His eyes were safely tucked behind sunglasses on a bright and soupy morning, but it was hard to hide the pride and optimism in Marcus Rogers’ voice as he watched his Vicksburg Gators roll through practice on Monday.

They’ve had a successful run in the 7-on-7 circuit, which they’ll finish today in the Jackson Passing League tournament at Newell Field. Individual players have made strides, and so has the team as a whole.

All signs are pointing toward a good 2015 season for the Gators, who will wrap up summer workouts on Thursday.

“I think we’re where we want to be,” Rogers said. “We’re trying to do some team-building around here. Trying to build a good atmosphere, culture and good attitude, and everything is right on pace for what we’re trying to do.”

In the past week, Rogers has had plenty of reason for optimism. He’ll have a new starting quarterback with sophomore Joe Johnson, and a few other untested skill position players as well, but they’ve excelled during recent 7-on-7 action.

Vicksburg won its first five games at last week’s Hinds Community College 7-on-7 tournament before losing in the elimination round. It followed that up by going 4-2 in pool play and advancing to the championship bracket at the presitigious Medicomp 7-on-7 tournament over the weekend in Madison.

Vicksburg won twice in the double-elimination championship bracket before losing to eventual runner-up Noxubee County and Clinton.

“We look up, and there were a number of big dogs up there like Oxford, Calvary Baptist, Clinton, Northwest Rankin, Meridian, Pearl, Noxubee County. A lot of state champions, a lot of South State and North State champions. We went up there and held our own,” Rogers said. “It was a real good experience for us. Last year we were one-and-done and we were in the losers’ bracket. To be in the championship bracket, I think it shows the strides we’re making in our program. We didn’t quite finish the deal, but we’ve got a lot to build off of.”

Part of the Gators’ success — both this summer, and what they expect will be in the regular season — stems from the team’s veteran core.

Senior linemen DeShun Younger and Ishamel Williams will be entering their second seasons as starters. On defense, seniors Roderick Williams and Antonio Brown form the heart of a solid linebacker corps, and three-year junior cornberback Paul Wilson is back to anchor the secondary. Wilson is heading into his third year as a starter.

Williams said the experience and familiarity has translated into good chemistry among teammates.

“Since I’ve been here, this has been the best year. It’s very different. We came closer as a team, like brothers,” Williams said.

The 108 players on the Gators’ roster have about a month before training camp begins on Aug. 3, and then it’s a sprint to the season. They’ll host Jefferson County in a jamboree game on Aug. 14 — Port Gibson and Yazoo County will also play in it — and then head across town to Warren Central to face Harrison Central in the Red Carpet Bowl on Aug. 21.

Although Vicksburg doesn’t play a home game until Sept. 11 against Yazoo City, six of its first eight games are in Warren County. Two weeks after the Red Carpet Bowl, it’ll go back to Viking Stadium to play Warren Central.

With that relatively favorable schedule and a reshuffled Region 2-5A alignment, as well as everything else that’s gone right this summer, it’s no wonder a smile spreads across Rogers’ face and up toward his sunglasses when he talks about the Gators’ prospects for 2015.

“I think we’re dead-on for where we need to get to, and our goal is to win this district,” Rogers said. “I think this district is wide open. We’ve got a lot of veteran guys, guys like Roderick Williams, Antonio Brown and Paul Wilson, and I think we’re going to reap those benefits this year.”