2004 Valdosta State Blazers football team

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]

2004 Valdosta State Blazers football
NCAA Division II champion
GSC champion
ConferenceGulf South Conference
Ranking
AFCANo. 1
Record13–1 (9–0 GSC)
Head coach
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

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
September 11at Ouachita BaptistNo. 15
W 40–19
September 18HardingNo. 13
W 32–19
September 25at No. 19 Central ArkansasNo. 12
W 22–12
October 2 No. 11 Delta StateNo. 12
  • Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
  • Valdosta, GA
W 51–48[5]
October 9at Henderson StateNo. 10
W 27–18
October 16West AlabamaNo. 8
  • Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
  • Valdosta, GA
W 34–17
October 23at No. 23 North AlabamaNo. 5
W 24–20
October 30Southern ArkansasNo. 5
  • Bazemore-Hyder Stadium
  • Valdosta, GA
W 45–28[6]
November 6at West GeorgiaNo. 5
W 35–12
November 20 No. 13 Carson–Newman*No. 3
W 38–12[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. "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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