THE DELTA | Mississippi Valley State football returns to Rice-Totten Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19, looking to build on its first victory of the season when the Delta Devils host Delta State in the Delta Classic powered by CB&S Bank. Kickoff for the home opener is set for 6 p.m., with live coverage on SWAC TV.

The Delta Devils enter at 1-2 after defeating Lincoln (PA), 31-20, in the Chicago Football Classic at Soldier Field. Saturday's game will feature a "White Out," with fans encouraged to wear white as Valley takes the field at home for the first time this season.

Quarterback Josh Brown leads the offense with 306 passing yards and three touchdowns through three games, completing 31 of 53 attempts. Brown also tops the team in rushing with 125 yards on 21 carries, averaging 6.0 yards per attempt and giving Valley a threat through the air and on the ground.

Dayvian Bluitt has provided the biggest gains in the passing game, leading MVSU with 143 receiving yards on four catches. He averages 35.8 yards per reception, has scored one touchdown and owns a season-long catch of 79 yards. Jaylen King leads the Delta Devils with 12 receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown, while Nicholas Buggs has five catches for 92 yards and a score.

Dezmond Ray and Norman Taylor complement Brown in the running game. Ray has gained 100 yards on 22 carries, averaging 4.5 yards per attempt, while Taylor has added 86 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. As a team, Valley averages 133.3 rushing yards per game.

Defensively, Douglas Franklin and Malek Jackson share the team lead with 15 tackles apiece. Franklin has also registered 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Joel Queisser follows with 14 tackles, including one stop behind the line of scrimmage.

Javieane Stevens leads MVSU with two sacks and is tied with Franklin for the team lead with 3.5 tackles for loss. Jamari Stokes has contributed 11 tackles, an interception and two pass breakups, while Tyrell Johnson has supplied a defensive touchdown on a 95-yard interception return. Valley has totaled 17 tackles for loss, five sacks and three interceptions through its first three games.

Delta State enters at 0-3 following a 59-10 loss at Central Missouri. Quarterback Emile Picarella III has thrown for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Jekerious Williams leads the Statesmen with 99 receiving yards on four catches, including a touchdown, while Lawrence Armstrong has three receptions for 69 yards and a score. Both receivers average more than 20 yards per catch, giving Valley's secondary a reason to guard against explosive plays.

For the Delta Devils, sustaining drives and protecting the football will be central to building on last week's 31-point performance. Creating pressure on Delta State's quarterbacks and limiting long completions could give Valley more opportunities to control the game at home.

A victory would give the Delta Devils consecutive wins and a 2-2 record heading into their Southwestern Athletic Conference opener at Alabama State on Saturday, Sept. 26, at 5 p.m.

📍Mississippi Valley State vs. Delta State
📅 Saturday, Sept. 19
⏰ 6:00 PM
⚪ WHITE OUT — Wear White!
Live Stats: https://mvsusports.com/sidearmstats/football/summary
Watch: https://tv.swac.org/

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