Four field goals kept Mississippi Valley State within striking range against Alcorn State on Saturday, but the Delta Devils never got the big play they needed in a 24-12 loss to their in-state rivals at Rice-Totten Stadium.
The end zone proved elusive all afternoon for MVSU (2-4, 1-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference), which entered the matchup searching for its first three-game winning streak since 2006.
The Braves (4-2, 3-0) jumped out to an early 14-3 lead thanks to a pair of touchdowns by quarterback Felix Harper, one through the air and one on the ground. But late in the second quarter, Alcorn State gifted the Delta Devils prime field position at the edge of the red zone when a botched punt attempt resulted in a turnover on downs. With eight seconds left before halftime, kicker Orlando Fernandez capitalized on the error and sent a 40-yard field goal through the uprights to cut MVSU's deficit to 14-6.
The Braves struck first in the second half on a 24-yard field goal, but the Delta Devils responded with a 50-yard field goal by Fernandez to keep it a one-possession game heading into the fourth quarter.
Sophomore running back Caleb Johnson stepped up down the stretch, rushing for 42 yards on MVSU's opening drive of the fourth quarter to put his team in field goal range. Fernandez drilled his fourth field goal of the day from 35 yards out to trim the Delta Devils' deficit to just 17-12 with just under 12 minutes left. Johnson, a preseason All-SWAC Second Team selection, finished with 123 yards on 22 carries, giving him 526 yards through six games this fall.
MVSU's defense forced a three-and-out on the next series, and the resulting punt gave the Delta Devils a chance to take a late lead against an Alcorn State squad considered by many to be the second-best in the SWAC. But MVSU's offense lost steam when it mattered most. Johnson was twice stopped at the line of scrimmage and quarterback Jalani Eason threw an incompletion as the Delta Devils punted back to the Braves with eight minutes remaining. Eason went 8-of-24 passing for just 70 yards while adding six yards rushing and taking two sacks.
MVSU's defense nearly forced another punt, but Harper escaped pressure on third and 5 en route to a crucial first down for Alcorn State. A few plays later, running back Niko Duffey (138 yards) sealed the Braves' victory with a 16-yard touchdown run.
The Delta Devils quickly turned the ball over on their final possession before Alcorn State ran the clock out on the 24-12 win.
Four MVSU players finished with double-digit tackles in the defeat, led by Jayren Fox with 14. Markell Gladney had 12 stops while Volme Swanier and Jeremiah Caine had 10 apiece.
- Contact Riley Overend at roverend@gwcommonwealth.com // Follow @OverendOut on Twitter
