Vicksburg geared its defense toward stopping Madison Central’s leading rusher Don Smith, but against an I-bone offense, that may not be such a good thing.

Quarterback Jared Foster rushed for 164 yards and three touchdowns while fullback Pat Harrison bulled his way to 195 yards and one score as the Jaguars climbed back into the Region 2-5A race by blasting Vicksburg 42-12 Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

With region leader Clinton going down at WC 17-16, the Jaguars (7-2, 4-1) move into a tie for the lead. Vicksburg (3-6, 1-4), meanwhile, saw its playoff hopes go up in smoke after getting plowed for 418 yards rushing.

&#8220They were keying on Don, No. 5, and that opened up the middle for me and Jared,” Harrison said. &#8220Don has been our key guy.”

Smith was held to 55 yards and one touchdown, a 10-yard run with 7 minutes, 53 seconds left in the game that made it 35-6 after Ryne Smith’s kick.

Vicksburg quarterback Stanton Price had a torrid second half, but it was not enough to overcome MC’s punishing running game along with three Gator turnovers. Price ended 23-of-36 passing for 331 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The scores, 6 and 39 yard passes, both went to Vernon Wolfe.

&#8220It doesn’t matter if we get 400 yards or five yards, it’s still a loss,” VHS tackle Mark Cabatay said. &#8220We moved the ball. We just didn’t win the game. We have to keep fighting.”

Up 14-0 at the half, MC opened the with a seven-play, 80-yard march capped by Foster’s 54-yard TD run. The Canton Academy transfer took a simple option and then outran the Gator secondary. He did have to pull up near the goal line because of a pulled hamstring. He did not return.

&#8220When the offensive line pushes their guys out of the way, it’s pretty easy,” Foster said. &#8220I was just running our option.”

Foster had a 74-yard run in the first quarter that set up the game’s first score on a 2-yard run. He then added a 38-yard TD run that made it 14-0 with 4:50 left in the second quarter.

After Foster’s third score, Price went 5-for-6 for 45 yards to put the Gators on the board. A two-point conversion failed, leaving the score at 21-6.

Harrison answered with a 65-yard jaunt to put Madison back up by three scores, 28-6.