Football | 9/16/2022 2:25:00 PM
ITTA BENA, Miss. - The Mississippi Valley State University football program is encouraging all fans to #RedOutRiceTotten on Saturday evening as the Delta Devils renew its rivalry with Delta State University in a Delta Classic home opener.
Valley State is 13-20 (.394) all-time in recorded home openers.
What You Need to Know:
- Time and Date: Saturday, September 17, 2022 (6 p.m.)
- Records: Mississippi Valley State (0-2, 0-0 SWAC) | Delta State (2-0, 0-0 Gulf South)
- Location: Itta Bena, Mississippi – Rice-Totten Stadium at Chuck Prophet Field
- Series History: Delta State Leads 4-1
- Last Meeting: September 7, 2013 | Delta State 24, Mississippi Valley State 14 | Itta Bena, Mississippi (Rice-Totten Stadium)
- Winning Streak: Delta State (W2) | Mississippi Valley State's Last Win: September 14, 2002 (28-26)
- All-Time History vs. Gulf South Opponents: Gulf South Leads 4-1
Mississippi Valley State Overview:
Mississippi Valley plays host to the Statesmen for the first time in nearly a decade and will look to halt a two-game slide to open the campaign.
The Devils offensive and defensive lines have consistently won in the trenches, ranking top-35 in the FCS for sacks allowed (1.50) while
Ronnie Thomas,
Jalen Bell and the rest of the rushers have averaged six tackles for loss per game (top-45 in FCS) and three sacks a night (20th in FCS).
Thomas and Bell have given opposing coordinators nightmares this season, slotting ninth and 18th in the country, respectively, in sacks per contest as Thomas has taken down three quarterbacks (1.5 per game) while Bell has swallowed up two signal callers (1.0 per game).
Orlando Fernandez continues to improve upon his reputation as one of the best punters in the NCAA, placing sixth among all FCS players in average yards per boot, sending the pigskin just over 45 yards on via his rocket launcher of a leg.
Scouting The Delta State Statesmen:
Delta State University, of the NCAA Division II's Gulf South Conference, have made light work of its first two adversaries on the road, dispatching fellow HBCU Kentucky State with ease (33-10) before smoking McKendree by 24, 58-34.
The Fighting Okra have been an evenly balanced offensive attack with 470 yards through the air and 410 on the ground, putting up 45 points per game to rank tenth in Division II.
DSU operates primarily through a two-quarterback system with Patrick Shegog completing more passes (12), throwing for more yards (296), and tossing two touchdowns while Cole Kirk has attempted four more passes (23).
Running back Kory Gainwell has had a nose for the end zone, punching it in five times already in a pair of wins, best in the country.
Manning the defense is the Gulf South's leading tackler, Ty Goldsmith, who is averaging eight tackles (seven solos) and Davontre Henderson playing the role of bully with a conference-best 1.8 tackles for loss average plus the third-highest sack per contest rate (1.00).
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).
#RedOutRiceTotten | #ElevateVState | #ValleyInMotion | #BattleTestedWeReady
