LIVINGSTON, Ala. – The University of West Alabama football team returns home on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. GSC matchup against No. 17 Valdosta State.
West Alabama (5-3, 0-1 GSC) enters Saturday's contest following a 37-33 loss to Delta State last weekend. Meanwhile, No. 17 Valdosta State (5-1, 0-0 GSC) comes into the weekend following a 41-31 victory over Shorter.
"I can't wait to see our home fans," said head coach Scott Cochran. "We're going to go out there on Saturday and fight. Our guys really want this."
UWA returns home looking to get back on track following a tough road loss to the Statesmen. The Tigers' offense has faced some challenges over the past couple of weeks and will look to find its rhythm against the Blazers.
Kendrick Joseph has emerged as one of the nation's top kick returners, entering the weekend after being named the National Special Teams Player of the Week. Joseph returned two kickoffs for touchdowns last weekend while recording 327 total kickoff return yards. The redshirt freshman has become a major threat on special teams and will be a player opposing special teams coordinators must account for.
The Tigers are averaging 22.6 points and 309.1 yards per game through eight contests. Luther Richesson leads the conference with 14 passing touchdowns and 1,524 passing yards. Richesson also presents a threat with his legs, ranking second on the team with 188 rushing yards. While he has demonstrated his ability as a dual-threat quarterback, Richesson has been less involved in the rushing attack in recent weeks. His top targets continue to be Madixx Morris, Jaylon York, and TD Parker, while running backs Brayden Jenkins, Michael Dujon, Dakarai Shanks, and Contravious Blanks will look to jumpstart a struggling rushing attack.
Defensively, the Tigers continue to stand out as one of the top units in the region. UWA recorded two more takeaways last weekend against Delta State, bringing its season total to 20, which ranks fourth nationally. Legend Doggett recorded his third defensive touchdown of the season against the Statesmen with a 56-yard pick-six. The graduate leads the nation in defensive touchdowns and has scored the third-most touchdowns on West Alabama's roster this season.
The leader in the middle of the defense continues to be Joseph Harper. Harper turned in one of his best performances of the season last weekend against the Statesmen, recording a season-high 12.0 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and 2.0 sacks. Harper dealt with an ankle injury during the early portion of the season but has continued to improve each week, as evidenced by his performance against Delta State. Nate Thomason and Kebian Gilmore line up alongside Harper at linebacker, while Martavous Milan remains a key presence as UWA's top run stopper up front.
West Alabama's defense has established itself as an elite unit, but it will face one of its toughest tests of the season Saturday against an explosive Valdosta State offense.
Valdosta State has been a staple of GSC football over the past decade. The Blazers have once again established themselves as one of the nation's top teams in 2026, earning the No. 17 spot in the AFCA Coaches Poll. VSU is the reigning GSC champion and entered the 2026 season with a revamped roster.
Quarterback Champ Harris leads a Valdosta State offense averaging 45.5 points and 450 yards per game this season. Harris transferred from Southern Arkansas during the offseason and has made an immediate impact in the Blazers' offense. The senior is a dual-threat quarterback who has accounted for 11 total touchdowns, including six passing and five rushing. Harris has totaled 1,182 yards through six games and is positioning himself for All-GSC consideration at the end of the season.
In the backfield, Shawn Paschall has emerged as one of the top running backs in the conference in 2026. The 2025 GSC Freshman of the Year is building on that success, entering the weekend with 581 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. The sophomore is averaging 8.2 yards per carry, placing him among the nation's best in that category.
Defensively, Valdosta State is holding opponents to 17.3 points and 264.1 yards per game. In its 10-point victory over Shorter last weekend, the Blazers recorded five interceptions. Julius Pascal and Jayden Bethea lead the team in tackles, while the duo has also combined for three interceptions. Linebacker Malik Moore leads the team with 2.5 sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss.
Freshman Jabari McMillan has made an impact in the secondary with two interceptions, while junior Curtis Janvier leads the team with three interceptions. Janvier has been a major contributor to the Blazers' takeaway efforts, recording three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and three interceptions.
West Alabama will have a major opportunity Saturday to knock off No. 17 Valdosta State in front of its home crowd. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. at Tiger Stadium.
