Former Indian eyes national title this weekend in Alabama
Adam Gore/LetsGoICC.com

Former Itawamba Community College defensive back Ashton Ballard (Atlanta, GA) will look to help Valdosta State win its third Division II national championship in football this weekend when they take on Winston-Salem State at Braley Municipal Stadium in Florence, Alabama.

"We are extremely proud for Ashton," said ICC head football coach Jon Williams. "He was a guy that came in and worked extremely hard both on and off the field to be able to get this opportunity. I know the coaches at Valdosta are extremely pleased to have a player like him as part of their program."

Winston-Salem defeated former ICC standout LeBrandon Mosley (Hattiesburg) and West Texas A&M to advance to Saturday's championship game after Valdosta knocked off previously unbeaten Minnesota State-Mankato.

Ballard looks to follow in the footsteps of another former Indian and fellow Georgia native Fred Ridley.

Ridley, a former nose guard from Perry, GA, was part of the Blazers' 2004 squad that won the program's first-ever national title with a 36-31 victory over the Pittsburg State Gorillas.

"We have a proud history of our student-athletes finding success of the next level and even after their athletic career is over," said Williams. "It ICC's dedication to helping our student-athletes be successful in the classroom as well as the sport they play that gives them the edge when it comes to continuing to shine in their athletic careers."

Valdosta would later win the 2007 title 25-20 over Northwest Missouri State after dropping the 2002 championship game 31-24 to Grand Valley State.

Saturday's championship game can be seen at noon on ESPN2.