By: Kipp Branch

GeorgiaSportsEdition.com news services

Valdosta State is a three-time national champion in football. Ferris State is seeking its first national title in football after making the title game for the first time. Ferris State lost in the semifinals twice in 1985 and 2016.

The two undefeated teams meet at 4 p.m. Saturday in McKinney, Texas, for the NCAA Division II Championship.

Ferris State is led by Ferris quarterback Jayru Campbell, who is one of the nine finalists for the 2018 Harlon Hill Trophy, presented to Division’s II top player. A dual-threat quarterback, Campbell is responsible for 47 touchdowns.

Campbell had some issues in high school that cost him a football scholarship to Michigan State University. Hel led Garden City Community College to a JUCO National Championship in 2016 before signing with Ferris State.

Campbell made first team All- American for the Bulldogs this fall. The Bulldogs hold the nation’s best record (60-7) over the past five years in Division II football.

Ferris has a talented roster that has some NFL prospects. The offense averages almost 40 points per game, which ranks in the top 20 nationally. The Bulldogs have had impressive playoff wins against Ouachita Baptist and Minnesota State and an impressive regular season win against Grand Valley State who finished 10-2 on the season.

Valdosta State, which was picked in the middle of the pack in the Gulf South Conference preseason poll, has taken the country by storm. The Blazers have gone undefeated and are averaging 52.2 points per game, which is the best in the country in Division II. The Blazers can score points in bunches and that puts a lot of pressure on opponents to match and forces turnovers.

Sophomore Rogan Wells leads the Blazers at QB. Wells was named second team All- American this fall.

Offensive Lineman Jeremy King, LaVonne Gauthney and DB Ravarius Rivers we named to the All-American squad also with King being named first team. Red Shirt Freshman Jamar Thompkins leads the Blazers with 1,257 yards rushing on the season.

The Blazers are peaking at the right time of the year, as they have put 66, 61, and 30 points on the board in their three playoff wins over Bowie State, Lenoir-Rhyne, and Notre Dame College (Ohio).

Third year head coach Kerwin Bell will probably win many national coach of the year honors once the season is complete.

The Bulldogs are currently a school all-time best and nation-leading 15-0 overall this season and claimed the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Championship with an 8-0 mark.

The Blazers are currently 13-0 this season and won the Gulf South Conference (GSC) with an 8-0 mark. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two schools.

Saturday’s game will be carried live nationally by ESPNU and the Watch ESPN app at 4PM.

Prediction: I think the two QB’s put on an offensive clinic for each school. Both are finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy. You may need a calculator to keep up with total offense in this contest. I think the Blazers championship experience could end up being a huge factor in the contest.

Valdosta State wins late 51-45 and the Blazers bring their 4^th National Title back to Winnersville, USA or Title Town or whatever term you want to coin.

Valdosta is a city that produces champions. Here is something opposing coaches in the Gulf South Conference may not want to hear and that is win or lose on Saturday; Blazer QB Rogan Wells still has two years of eligibility left at VSU. The Blazers are set for a couple of years and will be in the championship mix.

If the Blazers score 21 points or more in the championship game Saturday, they will surpass 700 points on the season. Incredible statistic.