[10/29/04]The Vicksburg Gators are akin to baseball fans watching their team down three games to none in a best-of-seven series.

Mathematically, the team has a chance to survive the regular season and become one of the teams to advance. The flame flickers, though, providing just a smidgen of light on a season that has yet to live up to expectations.

The Gators, simply, have to win both of their final games, then hope somehow Clinton stumbles twice. Vicksburg will have to defeat Murrah at 7 tonight, then defeat Warren Central on Nov. 5. If Clinton defeats winless Greenville-Weston tonight, the Gators are eliminated from the playoffs.

“We just have to play,” Stevens said. “We are trying to salvage the season. We are in realization mode. We know that, unless something awful happens, we are not going to make the playoffs.

“We can still salvage the season. I am really proud of these guys.”

The Gators are coming off a 32-0 homecoming shellacking by Madison Central. The Jaguars scored all of their points in the first half and a strong VHS defense kept them off the board in the second half.

An inconsistent offense which nets only 12 points per game (not counting the 52 VHS scored against lowly Natchez) will have its hands full trying to keep up with speedy Murrah.

“They have a lot of athletes, very talented,” Stevens said. “We have to worry about us, though. We just have to play ball and take care of our own business.”

The Mustangs (2-6, 0-4 Region 2-5A) are coming off a 22-7 defeat to Grenada.

If the Gators take care of their own business, and get some help with Clinton losses, the team would likely travel to South Panola for the first round of the state playoffs. The Tigers are ranked No. 13 nationally by USA Today and have won 21 straight games.

Stevens said the chances for his team to make the postseason are slim. But with the seventh, eighth and ninth grade teams winning their finales against Warren Central, the future is bright, the coach said.

“This has been a season of missed opportunities,” Stevens said. “We had a lot of chances to win some ball games, but we just couldn’t get it done. But I think next year will be different. I look for us to work hard and prepare for next season.”