Cochran leads Valdosta State past Minnesota State-Mankato in semis

MANKATO, Minn. — Cayden Cochran passed for 278 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for two second-half scores as Valdosta State defeated Minnesota State-Mankato 35-19 in the semifinals of the Division II playoffs Saturday.

Austin Scott added 159 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Blazers (11-2), who will face the winner of Saturday’s game between Winston-Salem and West Texas A&M in the championship game Dec. 15 in Florence, Ala.

Cochran threw second-quarter touchdowns of 8 yards to Gerald Ford and 9 yards to Seantavious Jones, helping Valdosta State overcome a 10-0 deficit. Cochran added scoring runs of 5 yards and 1 yard in the second half, the latter giving the Blazers a 28-13 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Jones had four receptions for 122 yards in the game.

Minnesota State (13-1) got 195 yards passing and 127 yards rushing from Jon Wolf.