After winning at Alabama A&M last week, Mississippi Valley State has the full attention of instate rival Jackson State.
“When you go up there and you come out with a win against them (Alabama A&M), it shows the talent that Valley has,” JSU head coach Rick Comegy said. “They come out each year and get stronger and better.”
Valley started the season 0-4 before whipping the Bulldogs 28-9 last Saturday as the Delta Devil defense forced six turnovers, including five interceptions. It was just Valley’s second win over A&M in the last 18 games.
Fourth-year MVSU head coach Karl Morgan hopes his team can build some momentum off that first win heading into Saturday’s rivalry game against J-State.
“A win on the road against a team that we haven’t had much luck against was huge for us. It gives everyone some confidence and motivation going into what is a big game for both sides,” said Morgan, whose team is 1-4, 1-2 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
If Comegy needs more ammunition to keep his from looking past Valley, he can point to last year’s struggle to beat the Delta Devils, a 14-7 double overtime victory in Jackson, or a hard-fought 17-16 win over MVSU in 2011.
The Tigers come in at 4-2, 4-0 in the SWAC’s Eastern Division after beating Arkansas-Pine Bluff 42-33 last Saturday.
“It was a good game, and we’re hoping to go down to Mississippi Valley, and we’re hoping to steal one and get on out of there,” Comegy said. “I know their coach is going to have them ready. They’ve got to be fired up after beating A&M.”
JSU has owned the series with the Delta Devils, leading 54-4-2. If Valley is going to knock off the rival Tigers for the first time since 1994, it will have to stop J-State’s vaunted rushing attack, led by tailback Tommy Gooden and quarterback Clayton Moore.
Gooden, who ran for a career-high 214 yards and four touchdowns on 20 carries against Pine Bluff, ranks third in the SWAC with 89 yards per game, while Moore is seventh with 62 yards a contest.
“They are going to line up and run right at you with a traditional two-back set, which is so different from the pass-happy attack that they have used in the past,” Morgan said. “Defensively, we’ve got to be physical up front. We have our work cut out for us.”
The MVSU defense ranks second in the SWAC in points allowed and 33rd in FCS.
That unit is led by linebacker Brandon Powe, the team’s leading tackler with 40, including five tackles for loss and two sacks. He ranks third in the SWAC in total tackles.
Another Valley defender who made a name for himself last week was Greenwood’s Terrance Hudson, who was tabbed the SWAC’s Defensive Player of the Week.
The Greenwood High School product moved from receiver to safety during his team’s bye week and came up big at A&M in his first action in the secondary, recording six tackles and two interceptions.
“The thing that he brings to the defensive side is that he’s one of our most aggressive defenders,” Morgan said. “He doesn’t mind contact. I thought he had a good game in his first start on defense.”
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
Follow on Twitter:@Bill_Burrus.
