Football | 10/7/2022 11:19:00 AM
ITTA BENA, Miss. - The Mississippi Valley State University football program completes the trifecta with its third and final Mississippi school of the season when the rival Alcorn Braves make the short trip to the Delta for a Green Out.
What You Need to Know:
- Time and Date: Saturday, October 8, 2022 (6 p.m.)
- Records: Mississippi Valley State (0-5, 0-2 SWAC) | Alcorn (2-2, 1-0 SWAC)
- Series History: Alcorn Leads 48-14-1
- Last Meeting: October 16, 2021 | Alcorn 24, Mississippi Valley State 12 | Itta Bena, Mississippi (Rice-Totten Stadium)
- Winning Streak: Alcorn (W8) | Mississippi Valley State's Last Official Win: November 4, 2006 (28-25)
- The Delta Devils defeated the Braves on November 3, 2012 by a score of 33-9, but it was later vacated due to NCAA violations.
- All-Time History vs. SWAC Opponents: SWAC Leads 299-135-9
Mississippi Valley State Overview:
The Green and White have done a good job creating pressure on defense and holding onto the rock on offense, slotting top-35 in the FCS for sacks per game (2.40) ad top-40 for turnovers lost (6) while also ranking in the top-45 for punt return defense (5.85).
Ronnie Thomas is the showstopper of
Javier Gonzalez's defense, racking up the nation's fifth-most tackles for loss (2.3) and sacks (1.40) a contest while leading the team in tackles (30), TFLs (11.5), sacks (7.0), and forced fumbles (1).
Kalib Alexander has provided both of the squad's interceptions to date, being rewarded with a top-45 picks per game average (0.4) in the FCS and fourth-best in the SWAC.
Signal caller
Jamari Jones does not qualify for the SWAC leaderboards just yet, however if he did, he would have the fifth-highest completion percentage (57.1%), sixth-best QB rating (124.8), ninth-most touchdown passes (3), and tenth-best passing yards per game (119.0).
Cobie Bates looks to build upon his career outing last Saturday against the Rattlers, where he pulled down three receptions for 105 yards and an 83-yard touchdown, all career-bests. He became the first MVSU receiver to top the triple-digit mark this year.
Scouting The Alcorn Braves:
Formerly a division rival in the SWAC East, this will be just the second time these two teams face each other since the Braves made the switch in 2020.
Alcorn came out of its challenging non-conference schedule at 1-2, nearly taking down #10 Stephen F. Austin at home (31-27) and getting shutout by Tulane (52-0) before defeating McNeese in Lake Charles (30-19). The Purple and Gold are well-rested off a bye week and easily dispatched Arkansas-Pine Bluff in its conference opener, 38-21.
Under Head Coach Fred McNair, ASU has always played disciplined football with a strong running game and hard-nosed defense with this season being no exception. Alcorn is tenth in the country for sacks at 3.50 per contest, is churning out the 11th-best rushing offense in the FCS with 236.5 yards a game and has committed the 16th-fewest penalties with 20.
Most of the buzz around the SWAC is centered around superstar running back Jarveon Howard with Preseason All-SWAC Second Teamer Niko Duffey as possibly the most talented backup in the country. Howard has been borderline unstoppable this season, racking up 7.82 yards per carry (7th in FCS) for 571 yards (3rd in FCS) and an average of 142.8 rushing yards per game (3rd in FCS) while scoring six touchdowns (16th in FCS).
Defensively, Terreance Ellis and Trevor James do most of the heavy lifting with a combined 51 tackles, ten tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass breakups, and two QB hurries between them.
Alcorn has also been known to have some of the best kickers in the conference over the years as Noah Kiani continues that trend with a top-20 field goal percentage of 83.3% and a top-25 field goals per game rate of 1.25.
Follow the Mississippi Valley State football program on Twitter (
@ValleyStateFB) and Instagram (
@ValleyStateFB).
Follow the Delta Devils and Devilettes on Facebook (
Valley State Athletics), Twitter (
@MVSUDevilSports) and Instagram (
@ValleyStateAthletics).
#GreenOut | #BattleTestedWeReady | #ElevateVState | #ValleyInMotion
