Jared Lockhart threw for 299 yards and accounted for four touchdowns as Jackson State cruised to a 38-7 win over in-state SWAC rival Mississippi Valley State on Saturday.
With the home win, Jackson State (7-2, 4-2 SWAC) earned its 12th consecutive victory over Mississippi Valley (3-7, 2-4) and took control of the SWAC East with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
The Delta Devils have not beaten Jackson State since Oct. 11, 2014.
Lockhart opened Saturday’s game with a 38-yard touchdown run to give Jackson State an early 7-0 lead. Andrew Ivaniciuc knocked in a field goal from 44 yards out to extend the Tigers’ advantage to 10-0 heading into the second quarter.
Mississippi Valley State got on the board when running back Dezmond Ray found the end zone from five yards out early in the second quarter. That would be the only score for the Delta Devils, who were shut out for the rest of the contest.
Meanwhile, Jackson State’s offense was just getting started.
Running back Li’Darius Pryor punched in a two-yard score before the break, and then, Lockhart used the third and fourth quarters to show off the passing attack.
The sophomore quarterback connected with Jency Riley Jr. for an 81-yard touchdown before hitting Pryor on an 11-yard scoring strike. Lockhart sealed the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Joanes Fortilien, giving the Tigers a 38-7 win.
Lockhart helped four receivers surpass the 50-yard mark: Riley Jr. (95 yards), Fortilien (81 yards), Mississippi Valley transfer Nate Rembert (62 yards), and Jabari Jones (50 yards).
Pryor led Jackson State on the ground with 63 yards and the score. His long rush on the day was 34 yards.
Defensively, cornerback Jalen Foster intercepted a pair of passes for Jackson State, while Carmello Jones led the team with six tackles, including a sack. The Tigers held the Delta Devils to 171 total yards, or 2.8 yards per play.
Mississippi Valley was paced by Ray, who rushed for 65 yards on 16 attempts with the team’s lone touchdown. Quarterback Josh Brown was 8-for-15 passing for 31 yards and two interceptions. Joel Queisser led the Delta Devils’ defensive effort with five tackles and a sack.
Next up
Jackson State: The Tigers will hit the road and play Alabama State on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Mississippi Valley State: The Delta Devils will stay on the road and play at Florida A&M on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.