WHO: MVSU at Arkansas-Pine Bluff
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 1 (2:30 p.m.)
WHERE: Pine Bluff, Ark. (Golden Lion Stadium)
Live Radio: WVSD 91.7 FM
Click here to watch Comegy's weekly press conference
 
ITTA BENA, Miss. – After a week off, the Mississippi Valley State football team is back to work as they prepare to travel on Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday.
 
The Golden Lions and Delta Devils will meet at 2:30 p.m. in Pine Bluff, Ark. with kickoff slated for 2:30 p.m. In store for Valley will be a UAPB team is coming off a 38-37 victory at Texas Southern last week, ending a four-game losing streak.
 
MVSU (2-6, 1-5 SWAC), on the other hand, hopes to rebound following a loss to Prairie View on Oct. 18.
 
Valley head coach Rick Comegy expects the Golden Lions (2-5, 1-4 SWAC) to come out punching Saturday, led by SWAC Preseason Player of the Year Benjamin Anderson. UAPB has scored at least 30 points in each of its last four games.
 
"They're a good football team, they score a lot of points," said Comegy. "They've given up a lot of defense but they're doing a lot on offense so we have to find a way to keep that explosive offense off the field."
 
Comey expects last week's time off to be a positive tool in preparing for the Golden Lions.
 
"I thought it was a great bye week," he said. "The old saying we used to use a long time ago 'use rest as a weapon.' And that's what we did. We wanted to rest them down so when we come out for the next game we'll be fresh and ready to go…..We really believe that we can go into the next few games and really show out the way we want to. But it's a matter of how we come off this bye week and how we're playing…but our plan is to polish it up and make it look real good this week."
 
While UAPB's offense has been clicking lately, it's defense has suffered throughout the entire season. The Golden Lions have given up at least 30 points in each of its games this year against Division-I opponents, including a 65-0 loss to Texas State to begin the season and a 42-7 route at Alabama State. UAPB also lost to Grambling State on Oct. 18 63-39 and fell on the road at Southern University the week prior, 51-36.
 
With a scaled-down version of the offense, Comegy expects his players to perform up their potential on Saturday at UAPB.
 
"We cut down on some of our packages; we're going to make it basic," said Comegy. "I think we play better when we're basic. Sometimes you can over scheme and do too much. We don't want to do too much. We want to make them play fast, and we're not playing as fast because I think we're thinking too much right now."
 
One part of the Delta Devils offense that has been working, however, is the connection to wide receiver Julian Stafford. The senior standout is second in the SWAC in receptions (44) and first in receiving yards (706). Nationally, the Memphis native is slotted 14^th in receiving yards in the FCS.  
But as for who will be throwing Stafford the ball on Saturday, that decision is still up in the air.
 
"Right now, I think it's going to be a toss-up between Patrick Ivy and Quantavius Peterson," said Comegy, "depending on how this week goes and who's learning more and who's got the grasp on the game plan. They both are sharp. Seems like our second half quarterback comes in and seems to give us that spurt more than our starter. But I'm hoping that we can get one guy to come in and play throughout the whole game and give us what we need. But it hasn't happened yet…..But those two have a good combination."