BOX SCORE

Valdosta, Ga.----Valdosta State University sophomore place kicker Daniel Andersen (Meansville, Ga.) kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Blazers a thrilling 25-22 victory over Wingate University Saturday night at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium. The contest was the first meeting between the two schools.

The number 23 team in the d2football.com top 25, Valdosta State wins its home opener. Wingate evens its 2010 record at 1-1 overall. Following a bye week, the Bulldogs host number 23 (AFCA) UNC Pembroke Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1:30 p.m. The VSU Blazers visit Newberry College Saturday, Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m.

Andersen’s third field goal of the evening ended a wild final minute before 9,351 fans. On the previous drive, Wingate redshirt junior quarterback Cody Haffly (Locust Grove, Ga.) marched the Bulldogs 85 yards on nine plays to tie the score with 48 seconds left. Haffly hit first team pre-season All-American Perry Floyd (Gastonia, N.C.) with a 12-yard TD strike. Haffly found redshirt senior wide receiver Delric Ellington (Charlotte, N.C.) with the two-point conversion pass to set the stage for a wild-and-woolly final few seconds.

Valdosta State freshman quarterback Brett Whitmire (Jacksonville, Fla.) moved his troops into field goal range, completing a huge second-down pass to senior running back Ronnye Nelson (Albany, Ga.) for 22 yards to the Wingate 30. A short pass completion moved the Blazers to the Bulldog 25. Andersen connected on his third field goal in four tries to give the hosts the victory.

The Blazers led 16-0 midway through the second quarter, thanks to two long touchdown runs and a defensive safety. Haffly and sophomore wide receiver Chris Bowden (Forsyth, Ga.) connected for two scores in the final 1:12 of the first half to cut the Wingate deficit to two at intermission.

Bowden caught a 10-yard scoring strike with 72 seconds left on the second quarter clock. After the Bulldog defense picked up one of many big stops, Haffly found Bowden for a 28-yard TD on the final play of the first half. Wingate redshirt senior place kicker RP Lopez (Lakeland, Fla.) added both extra points in the first half.

Andersen hit a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter (2:47) and a 20-yarder in the fourth quarter (9:15) to push the Valdosta State lead to 22-14. The 20-yard chip shot concluded a 10-play, 74-yard drive and ended the scoring until the final 48 seconds.

Haffly completed his two-week Georgia homecoming tour with another huge game. The Luella High School product completed 26-of-42 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns. Ellington caught 10 passes for 108 yards, while Floyd nabbed seven catches for 51 yards and one TD. Bowden’s two-touchdown night included four receptions for 80 yards.

Two Valdosta State quarterbacks completed 25-of-50 passes for 302 yards. Whitmire was 14-of-23 for 201 yards, while junior signal-caller Jimmy Coy (Park Ridge, Ill.) was 11-of-27 for 101 yards. The duo combined to utilize 14 different receivers Saturday night.

Nelson rushed 10 times for 83 yards and one touchdown. He had a 53-yard TD scamper to open the scoring flood gates in the first quarter. Nelson finished the contest with 202 all-purpose yards. Wingate’s Floyd was right behind him, compiling 170 all-purpose yards. Valdosta State accumulated 430 yards total offense, while Wingate posted 303 yards total offense.

The two punters stayed busy, combining to boot the ball 20 times. Wingate redshirt senior punter Phillip Hilliard (Salisbury, N.C.) hit the ball 11 times for 460 yards, an average of 41.8 yards per punt. VSU junior punter Jack Fulford (Waycross, Ga.) launched nine punts for 391 yards and a 43.4 yard per punt average.