Vicksburg coach Alonzo Stevens still believes he has a good football team. An 0-2 start by a combined score of 83-14 hasn’t lessened that belief.

Stevens is honest about his team’s key problems.

“We lack mental toughness,” Stevens said two days before the team’s next game, a Friday road trip to Class 3A state champion Tylertown (1-2). “Our biggest problem is our inability to handle adversity.”

Adversity came in many forms during last week’s game against visiting Richwood (La.) The Gators had a punt blocked right before halftime, leading to a cheap touchdown. They had a kickoff return for a score called back because of an illegal block on the other side of the field.