Before Bethune-Cookman’s October 17 visit to Mississippi Valley State, the matchup presented a clear question: could the Wildcats’ rushing strength overcome a defense capable of creating negative plays?
In its October 16 preview, BCU Athletics listed Bethune-Cookman at 3–3 overall and 1–1 in SWAC play. The Wildcats were trying to recover from a 55–17 loss at Alabama A&M, while the Delta Devils had won consecutive conference games.
BCU entered the week averaging a SWAC-leading 240.2 rushing yards per game, a figure that ranked fifth in the FCS. Rashon Brown had nine rushing touchdowns. That production was especially important because the Wildcats’ passing offense ranked near the bottom nationally in several categories.
Mississippi Valley State offered a difficult counter. Its defense had collected a league-leading 19 sacks and seven forced fumbles. Javieane Stevens led the conference individually with seven sacks, giving the Wildcats another reason to avoid long passing situations.
The other major challenge was quarterback Josh Brown. The Delta Devils’ leading rusher had accumulated 443 yards and six rushing touchdowns, and he was coming off a performance against Texas Southern that included 266 passing yards, 147 rushing yards and five combined touchdowns.
Recent comeback wins also made MVSU a dangerous opponent regardless of an early deficit. The Delta Devils had erased deficits of 24 and 17 points in their previous two games.
The pregame numbers framed a test of ball security and consistency. BCU needed its ground game to keep the offense on schedule while its defense faced a quarterback capable of extending drives with his legs.
This article examines the matchup as it stood before the October 17 game; it is an archival analysis of BCU’s October 16 preview.