ITTA BENA, Miss. – Mississippi Valley State entered Nissan Stadium in Nashville 31 and a half point underdogs at the start of Saturday's (Aug. 31) contest with Tennessee State. They finished 20 yards shy of an upset win, and impressed in the 26-20 loss to the Tigers. 

For the Delta Devils, the result marks their most competitive finish in a season opener since the 2014 season, when they earned a 32-7 win over Faith University of Florida. 

THE STATS

Forced to throw the ball later in the game, Dejerric Bryant (Mize, MIss.) went 27-for-52 for 205 yards and a touchdown pass. Sedevyn Gray (Puckett, Miss.) led receivers with nine catches for 62 yards, and John'Derrick Smith (Greenwood, Miss.) added six receptions for 60 yards and 29 yards on the ground. Jarius Clayton (Kemper, Miss.) added 119 all purpose yards split between returns and catches. 

On defense, Tracy Thompkins (Coral City, Fla.) led the way with 12 tackles, and Jamenta Shaw (Greenville, Miss.) added eight tackles and a forced fumble. Jerry Garner (Chunchula, Ala.) registered seven tackles, and Jonathan Jones (De Kalb, Miss.) enjoyed a solid all-around performance with five tackles and three broken up passes, including one that disrupted a touchdown catch. 

For Tennessee State, receiver Chris Rowland caught 11 balls for 172 yards and added another 63 all purpose. Jashuan Bryant led the way with nine tackles for the Tigers. 

THE GAME FLOW

The first quarter was a defensive battle in which both teams had a tough time moving the ball. It was a punt return by the Tigers' Rowland that broke through the stalemate first. A three play scoring drive for TSU ended the first frame, capped off by an eight yard run from Cameron Rosendahl. 

Valley produced several stops in the second frame, including one that was aided by a major TSU penalty that wiped off a touchdown and was swapped for a missed field goal. Keonte' Daniels (Noxapater, Miss.) returned one fumble for a score, but it was called back when the pass was ruled incomplete. At the 2:17 mark, he got a second chance when the stripped Shawn McColley, picked it up and ran it back again. The Tigers successfully blocked the extra point, then drove down the field for a field goal to end the half. 

Clayton returned the opening kick of the second half to the Tigers' 40 yard line and benefited from a 15 yard horse collar penalty. That set up Bryant's first touchdown pass of the season - a two yard strike to Wilson for Valley's first lead of the game. 

The Tigers made an immediate response, marching down the field in a minute and five seconds for a score, capped off by a 53 yard reception by Rowland. A four minute long, nine play drive by TSU increased the lead to 20-13 with 4:39 in the 3rd. 

Early in the fourth, a 44 yard kick from TSU's Antonio Zita made it a two score game. But Valley proved this game wouldn't be won so easily as Bryant and crew engineered an 11 play, 75 yard score, with the quarterback scooting in a four yard scramble. A crucial defensive stop only conceded a Tiger field goal, which gave the Delta Devils a chance to win. 

Bryant acted swift with strikes to Smith and Clayton. Four completions later, Valley stood at the Tigers' 24 with just over a minute to play. But it was the Tiger defense that saved the day with two stops and the drive stalled with a turnover on downs that sealed the ballgame. 

NEXT GAME 

Valley will travel to Beaumont, Texas next Saturday (Sept. 7) for a 6 p.m. kickoff against Lamar.