Vally's Delta Devils Defeat AAMU Bulldogs 27-24 in OT

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama  -- The Mississippi Valley State University Delta Devils turned up the heat on the Bulldogs of Alabama A & M University, winning 27-24 in overtime.

AAMU struck first on a 37 yard pass from Damion May to Tevin McKenzie, with Ces Ramon-Diaz tacking on the extra point. Undeterred, Slade Jarman released a 25-yard stunner to freshman powerhouse, Booker Chambers; Ruben Piraquive placed the ball inside the uprights to tie the score 7-all.

Piraquive notched a 20-yard field goal to give the Delta Devils a three-point lead going into the second quarter. In the top of the second, the Bulldogs' Jonathan Dorsey was on the receiving end of touchdown pass from May, the kick was unsuccessful.

Entering the third quarter, AAMU was holding a narrow, 13-10 advantage over Mississippi Valley. With 6:36 remaining in the third Ramon-Diaz landed a 21-yard field goal to take A&M up 16-10. MVSU took advantage of Chambers running power, using him to scamper into the end zone on a nine-yard rum. Piraquive split the uprights for the extra point., taking the lead 17-16.

In the forth, the Bulldogs held true to form, striking first on a two-yard touchdown run by Harvey Harris, before adding a two-point conversion. Down but far from out, the Delta Devils passed the ball to Thomas Stokes, Jr. for an 11-yard end zone trip; Piraquive tacked on the extra point to tie the contest with 2:15 remaining in regulation.

With five seconds remaining in the contest, Alabama A & M was able to block the field goal attempt, sending the game into overtime.

Mississippi Valley took first possession in the overtime period. The stingy offensive line hunkered down to protect the running team and quarterback. Unable, to get into the end zone, the Delta Devils' trusted Piraquive to make a 34-yard field goal, which he accomplished with ease.

With the pressure on, the MVSU defense took the field to end the contest in the Delta Devils' favor. Harvey Harris rushed for 10-yards to the MVSU 15 before being stopped in his tracks by Quantavius Peterson. The next snap, Harris took a big loss in yards at the hands of Charles Moore. Going for broke, May launched up an end zone pass in an attempt win the game...the ball was caught by the Delta Devils' Marquis Green for a game ending interception.

Slade Jarman completed 13 of 29 passes for 177-yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Jerrell Moore netted 62 –yards rushing on 12 attempts to pace Mississippi Valley. Stokes rushed for 61 yards on 14 carries to assist in gaining field position. Keenan Daniels led the receiving unit with 45-yards on two passes. Defensively, Charles Moore finished the game with four solo and four assist for a total of eight tackles. Khalil Young also finished with eight tackles, six solo and two assists.

BOX SCORE

COURTESY MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION