Rick Comegy has his best poker face going this week.
The first-year Mississippi Valley State coach will face his former team, Jackson State, Saturday in Jackson for homecoming in front of what’s expected to be JSU’s biggest home crowd this season.
Comegy was fired at Jackson State last December after eight seasons. He coached the Tigers to back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference championship appearances, losing both in overtime.
You know this is a special game for Comegy, but he’s not showing it.
“Right now, there are no real emotions about returning. That will probably change the night before the game or on the bus ride down there Saturday,” Comegy said. “I am just focused on getting our guys better and giving them a chance to get the greatest win in the world.”
It would sure be a big win for the Delta Devils, who are trying to snap a four-game losing skid, and an even bigger win for the Valley fan base, which is starved for success against the instate rival Tigers — winners of 19 straight vs. MVSU.
J-State coach Harold Jackson has also been downplaying Comegy’s return, but that’s not to say it’s not an extremely important game to him.
“Whatever it takes, you don’t want to lose homecoming,” he said. “I have never lost a homecoming game. I am not going to start now.”
Saturday’s homecoming game between JSU (3-3, 1-2 SWAC) and MVSU (1-5, 0-4 SWAC) has other storylines besides Comegy’s return.
The sibling showdown is also big news.
Valley quarterback Patrick Ivy is the older brother of JSU signal-caller LaMontiez Ivy.
It’d be the first time in their collegiate careers the brothers have faced each other. Neither played in last year’s meeting because of injuries.
The Delta Devils have used five different quarterbacks, with Patrick Ivy playing in all six games. Patrick has started three of the six games including the teams only win in the season opener against the University of Faith.
He has gotten off to a slow start, completing just 46 percent of his passes for 489 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions.
LaMontiez Ivy is the reason the Tigers rank first in the SWAC in passing and second in passing efficiency. He’s first in the league in total offense with 258 yards per game and first in passing with 234 yards a contest.
He has completed 113 of 186 passes for 1,407 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
“I am pleased with his progress at quarterback,” said the JSU coach. “He’s going to be a really good one. It’s just taking him a little time to get there.”
The brothers, who grew up in Centerville, Illinois, right outside of East St. Louis, always wanted to play against each other.
“It’s a semi-reason for me signing with Valley,” said the elder Ivy.
Comegy may be the only coach who has ever coached two brothers at the same position at two different schools in consecutive seasons.
When asked to compare them, Comegy said, “When they are hot, they are hot, and when they are cold, they are cold.”
The younger Ivy will face a Valley defense that ranks last in the SWAC, giving up 38.3 points per game, but is second in pass defense, allowing just 167 yards a game through the air.
The Delta Devil defense is coming of its best outing by far this season, holding Texas Southern to 270 total yards in last week’s 20-16 loss in Houston.
“We are getting better at tackling and understanding our defensive concepts,” Comegy said.
This might be the perfect time for Valley to finally beat the Tigers because they’re limping into Saturday’s game after losing three of their last four — two of those against teams that were previously winless in Grambling State and Prairie View.
This time, in a second-half stumble, JSU allowed Prairie View A&M to comeback, falling 48-30 Saturday at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
