Mississippi Valley State tops Texas Southern 20-17

ITTA BENA, Miss. -- Julian Stafford returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and recorded 198 all-purpose yards as Mississippi Valley State topped Texas Southern 20-17 Saturday. The two teams traded field goals early in the second quarter, bringing the score to 10-3 before Stafford struck again, hauling in a Patrick Ivy pass en route to a 62-yard touchdown catch and run. Leading 17-3, MVSU (2-8, 2-6 Southwestern Athletic Conference) leaned on the defense to carry the team home for the win. The Delta Devil defense piled up eight sacks, including five after Stafford's second touchdown, and knocked Texas Southern's starting quarterback, Homer Causey , out of the game with an unspecified injury. Dedric Shipman and Larry Clark recorded career-highs in both receptions and yards receiving for TSU (2-8, 2-7). Shipman finished with eight catches for 192 yards.