It’s been a long time since Mississippi Valley State wasn’t in the cellar of the Southwestern Athletic Conference at the halfway point of the season.
But that’s just where the Delta Devils are after beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff last week. MVSU (1-4) is in third place in the Eastern Division at 1-1, ahead of Jackson State and Alabama State, both 0-2.
“The kids know they are just one game out of first place. They want to do something special, and I certainly want to help them do it,” MVSU head coach Rick Comegy said.
Valley has a chance to win its second straight SWAC contest since the end of the 2012 season Saturday when it visits Alabama A&M (2-4, 2-1).
Against Pine Bluff, Valley fell behind 14-0 in the second quarter to UAPB last week before freshman quarterback Dewayne Betts came off the bench to throw for 272 yards and four touchdowns to lead the comeback as he completed 17-of-27 passes.
“Betts is an athletic guy. He can make folks miss and make plays when things break down around him,” Comegy said. “He showed us a lot of things in the way he played.”
Two of Betts’ touchdowns went to Steven McIntosh, who finished with three catches for 105 yards, including a 60-yard scoring grab in the fourth quarter that sealed the first win of the season for Valley.
Comegy hopes his team can build off last week’s win.
“This is what I’ve been looking for. Our kids won’t quit,” he said. “Other teams in the past might have after going through a rough four games to open the season and then falling behind 14-0, but not these guys.”
The Bulldogs are coming off a 35-14 loss to Southern in which head coach James Spady was extremely disappointed in his team’s play.
“We have to turn the page to get ready for a team that is coming in feeling pretty good about itself,” Spady said. “We’ve got to get focused and not let one turn into two.”
Spady is aware of how good Betts looked last week. He doesn’t plan on letting the 6-foot-2, 205-pound signal caller repeat that four-TD performance.
“We won’t sit back and let him pick us a part. We will be aggressive,” said Spady. “Our first goal is always to stop the run and make a team one dimensional. We will make (Betts) beat us throwing.
“We have to ready to give our best effort on both sides of the ball because this is a big game. Both teams are in good position in the East with a win in this one.”
Valley is a game back of Alcorn State in first place at 2-0, while A&M is a half-game back. Alcorn hosts Prairie View Saturday.
