MONTICELLO — Victory was sweet for first-year Vicksburg High coach Tavares Johnson Sr.

The Gators scored the game’s first 27 points and went on a clutch, 81-yard drive after Lawrence County (1-4) had pulled within 27-20 late in the third quarter. Johnson’s son, Tavares Jr., led Vicksburg on its decisive drive and capped it with a 5-yard TD pass to Edward Davis with 11:03 left for a 14-point lead at 34-20.

Lawrence County scored with 1:19 left, but could not get the onsides kick and Vicksburg ran out the clock on a thrilling 34-27 victory.

“This is what you work for all summer,” Johnson Sr. said. “When they got it back to within seven, I knew we had to go and do something special on the next possession. We did it. Our kids stepped up.”

Johnson Jr. was big when it mattered. He completed his last five passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. Four came on the decisive drive to four different receivers.

Davis caught three passes for 47 yards and also had 47-yard kickoff return to set up Vicksburg’s first score.

Johnson finished 12 for 21 for 145 yards. He also had a pair of 2-yard TD runs, the first coming on the game’s first possession following Davis’ big kick return.