Expectations were high for the Vicksburg Gators this season, coming off a 7-5 season in 2005 which included a win for the first time over Warren Central at Viking Stadium.

Gator fans, however, may not have realized just how young the team was on defense. And it was on that side of the ball where Vicksburg was hurt for the most part in its 4-7 campaign.

&#8220We only had three guys returning as starters from the previous season,” said first-year defensive coordinator Toriano Wells. &#8220We played a lot of young guys on defense, but I think the experience those guys learned will make us stronger for next year.”

Wells said toward the end of the season, the Gators had five sophomores and three juniors starting on defense. The youngsters had to step up and replace the entire linebacking corps, which included the team’s top three tacklers in Harold Knight, Quartez Ashmore and Raymond Reed, and much of the secondary, including defensive backs Mario Gray and 2005 Vicksburg Post Defensive Player of the Year Willis McGowan.

Then one also can mix in Wells’ learning process as well as a first-year coordinator.

&#8220It was a challenging experience,” Wells said of his first season running entire unit. &#8220Instead of focusing on just one part like the secondary guys, I was running the whole defense. But I think kids responded extremely well to the things we wanted to do.”

One of those who stepped up to have a fine individual season was senior defensive end/linebacker Dekores Branch.

&#8220Dekores can definitely play somewhere as an outside linebacker, and we’re helping him now get qualified,” Wells said of the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Branch, who finished with a team high 102 tackles, including a Warren County best 10 1/2 sacks.

On offense, the Gators return most of their weapons. Junior quarterback Stanton Price completed 138 of 232 passes for 1,520 yards and 10 touchdowns. Three of the Gators’ top four receivers – Delmon Robinson, John Qualls and Les Lemons – also return,.

Most of the offense’s production, though, came between the 20s. Too many times it bogged down inside the red zone.

Offensive coordinator Jackie Williamson said the team had problems adjusting its blocking schemes deep in opposition territory.

&#8220The thing about the spread offense is that its great from 20 to 20, but just about all people we’ve talked to have had problems with it inside the 20, and we did too,” Williamson said. &#8220Last year, we tried to power people and had some success. This year, we went with more a passing blocking scheme but we haven’t totally developed it yet.

&#8220That’s the big thing for us during the offseason, developing our line game to function in the spread when we get inside the 20. But what I think is going to really help us is that our JV guys were able to run the spread this fall,” Williamson said.

Williamson said having three top receivers returning should pay dividends.

&#8220We have a number of good receivers coming back, so we’re in pretty good shape with our skill people.”

The Gators will open the season in the Red Carpet Bowl against perennial power Clarksdale at Viking Stadium.