ITTA BENA, Miss. (Interstat) — Jared Lockhart passed for two touchdowns and Jackson State’s defense delivered a dominant performance, holding Mississippi Valley State to just a field goal in a 42-3 rout on Saturday at Rice-Totten Stadium.

The Tigers improved to 7-2 overall, while the Delta Devils fell to 1-8.

Jackson State set the tone early, marching 86 yards on its second possession, capped by a 2-yard touchdown run from Donerio Davenport midway through the first quarter. The Tigers’ offense was methodical and efficient, while their defense stifled Mississippi Valley State at every turn.

The second quarter saw the Tigers extend their lead to 21-0. Travis Terrell Jr. plunged in from 4 yards out for a score, and just before halftime, Lockhart connected with Nate Rembert on a 9-yard touchdown pass. Lockhart, a 6-foot-5 quarterback from Charlotte, North Carolina, finished an efficient 21 of 27 for 241 yards and added 23 yards on the ground.

Mississippi Valley State’s only points came as time expired in the first half. A 29-yard completion from Brandon Nunez to Christian White set up a 42-yard field goal by Marko Jovisic, making the score 21-3 at the break.

Any hope of a Delta Devils comeback was extinguished quickly in the third quarter. Jackson State needed just four plays to score on its opening drive of the second half, with Lockhart finding Rembert again, this time for a 14-yard touchdown. Rembert led all receivers with six catches for 97 yards.

The Tigers’ defense then provided the exclamation point. Later in the third quarter, Mike Smith III intercepted a Nunez pass and returned it 60 yards for a touchdown, pushing the lead to 35-3.

Jackson State’s final score came on a 22-yard run by Ja’Naylon Dupree in the fourth quarter. The Tigers’ ground game was potent throughout, with Ahmad Miller leading the way with 87 yards on 19 carries.

Mississippi Valley State’s offense struggled mightily against a relentless Jackson State defense. Quarterback Brandon Nunez of Phoenix, Arizona, completed 15 of 34 passes for 126 yards and was sacked multiple times. The Delta Devils were held to 126 total passing yards and found consistent pressure in their backfield all afternoon. Christian White was a bright spot with three receptions for 51 yards.

The lopsided result was even more decisive than projections from Interstat, whose game simulator had predicted a 42-25 Jackson State victory. The Tigers’ ELO probability to win was 97.80 percent.

Jackson State will look to continue its winning ways when it hosts Bethune-Cookman on Nov. 15. Mississippi Valley State seeks to rebound at home against Alabama State on the same date.