Both of the lower seeds won last week and carry some momentum into the stadiums of the rested, but possibly rusty, top seeds.

One game is a rematch from a Gulf South Conference contest earlier in the season, while the other game features teams that have never played each other. Delta State will be hoping to avenge their lone loss of the year when they host West Georgia and Valdosta State ventures to Lenoir-Rhyne to face the South Atlantic Conference champion Bears.

Both games were close last week and I expect it will be no different this weekend. We know at least one team in the NCAA quarter-finals will be from the GSC, but Valdosta will try their best to make it an all-GSC regional title game.


#15 Valdosta State Blazers (9-2) vs. #4 Lenoir-Rhyne Bears (11-0) @ 12 Noon EST

The Blazers held North Alabama to 12 yards rushing last weekend and now face the top-ranked rushing offense in the nation. Will the Bears decide to throw it? Not much more than normal, but yes. I recall a few surprise passes they attempted and completed in the national title game last year, a couple for long yardage. But other than those few plays, it's going to be the Black Swarm against the Bear's option rushing attack that averages 415.5 yards per game. This will be like taking a final exam on assignment football for the Blazers.

The L-R offense is led by All-SAC QB Miles Freeman (1221 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns) who is 17-1 as a starter over the past two seasons. He's supported by other All-SAC performers like running backs Chris Robinson and Jarrod Spears (combining for 2,254 yards on the ground and 15 touchdowns) along with linemen Joe Ray and Jim Bayer. The Bears defense is anchored by All-SAC selections DL Blake Baker, LB Tanner Botts, and DB O'neil Blake. Kicker Justin Powell was also named to the All-SAC First Team and will potentially play a key role in the scoring.

VSU has QB Jake Medlock back and his legs (along with those of Austin Scott and Cedric O'Neal) led them to victory last week. The Blazers racked up a school-record 395 yards on the ground in the first round with Scott leading the way with a career-high 184 yards. Medlock had 234 yards passing and ran for 116 more, while O'Neal had 96 rushing yards in the game. Kicker Anthony Pistelli was the hero last week hitting four field goals (including the game winner) and I'm sure will be ready to help the Blazers in any way he can. The Black Swarm had four sacks and eight tackles for a loss last week led by Tavaris Williams' team-high twelve tackles and a game-sealing interception by stand-out Kenny Murphy.

Being the fifth consecutive road game for VSU, I can see them opening up a big sluggish in the first quarter. Yet, similar to the game last week, I feel the Blazers will be in a shootout with L-R. Whoever gets the ball last will probably win.

I'm going with the GSC.

Blazers 38-33


#22 West Georgia Wolves (10-2) vs. #10 Delta State Statesmen (9-1) @ 12 Noon CST

Can the Wolves do it again?

West Georgia was the only team to defeat the GSC co-champions this season. They hosted the Statesmen in October and capitalized on three interceptions to defeat the Okra's "basketball on grass" passing attack. They will need more turnovers on Saturday to beat the Statesmen twice in one season.

I'm sure the Statesmen have been excited ever since the playoff seeding were announced at the prospects of avenging their only loss of the season. DSU will come out slinging the ball with QB Tyler Sullivan (3098 yards and 24 touchdowns), a finalist for Mississippi's Conerly Trophy, looking for his favorite receiving targets Casey Osbourne (13 yards per catch and 8 touchdowns) and Ricky Hunt (14.4 yards per catch and 4 touchdowns). Yet, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Statesmen attempt to establish a consistent running attack by going to backs Eddie McCadney (10 touchdowns) and D'Juan Bellaire (7 touchdowns). The defense is anchored by Richard Nash (70 total tackles) and Cliff Harris Award (nation's top small college defensive player) finalist Rory Island who has 57 total tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Coach Will Hall is going to have his team fired up, as well, looking for the program's second playoff win in as many weeks. Last week, the UWG offensive leaders were QB Dallas Dickey (passed for two touchdowns) along with RB Seth Hinsley (23 rushes for 125 yards) and WR Shaq Hall, who had two key receptions including the final Wolves touchdown. The Wolves defense was led in the win over Tuskegee by Tyrell Adams (7 solo tackles) and Zedekiah Brown (9 total tackles) while having two fumble recoveries and an interception as a unit. Can the Wolves defense pressure or get to Sullivan? They had two of their three sacks during the final four plays of the game in the first round game last week. That's pretty clutch, especially when it counts most.

I think we may see the Statesmen have a slow start after the off week and facing two weak opponents to finish the regular season, possibly giving the Wolves another early lead this weekend. But, expect DSU to get that passing game clicking and crawl right back in it, especially at home.

That said, I'm calling for the slight upset and predicting that The Vest will lead UWG to the regional final.

Wolves 31-28