Game Notes

ITTA BENA – Mississippi Valley State will return to the comfortable confines of Rice-Totten Stadium on Saturday when the Delta Devils host rival Alcorn State at 1 p.m.

MVSU (2-6, 2-4) is coming off a 10-0 defeat at Arkansas-Pine Bluff while Alcorn State fell 52-37 at Prairie View on Oct. 20.
Touting the nation’s third best defense in the FCS, MVSU coach Karl Morgan said he hopes the other side of the ball can start to have some consistent success like the Delta Devil defense.

“We just have to get better production, better execution on offense,” said Morgan. “….We haven’t played well offensively…There was a change at the offensive coordinator position three or four weeks ago so we’re still trying to rectify the problem.”

One bright spot the Delta Devils did see on offense was the re-emergence of senior running back Brandon Stansell. He reached the 100-yard mark for the first time since Valley’s Oct. 6 game at Southern. He ranks third in the SWAC in rushing yards per game.

Also, MVSU defensive tackle Robert Simpson still ranks first in the FCS in tackles for loss with 16.

Alcorn currently holds a 39-15-1 series lead over the Delta Devils and have won eight of the last 10 matchups. Alcorn defeated Valley 39-14 last year in Lorman.

Morgan hopes the Delta Devils can get over the hump this week, especially over one of its nearby rivals.

“We have an in-state rival coming into town, Alcorn, so that should bring some excitement and anticipation.