VALDOSTA, Ga. – In the biggest game of the regular season at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium, the home team took the prize on Saturday evening, as fifth-ranked Valdosta State handed third-ranked West Georgia a 47-31 loss.

The game was a de facto Gulf South Conference championship game, as both teams entered the final game of the regular season with an undefeated record. VSU took home the GSC championship with the victory, and will likely be the top seed in Super Region 2 when the NCAA Playoff bracket is announced on Sunday afternoon.

Valdosta State took their opening possession and turned it into points as the Blazers opened with a 45-yard gain on a flea flicker pass. The Wolves defense bowed their backs and held the Blazers to a field goal as Andrew Gray converted from 45 yards out.

After the teams traded punts, Willie Candler and the UWG offense drove 54 yards on seven plays, scoring on a nine-yard touchdown reception by Malik Henry.

The Blazers responded with 17 unanswered points, opening with a long scoring drive of their own, regaining the lead on a one-yard rush by Seth McGill. Andrew Gray then added his second field goal, hitting from 27 on this one.  VSU then scored on a trick play as Ivory Durham found Kenny Benjamin on a 25-yard touchdown pass making it 20-7 midway through the second quarter.

UWG then punted on their next possession, but the Wolves defense forced a turnover as Anthony Fotu jumped on a loose ball, giving the Wolves the ball at the 25-yard line. Candler found Emoni Williams from two yards out to cap off that drive, cutting it back to a one-possession game.

Rogan Wells and the VSU offense then took just five plays to score again, stretching it back to a 27-14 lead. But Candler and the Wolves scored one more time in the half, as he connected with Henry a second time to cut it to 27-21 deficit.

On the final play of the half, Ivory Durham scrambled 53 yards to make it a 34-21 VSU lead at halftime.

The third quarter was relatively low scoring, with each team putting points on the board just once. VSU got a third field goal from Andrew Gray that stretched the lead to 37-21 with 5:40 left in the period. Willie Candler then connected with Emoni Williams for their second touchdown of the game on a 49-yard strike, cutting the lead to 37-28 with 3:10 left.

The Wolves cut it back to a one-possession game early in the final quarter as Omar Cervantes nailed a 20-yard field goal, pulling the Wolves to 37-31 with 11:10 remaining. On the ensuing possession, the Blazers returned the favor, with Rogan Wells giving the Blazers a 44-31 lead on a 55-yard touchdown run.

Willie Candler completed 20-of-30 passes on the evening for 194 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. West Georgia will await the results of the NCAA Super Region 2 committee to determine the Wolves' first-round opponent in the 2018 Division II Playoffs.

The NCAA will announce the 2018 Division II playoff bracket at 5 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.