UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - The Saginaw Valley State University football
program came through when it mattered most for a 28-24 comeback
victory in the final minutes of regulation to defeat the No. 8
Valdosta State Blazers in the 2012 season opener.
The thrilling victory saw the Cardinals (1-0) open their season
against one of the perennial powers in all of Division II football
in front of 4,891 fans at Wickes Stadium.
After trading possessions to start the contest, Valdosta State
(0-1) was able to put a drive together and light up the scoreboard
first on a 24-yard touchdown run by quarterback Cayden Cochran to
put the Blazers up 7-0.
SVSU was able to even the score early in the second quarter on a
two-yard touchdown pass by Jonathon
Jennings (Columbus, Ohio/Westerville South HS) to junior wide
receiver Jeff Janis
(Tawas City, Mich.) with 10:07 to play in the half. Jennings would
finish the night with 378 yards on 37-of-56 passing including four
touchdowns.
The Cardinals would turn the ball over to the Blazers on the
four-yard line on a bad snap fumble with 4:20 left in the half that
would give Valdosta State great field position. The Blazers
would find paydirt just one play later on an Austin Scott run up
the middle to take a 14-7 lead.
The Cardinal defense would force the Blazers into a four-and-out
and get the ball back on their own 39 yard line. From there,
Jennings would go to work on the Valdosta State defense completing
five-of-six passes for 61 yards that was capped off by a 22-yard
touchdown strike to Janis to knot the game at 14-14 heading into
the intermission. Janis would finish the game with 14 catches
for 167 yards and three scores.
After trading possessions to start the second half, Saginaw
Valley took its first lead of the game at the 8:40 mark of the
third quarter on a 24-yard touch-pass from Jennings to Janis,
putting the Cardinals ahead 21-14. It was the third touchdown
connection between the two Cardinals.
SVSU's lead would be short lived as Valdosta State struck back
just 33 seconds later on a 70-yard completion from second string
quarterback Graham Craig to Seantavious Jones to even the score at
21-21.
After forcing a punt, Valdosta State took the lead back on a 32
yard field goal to put the Blazers up 24-21 with just seconds
remaining in the third.
On the ensuing possession, the Cardinals drove down to the
Blazers five yard line before Jennings threw an interception that
would end the scoring threat.
After exchanging punts, SVSU received the ball with just over
four minutes to go. Jennings orchestrated an 11 play, 80 yard drive
to give the Cardinals the go-ahead lead on a 27 yard completion to
Meijer "Player of the Game" Michael
Albrecht (Midland, Mich.) to take the 28-24 edge with just over
one minute to play. The scoring drive featured a fourth down and
long conversion from Jennings to Janis to keep the Cardinal hopes
alive. Albrecht finished the contest with 11 receptions for 120
yards and the game-winning touchdown.
Valdosta State responded by taking the following kickoff close
to midfield. However, the Cardinal defense would stand tall and
secure the victory as a fourth down heave to the endzone by the
Blazers went just out of reach.
The Cardinal offense was pushed to full capacity tonight as they
ran a total of 91 plays for 459 compared to just 67 plays for the
Blazers. Saginaw Valley was 11-of-20 on third down conversions,
including two-for-two on fourth down conversions.
Saginaw Valley will look to keep their momentum going as they
travel to Malone for a first-ever matchup with the Pioneers.
Kickoff is set for 1:00 PM on Saturday (Sept. 8).
