Jeremy Anderson
Associate Editor
The Jackson State University Tigers will travel to Itta Bena, Miss., this Saturday to take on the Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State University.
The Tigers will look to attain a .500 winning percentage in Southwestern Athletic Conference play.
Last week, the Tigers defeated the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff 37-3 on Homecoming. It was the largest margin of victory for the Tigers since Sept. 6 of last season when the Tigers defeated Virginia University of Lynchburg 59-0.
Although historically, Jackson State dominates the in-state matchup with a total record of 54-6-2 against MVSU, if recent history repeats itself, Saturday’s game will be a close one. Of the last four meetings between the two teams, JSU has claimed three wins, the combined scores equal out to 80-67 in favor of Jackson State. The average margin of victory of the last four meetings is 5.25, with the largest margin of victory being nine points.
In its two most recent SWAC championship appearances in 2012 and 2013, Jackson State narrowly defeated the Delta Devils en route to Birmingham and Houston.
On Homecoming of 2012, it took double overtime for JSU to outlast Valley. The score going into halftime was 0-0. The Tigers scored once in the third quarter, and Valley responded in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime with a 7-7 score. After neither team scored in the first overtime, quarterback Clayton Moore scored on a one yard touchdown run to take the lead in double overtime, a lead that Jackson State would not give back.
The last time JSU visited the Mississippi Delta, it narrowly escaped with a 26-17 win over a scrappy MVSU team.
MVSU scored the initial points of the contest in the first quarter and took a 7-0 lead before JSU answered with a touchdown of its own. The game was tied 17-17 midway through the fourth quarter before JSU finally pulled away for good.
Last year, MVSU defeated Jackson State on Homecoming. The Tigers led 14-6 going into halftime but gave up 21 second half point to the Delta Devils. Although quarterback La Montiez Ivy had a prolific passing game, and the Tigers outgained the Delta Devils 345-263, penalties hindered JSU from winning as the Tigers amassed 161 yards in penalty yardage.
Last year’s win was the lone SWAC win for MVSU in the 2014 season. Valley has not won a game since.
Extending from last year, MVSU is on a 12 game losing streak, eight of those games are from this year’s season.
MVSU has been getting pummeled all year, losing by an average of 39.75 points per game.
JSU and MVSU only share three common opponents so far this season. Against Southern, JSU lost 50-31 and MVSU lost 50-13. Against Texas Southern, JSU won 34-30 and MVSU lost 49-21. Against Grambling State, JSU lost 59-27 and MVSU lost 49-14.
While Valley looks to end a losing streak, JSU looks to start a winning streak to close out the 2015 season.
The game will be held this Saturday, Oct. 31t, at 4:00 p.m., at Rice-Totten Stadium in Itta Bena, Miss.
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