Despite suffering a 52-3 loss at Texas A&M last week, Prairie View A&M clinched the SWAC West title with Alcorn State’s loss to Jackson State, which faces off against the Panthers (7-3, 6-1 SWAC) in the conference championship game on Dec. 4 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson. With nothing to play for except pride, Prairie View might rest its starters in Saturday’s regular season finale vs. Mississippi Valley State, giving the Delta Devils an opportunity to pull off an upset this week.
MVSU (3-7, 2-5) doesn’t have much to play for either, but Vincent Dancy’s squad also has nothing to lose — and that’s dangerous. The Delta Devils look hungry to cap off their fall campaign with momentum following a 44-31 victory over Alabama State two weeks ago. MVSU has already secured its winningest season since 2012.
The Delta Devils’ offense still runs through sophomore running back Caleb Johnson (71.7 yards per game), but quarterback Jalani Eason is developing strong chemistry with receivers such as Jacory Rankin (68.6 yards per game) and Jarius Clayton (40 yards per game) to help add more dimensions to their attack.
MVSU’s defense will need to focus on Panthers quarterback Jawon Pass, assuming he takes the field Saturday. The senior is averaging 238 yards per game while completing 63% of his passes and totaling 14 passing touchdowns, four rushing touchdowns and seven interceptions for Prairie View, which aims to snap its first losing streak of the season.
Eason, by comparison, has completed 60% of his passes en route to 137 yads per game, eight passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown and three interceptions. The graduate transfer got off to a slow start following offseason surgery, but the 5-foot-10, 180-pound dual threat has turned it on as of late. In last week’s win, Eason only completed 12 of 25 passes, but he threw for a season-high 315 yards and two touchdowns, including the longest completions of the season to Rankin (93 yards) and Clayton (83 yards). The 93-yard pass to Rankin marked the Delta Devils’ longest play from scrimmage in a decade.
MVSU is 1-4 all-time against Prairie View, with the Panthers having won the last four meetings.
- Contact Riley Overend at 662-581-7237 or roverend@gwcommonwealth.com. Follow @OverendOut on Twitter.
