Tech’s upset bid of Valdosta State fell short Saturday night when the 10th-ranked Blazers used a strong fourth quarter to put away the upstart Wonder Boys 21-7.

After going undefeated in Thone Stadium last year, the Wonder Boys are just 2-3 at home this year with victories over NAIA squad Lambuth and in-state foe Southern Arkansas.

The loss also dropped Tech to 3-6 for the season, snapping a six-year streak of winning seasons.

The Blazers got on the board first with a 15-yard scramble by Brett Whitmire, capping off a nine-play 98-yard drive. However, Valdosta State place kicker Daniel Andersen pushed the extra point wide, keeping the score 6-0.

In the third quarter, senior defensive back Antonio Charles picked off Whitmire’s pass to set up a go-ahead drive for the Wonder Boys. Rico Keller connected with Cassius Washington in the end zone, and Cody Jones’ extra point gave Tech a 7-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.

However, turnovers once again sealed Tech’s fate with costly mistakes in the fourth quarter.

The Blazers recovered a muffed punt by return specialist Draper Demouchet at Tech’s nine-yard line. One play later the Blazers would find the end zone, and a successful two-point conversion gave Valdosta State a 14-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.

An errant Keller pass was picked off by Stevie Harden, who returned it 33 yards to put the game on ice. Tech’s final drive ended with a failed fourth down conversion attempt as the Blazers went on to win 21-7.

Offensive woes once again plagued the Wonder Boys, managing only 181 yards of total offense, the second time this season they have been held to less than 200 yards of offense.

Tech ranks 144th nationally in turnover margin and 118th in total offense, this just one year after the Wonder Boys led an explosive offense that ranked among the nation’s best.

“We’re not going to make excuses. Valdosta has got a great defense and they played like I thought they would, but offensively, we just didn’t get it done today,” Tech coach Steve Mullins said.

Rico Keller and the Wonder Boys struggled to move the ball on the tenth-ranked Blazers, mustering just

181 yards of offense.