VALDOSTA, Ga .—    Valdosta State used a fourth quarter touchdown drive and a defensive stand in the closing minutes to hold off second ranked North Alabama in a 27-24 Gulf South Conference victory at Bazemore-Hyder Stadium.

UNA led 24-20 in the fourth quarter but the Blazers put together an eight-play, 48-yard drive to take the lead with 5:58 left in the game. On the ensuing possession the Lions managed one first down on a fourth-down conversion before being stopped on a fourth-and-nine play at their own 41.

The Blazers were then able to run the clock down to under a minute and UNA’s A.J. Milwee was picked off on the game’s final play on a desperation pass.

The loss drops UNA to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the GSC. The Blazers are now also 7-1 and 5-1. The win by Valdosta State snapped UNA’s 19-game regular-season winning streak and 13-game road winning streak. The last time the Lions had lost either a regular-season game or a road game was on October 20, 2005 at Valdosta.

North Alabama finished with 346 yards of total offense to 395 for Valdosta State. Milwee was 20-of-32 passing for 207 yards and one touchdown while VSU’s Copeland was 24-of-36 for 252 yards and one TD. The Blazers Cedric Jones also came up big in the game with nine pass receptions for 145 yards.

After UNA took a 24-20 lead late in the third quarter, Valdosta State drove to the UNA one where the Blazers faced a second-and-goal. A huge stop by Michael Johnson for a one-yard loss on first down and a pass deflection on a third down pass set up a fourth-and-goal call. The Blazers completed a pass but Bobby Brooks hit the receiver for a nine-yard loss and UNA took over at the 11-yard line.

The Lions couldn’t move the ball and Will Batson’s punt was blocked and the Blazers regained possession at the 28. Just two plays later Copeland was picked off by UNA’s Quinn Suggs and the Lions stopped another Valdosta threat.

The Blazers forced another punt and took over at the UNA 48. Eight plays later Michael Terry scored on a four-yard run, giving Valdosta State what would prove to be the game-winning score. His touchdown came with 5:58 left in the game to make it 27-24.

Valdosta State got on the board first behind the strength of its ground game. The Blazers marched from their own 32-yard line to the UNA two before Willie Copeland dove in on a quarterback sneek. Zachary Williams added the extra point and VSU led 7-0 with 5:44 left in the first quarter.

     North Alabama answered with a scoring drive of its own as the Lions moved from their own 38 to the Valdosta 15 before stalling. Scott Shurden then booted a 32-yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.

On the Blazers’ next possession they put together a 14-play drive that ended in a 25-yard Williams field goal. The kick gave VSU a 10-3 advantage with 10:37 remaining in the second period.

UNA quickly moved the ball on its next possession but Joemal Campbell was ruled to have lost the ball after a 16-yard gain and the Blazers recovered at their own 17.

The North Alabama defense stuffed the Blazers and forced a punt and UNA put together a game-tying drive. Starting at the VSU 49, UNA used a combination of six runs and two passes to move to the six with a first-and-goal. Quarterback A.J. Milwee threw a six-yard TD pass to Campbell in the right corner of the end zone and Shurden’s PAT  tied the game with just 2:11 remaining in the half.

UNA’s kick coverage faltered on the ensuing kickoff and Cedric Jones 39-yard return put Valdosta in good field position at the 50. After moving to the Lion 25, the drive stalled and Williams kicked a 42-yard field goal to make it 13-10 with 24 seconds left in the half.

After a 20-yard kickoff return by David McCants to the UNA 42, the Lions threw deep but the pass was picked off by Sherard Reynolds and he returned it 47 yards to the UNA 29. The Blazers attempted a 46-yard field goal on the final play of the half but a bad snap ended the attempt and VSU led 13-10 at the half.

UNA received the kick to start the second half and moved out to its own 46 where the Lions faced a fourth-and-inches. Brandenn Pickett was stopped for no gain and Valdosta State took possession of the ball. The Blazers were in the end zone just six plays later as Clay Callaway caught an 11-yard pass from Copeland for the touchdown and Wlliams PAT made it 20-10 with 10:18 left in the third quarter.

North Alabama’s offense answered immediately with a 55-yard, seven-play drive for a touchdown. A 22-yard pass from Milwee to Reggie Hubbard moved UNA to the Blazers’ seven and Pickett ran it in from there. His TD run and Shurden’s PAT closed the gap to 20-17 at the 7:23 mark of the third period.

UNA hosts West Georgia on Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. at Braly Stadium for Homecoming.