HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The Mississippi Valley State University football program had a productive first quarter but were unable to overcome a second quarter offensive explosion by Alabama A&M as it fell by a score of 42-14.

The Basics
 

• Final Score: Alabama A&M 42 | Mississippi Valley State 14

 

• Records: Mississippi Valley State (2-7, 1-5 SWAC) | Alabama A&M (5-3, 3-3 SWAC)

 

• Location: Huntsville, Alabama – Louis Crews Stadium

 
How It Happened

1st Quarter
 

•  MVSU opened the game with a three-and-out and Alabama A&M immediately capitalized, driving five plays over 73 yards in less than two-and-a-half minutes to stake an early lead (7-0, AAMU).

 

• The Green and White showed resolve by answering the Bulldogs score with one of its own, methodically marching 75 yards while chewing up nearly five minutes of action which was capped off with a Jalani Eason nine-yard keeper for a Delta Devils touchdown (7-7, Tied).

 

• A long kickoff return by AAMU put The Valley in a bind, but the opportunistic defense bailed out the coverage team as Keonte' Daniels stripped the ball loose while William Morgan fell on the pigskin to halt the threat.

 

• The ensuing MVSU drive saw the offense reach the home 33-yard line however, a costly holding penalty pushed them out of field goal range.

 
2nd Quarter
 

• Specialist Orlando Fernandez made the best of the situation to kick off the second frame, perfectly landing a booming 55-yard punt at the one-yard line to pin the potent Bulldogs.

 

• Unfortunately for the visitors from Itta Bena, potential 2022 April draftee Aqeel Glass was in the opposing huddle as he orchestrated a 13-play, 99-yard drive to put Alabama A&M in front with 9:47 left in the first half (14-7, AAMU).

 

• The Delta Devils offense went straight back to work on the ensuing possession, setting up a first-and-goal from the A&M 6. Eason chucked a pass into the flat to Cobie Bates who got to the one-yard line and reached for the goal line only to met by a Bulldog defender who jarred the ball free, and Alabama A&M recovered for a touchback.

 

• Each unit got two more drives to conclude the first half whereas MVSU stalled, AAMU punched it into the end zone twice to extend its advantage to 21 points heading into the halftime locker rooms (28-7, AAMU).

3rd Quarter
 

• The Bulldogs received the kickoff to begin the second half and Valley seemed to have them cornered inside the ten after a holding call on the return.

 

• The opposite occurred as Alabama A&M put the game out of reach during a 11-play, 93-yard drive to go up four scores (35-7, AAMU).

 
4th Quarter
 

• After the Maroon and White scored on its first possession of the fourth, Mississippi Valley went down and produced a touchdown via a seven-yard strike from Conor Regan to Jacory Rankin on 4th-and-3 to show its grit and toughness despite the score (42-14, AAMU).

 

• Valley's defense clamped down and forced a turnover courtesy of an interception by Morgan, who returned it 28 yards to the MVSU 33.

 

• The offense put together one last ditch effort to cut into the Alabama A&M edge, making its way down to the A&M 7 with one second left. A corner fade went long on the final play of the ballgame and the final score remained the same (42-14, AAMU).
   

Mississippi Valley State Top Performers
 

• Conor Regan came on in relief of Jalani Eason, completing 10-of-17 passes for 111 yards and a score in addition to 17 yards on the ground.

 

• Eason was behind center for the majority of the first half, totaling 142 yards (106 passing, 36 rushing) while hitting paydirt on a designed quarterback run.

 

• Caleb Johnson was the game's leading rusher, rumbling for 84 yards at a clip of 4.2 per carry on top of 16 receiving yards.

 

• Jacory Rankin was the signal-callers' top target on the afternoon, hauling in eight receptions for 82 yards and the aforementioned touchdown.

 

• Donald Johnson only had three catches but gained a bunch of YAC in the process, averaging 15.7 yards per completion.

 

• William Morgan had a nose for the football against the Bulldogs, being involved in both turnovers the Valley defense produced as he took a pick back 28 yards and registered a fumble recovery as well.

 

• Keonte' Daniels was the cause of the fumble that Morgan picked up, leading the Delta Devils with seven tackles, and adding a pass breakup in coverage.

 

• Four separate MVSU defenders logged tackles for loss; Markell Gladney, Antoine Howard, Kalib Alexander, and Terran Williams.

 

• Orlando Fernandez was a very busy man on Saturday, recording five punts for 225 yards (45.0 average) and three downed inside the 20, launched three kickoffs with one going for a touchback, and was a perfect two-for-two on PATs.

 

• Tyler Beckworth was probably not expecting to be the leading kickoff returner when the day started but that's exactly what he became, consistently turning pooch kicks into yardage with four returns for 42 yards.

 
Notes
 

• The rushing attack outgained the Bulldogs by the slimmest of margins, gaining 173 yards to eke out the edge by one (172).

 

• Valley also won the time of possession battle, holding the ball for 31 minutes and 42 seconds opposed to Alabama A&M's 28 minutes and 18 seconds.

 

• An underrated plus that might fly under the radar despite the score is that MVSU was a perfect 3-of-3 on fourth down attempts and converted nearly 50% of its third down tries (6-for-14, 42.9%).

Coach Dancy and the Delta Devils will hope to give the seniors a proper sendoff next Saturday at 1 p.m. when the Alabama State Hornets come to The Delta for Senior Day.
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