Jackson State 29, Mississippi Valley State 27

October 25, 2008

JACKSON, Miss. - A Donavan Robinson sack of Mississippi Valley State's Paul Roberts saved Jackson State's homecoming from an unhappy ending.

The Tigers (4-4, 3-1 SWAC) found themselves in a dog fight with the Delta Devils (2-5, 0-3) from the opening kickoff. Mississippi Valley State didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard. Chris Watkins capped an eight play, 76 yard drive with a six yard touchdown run at the 12:17 mark in the first quarter. Zack Gilarski's kick game the Delta Devils an early 7-0 lead.

JSU quickly responded. Eric Perri got the Tigers on the scoreboard with a 36 yard field at the 11:45 mark, cutting Valley's lead to 7-3. The Tigers, behind the legs of Luther Edwards put two touchdowns on the scoreboard in the first. Edwards' first score came at the 8:36 mark on a 10 yard run.

Perri's kick gave JSU its first lead of the game. His second touchdown came from three yard out and capped a seven play, 87 yard drive. The score gave JSU a 17-7 advantage.

The Delta Devils would not go quietly away as Gilarski connected on a 25 yard field goal making the halftime score 17-10.

The Tigers got on the scoreboard first in the third quarter, when Darius Bolela found pay dirt on a three yard run. Perri's point after kick was blocked. Valley continued to cut into JSU's lead in the third. At the 1:31 mark Brandon Stargell caught a 13 yard touchdown pass from Roberts. The extra point made the score 23-17.

JSU opened the fourth quarter with a 49 yard Perri field goal to increase JSU's lead to 26-17. The Delta Devils connected on a 20 yard field goal of their own at the 6:52 mark to cut JSU's lead to 26-20. At the 5:33 mark the Delta Devils took a 27-20 lead when Abner Brown pulled down a five yard Roberts pass.

On JSU's ensuing possession the Tigers methodically drove 54 yard in 4 minutes and 40 seconds before Perri hit a game winning 32 yard field goal with 44 seconds remaining in the game. JSU's final kickoff went 33 yards and Valley returned it to their own 32 yard line. After a loss of five on first down, Roberts hooked up with Brown for a 25 yard gain and stepped out of bounds. On third and 10 Roberts and Abner connected again for 11 yards to JSU's 24 yard line. On the final play of the game Robinson sacked Roberts, forcing a fumble and preserving a Tigers victory.

Trae Rutland led JSU with 144 passing yards (completing 11-20 pass attempts) and rushed for a game high 82 yards. Edwards followed with 73 yards and two TDs. Marcellos Wilder and Kennan Tillman each caught three passes for 42 and 40 yards respectively. Domonique Johnson finished with a team high 10 tackles and two interceptions. Marcus Benard, Marcus Jamison, Marcellus Speaks and Ryan Rich each had six tackles.

Valley's Roberts passed for a game high 263 yards and two TDs and Brown had 12 catches for 110 yards and a TD. Fred Poole had a game high 13 tackles.

The Tigers will be idle on Nov. 1 and return to action Nov. 8 to face Alabama State in SWAC action in Montgomery, AL.