In the first home playoff game in the history of the school, top-seeded West Georgia defeated Valdosta State 27-20 to advance to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Before this season, the Wolves (11-1) had never defeated their in-state conference rival at University Stadium in Carrollton. This year, West Georgia hosted the Blazers (9-3) twice and defeated them twice.
The rematch in the playoffs was much tighter than the 49-28 win during the regular season.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Wolves scored on a safety forced by defensive lineman Demarcus Davis to extend the lead to 19-14.
The Blazers took the lead with 5:35 remaining in the game on a 2-yard touchdown pass from E.J. Hilliard to Cedric O’Neal. The two-point conversion attempt by Hilliard failed and left the Wolves down by one.
On the following drive, Wolves quarterback Dallas Dickey finished the 72-yard game-winning drive with a 9-yard touchdown run to put his team back on top. Dickey completed a short pass to Shaq Hall to give the Wolves a seven-point lead with 3:09 remaining.
The Wolves will host Tuskegee at noon Saturday in the Super Region 2 championship game.
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