Millions of faithful individuals will file into local churches mosques and synagogues this morning with the goal of worshipping whatever god in whatever fashion. There will be hymns sung, tithes collected and rousing sermons conducted by various spiritual leaders.
In between all of that will be a time for prayer. A time when those with a desire take on the task of pleading at the throne of their god. Some will pray for healing. Some will pray for a financial blessing. Others will ask God for world peace.
There will also be a contingent of folks who are going to pray on behalf of devils. The Delta Devils of Mississippi Valley State to get one in the win column before Armageddon arrives.
It seems only divine intervention can end Mississippi Valley’s Southwestern Athletic Conference worst 19-game losing streak.
For the second straight week, MVSU was on the cusp of winning its first game in two seasons only to lose in heart breaking fashion.
Midway through the fourth quarter last week against Jackson State, the Delta Devils had the momentum and the football inside the Tigers two yard line with a chance to take an improbable lead over a school which had defeated its previous opponents by the score of 106-23. But a defensive stand by Jackson State prevented a touchdown. The Tigers would go on to win 17-16.
Trailing Grambling State for much of the Saturday’s contest, Mississippi Valley battled. They fought. They clawed back from a 17-point deficit to send the game into overtime. For a moment it appeared this would be the day the program would finally end its journey in the wilderness of futility.
However, a D.J. Williams 7-yard touchdown pass to Mario Louis in overtime gave the Tigers a 30-24 win. Karl Morgan’s bunch is still wandering in that wilderness without much hope in sight.
I played the role of prophet and predicted that Mississippi Valley would win one game this season. I predicted that win would come against Southern earlier this month. Let’s just say in that case I was a false prophet much like Harold Camping, leader of Family Radio, claiming the world would end in May.
I’m not sure a win will come for the Delta Devils this season, although the team has been so close of tasting the manna that is victory.
MVSU has Texas Southern, South Alabama and Arkansas-Pine Bluff to end the season. Right now one would have to question their faith and belief that the boys from Itta Bena can rise from the dead.
So, it would be wise for those with any hope remaining that Mississippi Valley will not end the 2011 season with a zero in the win column. So throw up a Hail Mary or two and keep the Mississippi Valley State football team in your prayers.
Player of the Week:
Texas Southern running back Marcus Wright. In the win 42-11 over Central State, the senior carried the ball 24 times for 131 yards and a touchdown.
Week 8 Report Card:
Mississippi Valley State: A
So close yet so far.
Grambling State: C
That’s two wins in a row, but the Tigers had to hang on to beat the Delta Devils.
Alcorn State: A
A 34-point second quarter broke the game open against tomato can Concordia (Ala.)
Texas Southern: A
The Tigers pulled away in the second-half to put away Central State.
