LORMAN &8212; The Alcorn State Braves had a week off to heal up and rest, and now face a huge game in their quest to get to the SWAC Championship Game.

The Braves (4-3, 3-2 SWAC) will travel to meet the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils (5-4, 4-3) in a rivalry match-up with added importance.

&8220;This is a huge football game,&8221; said Alcorn head coach Johnny Thomas. &8220;It&8217;ll keep us right in line for a SWAC East Division championship with a win. It&8217;s a huge game from that angle.

&8220;That&8217;s what makes for a good competitive game and a good rivalry game.&8221;

The Braves will enter the game once again without the services of starting quarterback Tony Hobson Jr., who is still nursing a hamstring injury.

&8220;(Tony is) going to be out this week,&8221; Thomas said. &8220;He&8217;s hasn&8217;t fully recovered.&8221;

With Hobson out, backup Chris Walker will get another chance to start Saturday.

&8220;(Walker) still has to grow and get better, but he managed the team pretty good (against Southern two weeks ago). We just hope he can continue to improve and get better so we can do a much better job with him on certain situations.&8221;

Thomas said the Braves would have their hands full this week.

&8220;They&8217;ve got a very competitive football team,&8221; he said. &8220;They&8217;ll mix it up on you (defensively). They blitz a lot and give you a lot of base sets.

&8220;They&8217;re very balanced offensively. They like to run the football. They&8217;ve got a great quarterback in Aries Nelson and some good receivers. We&8217;re going to have to go in prepared for a solid defensive ballgame.&8221;

Thomas said he felt the off week helped his team in their preparation for a key stretch run.

&8220;We had a good week of practice last week,&8221; he said. &8220;I don&8217;t think it hurt us (having an off week). I think it helped us heal up, rest and get some guys rehabbed.&8221;

Thomas said an all-around football game would be required to come home with a win.

&8220;We&8217;ve got to be able to stop what they do on offense. We&8217;ve got to control the football and move the ball offensively. We&8217;ve got to control what they do in the return game and make something happen on special teams.&8221;

The Braves and Delta Devils will kick off 2 p.m. Saturday in Itta Bena.