It’s been 343 days — and eight games — without a win for Mississippi Valley State as things have gotten off to a slow start in the Vincent Dancy era.
Dancy and the Delta Devils would love to end this run of futility Saturday in what is considered one of the team’s biggest games each year.
“This is such a big game for us,” said Dancy, who is 1-13 in his brief tenure in Itta Bena. “You want to get those bragging rights for the year, but it would mean so much more than that to our school and program.
“Winning games like this is how you boost your recruiting, and recruiting is where it all starts.”
Valley (0-3) is coming off a 22-6 loss to Bethune-Cookman in what was its worst offensive outing of the season.
Knocking off Alcorn is easier said than done when you are at the bottom of the Southwestern Athletic Conference staring up at Alcorn. The Braves are 2-2 overall, 1-0 in the SWAC after Felix Harper connected with Tim McNair Jr. for a 3-yard touchdown with 40 seconds left to hand Alcorn a thrilling 45-41 victory over Prairie View A&M last weekend. Alcorn State has had great success over the last five years, in part, because it always has top talent at the quarterback position.
In 2016, Lenorris Footman replaced John Gibbs. Footman was in turn succeeded by Noah Johnson, who won the SWAC’s Offensive Player of the Year award in 2018. And, when Johnson was injured against McNeese State two weeks ago, it was Harper who stepped in and stepped up.
Harper got his first start at quarterback and completed 25 of 37 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner to Tim McNair with 40 seconds left, as the Braves won 45-41.
Harper also ran for a touchdown. On Monday he was named the SWAC’s Offensive Player of the Week.
In other SWAC action Saturday, Jackson State has waited two long years for the chance to play against Tennessee State in the Southern Heritage Classic. In 2018, inclement weather kept the two teams from taking the field at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
