Football | 7/11/2022 1:32:00 PM

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas – Next on this year's countdown of Mississippi Valley State's ten most memorable wins of the 2021-22 athletic calendar is win number seven on the list as football played keep away while churning out over 200 yards on the ground in a stunning road upset of Prairie View A&M, 24-19.
 
The offense had its way with the Panthers defensive front, pushing them around for 389 total yards (207 rushing), good for 6.2 yards per play and 22.8 per completion. The Valley outgained Prairie View (389-296), held a nearly seven minute advantage in time of possession (33:24-26:36), had a plus-two turnover margin (3-1) and three sacks while keeping quarterback Jalani Eason clean.
 
The weather conditions called for a smashmouth throwback style of ballgame and the SWAC's leading rusher was up for the task as Caleb Johnson was given the pigskin on 63% of the team's 63 plays, gashing the Panthers for a career-best 193 and 40 carries with a pair of touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per rush. His epic afternoon gave him 1,004 yards on the ground for the season, best in the league and first MVSU running back since Corey Holmes in 1999 to reach the threshold.
 
While Johnson was the headliner, Eason was the ultimate game-manager, playing mistake-free football with a career-best 221.6 quarterback rating on top of a 67% (8-for-12) completion percentage and a 60-yard touchdown pass.
 
On the receiving end of that strike was Jacory Rankin with his other reception going for 19 yards.
 
The MVSU defense lived in the backfield all day long, racking up three sacks and seven tackles for loss as well as interceptions from Keonte' Daniels and Kenneth Martin plus a fumble forced/recovered by Jalen Bell.
 
Deione Reed did his best Vincent Brown impression, playing inspired football with a career-high 12 tackles and a half-tackle for loss.
 
Jerry Garner saved one of his best games for his last as a Devil, notching a season-high 8 tackles, two for a loss and one of his three sacks on the campaign.
 
Bell paired with Garner to give the PVAMU line fits, registering a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack with the forced fumble that he was able to fall on.
 
Special teams was a challenge as kickers/punters had to navigate a swirling 15 MPH wind and consistent rainfall, but Orlando Fernandez drilled a pivotal 41-yarder with 6:33 remaining in the game to extend the Delta Devils' advantage to 11 points.  
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