After falling short 45-35 to Bethune-Cookman two weeks ago on homecoming night, Mississippi Valley State University hosts Alabama A&M on Thursday after a bye week, looking to put its first notch in the win column this year.
Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. at Rice-Totten Stadium.
Injuries in vital areas have plagued the Delta Devils’ lineups in the later games of this year’s season, and the bye week gave head coach Vincent Dancy and his crew time to rest and recuperate in preparation for the final stretch of the 2022 season.
MVSU, so far, has been held winless (0-8 overall) and faces a challenge in the Bulldogs. Alabama A&M is 3-5 overall, with all of its wins coming in SWAC games (3-2 in conference) and is resting at fourth in the SWAC East. The Bulldogs are fresh off a 24-17 loss to in-state foe Alabama State last Saturday and have to contend with Dancy’s Delta Devils on the end of a short week.
While MVSU has yet to achieve a win this season, it is coming off its best offensive performance of the year. The Delta Devils’ 35-point performance against Bethune-Cookman was the most points scored all year, and the most points scored since Valley’s 44-31 win over Alabama State last year.
Quarterback Jamari Jones has led the Delta Devils’ offense. He’s thrown for 795 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions this season, and has ran for 207 yards as well.
Caleb Johnson leads the team in rushing with 473 yards on 123 attempts with two touchdowns. Johnson has also picked up 96 yards receiving for one touchdown.
Jacory Rankin is the leading receiver for Valley. He has 253 yards for four touchdowns, and has been a favorite target for Jones.
Valley faces a quarterback threat in A&M’s Quincy Casey. He threw for 217 yards and one touchdown in the Bulldogs’ loss last week. Getting to the quarterback will be a key for Valley.
-Contact Jared Conerly at 662-581-7237 or jconerly@gwcommonwealth.com
