Game Notes
Karl Morgan Video Press Conference

ITTA BENA – The day that Mississippi Valley State fans await every year is almost here.

Mississippi Valley State (2-4, 2-2 SWAC) will travel to face rival Jackson State on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium. The game will be shown live on SWAC-TV on www.swac.org.

The Tigers (3-4, 3-2 SWAC) are coming off a victory at Alabama State in which they won on a game-winning field goal. Meanwhile, the Delta Devils will be back on the field after putting up its largest offensive output under head coach Karl Morgan.

MVSU’s offense churned out 406 yards and SWAC Offensive Player of the Week Julian Stafford returned an 88-yard kickoff return for a score last Saturday in a 45-21 win against Grambling State.

Last week’s results coupled with the memories of last year’s narrow loss – MVSU fell 17-16 in Itta Bena – gives the Delta Devils some added confidence against a team they’ve beaten just four times in the 58 matchups.

“There’s a certain level of confidence when you’ve played well against a team the previous year,” said Morgan. “And I think that will hopefully be something that will bode well for us.”

Last week against Grambling State, MVSU’s two-quarterback system of Garrick Jones and Marcus Randle proved deadly. Jones rushed for two second quarter scores of 70 and 43 yards while Randle threw three second half touchdowns – a pair of those to Stafford, who finished with 162 receiving yards.

Randle’s resurgence under center helps the Delta Devils heading into Saturday’s showdown, said Morgan.

“He did a good job for us (last) Saturday,” he said. “I think with that added confidence it’s going to help him and its going to help us.”