaging 467 yards per game and Cato's numbers are great (1552 passing yards and 16 TD's) with TE Gabe Hughes being named the USA College Football Tight End of the Week for his performance and game-winning catch at UWA last week. Cato's top receivers are Xavier Milton (averaging 101 yards per game and 17 yards per catch with 5 TD's) and Aaron George (averaging 16 yard per catch with 7 TD's). Trevor Sand gets the bulk of the rushing duties averaging 7 yards per run and has 6 touchdowns. The FIT Defense is led by Chris Stapleton with 44 tackles (5 TFL/3 Sacks) and J.J. Sanders with 32 tackles (11 TFL/3 Sacks).

UNA is the nation's sixth-ranked defense holding opponents to an average of 240 yards per game and is #4 in scoring defense holding opponents to an average of 10 points per game. Eight different Lions have intercepted passes for a total of 10 this season. Top tacklers are Steven Rich with 35 (3 TFL) and Jalan Jones with 27 (4.5 TFL/2.5 Sacks). The offense is ranked #20 in the division in scoring and has been led this season by RB Lamonte Thompson (averaging 90 yards per game and 5.4 yards per carry with 4 TD's). The passing offense has really only clicked with starter Luke Wingo in the game and his top receivers are Delvon Carpenter (averaging 24 yards per catch) and Lee Mayhall (averaging 9 yards per catch).

This game is going to be a battle of the Panther Offense against the Lion Defense. Whoever takes that match should prevail as the winner. My most homerless-pick-possible gives the edge to UNA.


Lions 30-20