For Mississippi Valley State’s first conference game, it was not enough to draw undefeated Alabama State. The Delta Devils also faced the prospect of playing in front of 45,000 football fans in Soldier Field in Chicago, hundreds of miles away from home, w
For Mississippi Valley State’s first conference game, it was not enough to draw undefeated Alabama State. The Delta Devils also faced the prospect of playing in front of 45,000 football fans in Soldier Field in Chicago, hundreds of miles away from home, with all the fanfare of the 12th Annual Chicago Classic.
But for head coach Willie Totten’s Delta Devils, the fanfare, the travel and the crowd were no problem. As it turned out, the Hornets of Alabama State were pushed aside as well, as the Delta Devils eked out a 10-3 victory, surviving a last second hail Mary pass that was dropped in the corner of the end zone.
The win was the first of the season for the Delta Devils, who scored on a 19-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 44-yard touchdown pass from game Most Valuable Player Paul Roberts to wide receiver Paul Cox, Jr. in the second quarter. In between, Alabama State’s Jake King kicked a 33-yard field goal.
The hard-fought game featured hard hitting some spirited running from Alabama State running back Rahmod Traylor, who picked up 91 yards on 14 carries, but the Hornets didn’t keep putting the ball in his hands. The Hornets outgained the Devils 363 total yards to 236, and held the Devils to only 26 yards on the ground on 25 carries, while gaining 145.
Devils quarterback Paul Roberts passed for 210 yards and one touchdown on 20 of 34 passing, completing passes to six different receivers. Hornets quarterback Chris Mitchell passed for 218 yards on 18 of 32 passing with one interception, also hitting six receivers.
Neither team scored in the second half, as Alabama State squandered opportunities to tie or take the lead. The Hornets were at the Devils’ 17- yard line with first a first down. A9- yard completion from QB Chris Mitchell to receiver Nicholas Andrews (his fifth catch of the day) took them to the eight-yard line, and every Mississippi Valley supporter in the stadium was hushed. But Mitchell was sacked on the next play, bringing up fourth and three. The Hornets then had not one, but two delay of game penalties, pushing them back to the 20-yard line. Mitchell then scrambled left and lofted the pass to receiver Robert Childers in the end zone right in front of the Alabama State band. The ball bounced off his chest and fell harmlessly to the turf, causing an eruption from the Mississippi Valley players.
The Hornets came into the game with three wins to open the season, over Concordia College, Savannah State College and Edward Waters College. But they had not encountered a team with the speed and size of the Devils, and they certainly had not come up against a team with a Southwestern Athletic Conference foe.
The Devils came into the game seeking their first win, having lost to Arkansas State and University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. They next face Texas College in their homecoming game before going back into SWAC conference play against Prairie View.
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