ITTA BENA, Miss. – The Mississippi Valley State University football program spotted the Statesmen an 18-0 lead at the break before storming back in the second half but it was too little too late, falling 28-17.

The Basics
 

• Score: Delta State 28 | Mississippi Valley State 17

 

• Records: Mississippi Valley State (0-3, 0-0 SWAC) | Delta State (3-0, 0-0 Gulf South)

 

• Location: Itta Bena, Mississippi – Rice-Totten Stadium at Chuck Prophet Field

 

• Series History: Delta State Leads 5-1

 

• Winning Streak: Delta State (W3) | Mississippi Valley State's Last Win: September 14, 2002 (28-26)

 

• All-Time History vs. Gulf South Opponents: Gulf South Leads 5-1

Mississippi Valley State Top Performers
 

• Ronnie Thomas is forcing his way into the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year conversation early, exploding for another monster outing of 12 tackles (doubled his previous career-best / game-high), 4.0 tackles for loss (career-high), his second straight multi-sack contest (2.0), and his first quarterback hurry of 2022.

 

• The number one JUCO quarterback prospect and HBCU Sports Preseason SWAC Newcomer of the Year, Jamari Jones, made his long-awaited debut, providing a jolt of life to a stagnant offensive attack. The East Mississippi CC transfer extended plays with his legs, amassed 221 total yards (182 passing, 39 rushing), threw a touchdown pass to Sylvester Campbell, and completed 68% of his throws (17-of-25).

 

• Donald Johnson III had two of the longest plays from scrimmage in the ballgame with a 60-yard kickoff return plus a 37-yard reception that led to a Delta Devils touchdown.

 

• Kenneth Martin notched his first career sack, taking down four ballcarriers and swatting away his first pass breakup of the year.

 

• Orlando Fernandez made his first field goal of the season from 23 yards out, forced a touchback on a kickoff, downed a punt inside the DSU five, and connected on both his PAT tries.

 

• Jacory Rankin was Jones' favorite target on the evening, hauling in a game-high seven receptions for a team-high 73 yards including the longest play from scrimmage by Valley, a 42-yard connection.

 

• Caleb Johnson found paydirt for the second time in three games, rushing for a game-best 79 yards with a score while averaging over four-and-a-half yards per carry. He also tacked on a career-high four catches over 33 yards through the air as a reliable checkdown option.

 

• Kalib Alexander cashed in the team's first turnover of the campaign, stonewalling a Delta State red zone attempt with an interception, which he returned ten yards, to go along with a half-tackle for loss.

 

• Cedrick Moffett II had a pair of broken up passes and five tackles plus Abdural Lee continues to be an impact player with six tackles (five solo).

 
Notes
 

• Valley State put itself in great field position both times it was able to return a Delta State kickoff, averaging 41.5 yards per return.

 

• The football program drops to 13-21 (.382) in recorded home openers over its 69 seasons.

 
SWACtion gets underway on Saturday as the Devils invade the state capital for a 1 p.m. date with the Jackson State Tigers.
 
Follow the Mississippi Valley State football program on Twitter (@ValleyStateFB) and Instagram (@ValleyStateFB).
 
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