HOUSTON – The Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State University were denied a second consecutive win Saturday as they fell to 42-14 at Texas Southern.
 
In a game that was closer than the score indicated, the visiting Delta Devils fought hard and twice pulled to within two touchdowns of tying the game. A pair of touchdowns late in the fourth quarter gave TSU its final margin of victory.
 
Mississippi Valley State's Dejerric Bryant and Booker Chambers led the Delta Devils' offense Saturday. Quarterback Bryant, the Southwestern Athletic Conference's reigning Offensive Player of the Week, threw for 140 yards while completing 15 out of his 27 pass attempts. He also rushed for 39 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts.
 
Chambers, meanwhile, rushed four times for 28 yards, and also led Valley receivers with seven catches for 78 yards. A 24-yard touchdown throw from Bryant to Chambers cut TSU's lead to 28-14 with 13:15 left to play in the game.
 
Tracy Thompkins led the Valley defense with eight tackles, including two for loss that totaled 11 yards. Aubrey Powell had the Delta Devils' lone sack, which took 16 yards away from TSU.
 
John Derrick Smith caught three passes for the Delta Devils totaling 32 yards. Morgan Sims also had three receptions for Valley, for a total of 12 yards.
 
The loss dropped Mississippi Valley State (1-6) to 1-3 in SWAC play. Texas Southern (2-7) improved to 1-3 in conference play.
 
The Delta Devils return to action next Saturday when they visit defending SWAC champion Grambling State. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.