Mississippi Valley State is off to its worst start in several years, and things won’t get any easier this weekend.
The winless Delta Devils, who have been outscored 216-42 in four games, play at Jacksonville State — no doubt one of the strongest teams in FCS this season. The Jaguars are 3-1 with their only loss coming in overtime at Auburn, and they are ranked No. 1 and No. 3 nationally in the two FCS polls.
Valley is coming off a 45-15 loss to previously winless Alabama State, but MVSU coach Rick Comegy says his team must quickly move past another disappointing performance.
“We can’t lick our wounds for long because Jacksonville State is going to be tough. They gave Auburn everything they could handle,” said Comegy, whose other non-conference game was a season-opening 66-0 loss to FBS foe New Mexico. “What a time to take on a team like this? But it’s on the schedule so we’re going in there and play solid football and see if we can upset them.”
Comegy is hoping Jacksonville State might overlook his team.
“I know they are sitting there thinking, wow, we can take these guys out,” said the second-year Valley coach. “But we are going in there with the mindset of upsetting them.”
The last time the Delta Devils started 0-5 they went on to win just one game in 2011. Valley began the season looking to improve on a 2-9 mark a year ago.
After Jacksonville State, MVSU gets back into Southwestern Athletic Conference play with a road trip to Prairie View before celebrating homecoming Oct. 17 against Texas Southern.
Despite the tough start, Comegy remains upbeat.
“I am not a quitter. I’m not going to give up on this team,” he said. “We’ve got some talented kids, but we have to get them to play faster. We are shrinking the playbook on both sides of the ball so they don’t have to think as much and can just go play.”
Comegy is going with his third different quarterback on Saturday, going with Ruban Thurston Jr. in favor of Dontrinell Scott and Quantavius Peterson.
“Jacksonville State will certainly be a tough spot for him, but I believe he has the moxey for it,” Comegy said.
“He has thrown the ball well when he has played, and he has moved the ball for us.”
Valley ranks last in the Southwestern Athletic Conference in scoring offense, total offense, rushing offense and passing offense.
Thurston, a 6-foot, 190-pound sophomore from Memphis, has completed 21 of 45 passes for a team-high 256 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
