Vicksburg’s offense was supposed to be the rave this season but it was the defense that led the Gators to only their fourth win in 27 tries against archrival Warren Central Friday night.

Cornerback Les Lemons provided the game’s only score on a 75-yard interception return in the fourth quarter as the Gators notched a 7-0 win to even their season record at 1-1. The win also marked the second time in a row that Vicksburg has beaten WC at Viking Stadium, both were by shutouts.

Two of the Gators’ starting linebackers credited first-year defensive coordinator Stacy Sizemore with coming up with a plan to defeat the Vikings.

“We shut them out and the credit should go to Coach Sizemore,” said VHS linebacker Carlos Williams. “He came up with a good defensive scheme.”

Fellow Gator linebacker Marcus Allen said it was a team effort.

“We have the heart of a team, now,” Allen said. “This is a team that stands together. Last year, we had too many guys try to play as individuals. Our defensive line guys stepped up.”

WC hoped to use its superior size in a bid to grind out yards and keep the speedy Gator offense off the field. The Vikings put together a 44-yard drive in the second quarter, steadily picking up yards and keeping the clock moving.

“Our defensive line was out of place on that first half drive. But coach Sizemore got them squared away,” Williams said.

Warren Central did not have another substantial drive until early in the fourth quarter and that one ended with Lemon’s interception return.

“This was a great win for Vicksburg High School, especially against a program that has the tradition that Warren Central has,” said Sizemore, the son of former Vicksburg coach Jim Sizemore. “We had a great game, not only on defense but from everyone.

“I can’t say enough about this coaching staff. It’s the best staff I’ve been apart of,” Sizemore said.

Sizemore came back to coach on Alonzo Stevens’ staff after spending two seasons directing a defense in Broward County, Fla.

Against the Vikings, he showed that he can make adjustments.

“On that one drive in the first half, our guys were lined up wrong. We adjusted it. But the biggest thing all night was that our guys played hard,” Sizemore said.

“Our linebackers in Carlos Williams and Marcus Allen played great with a little bit of Jeremy Hamlin and William Henderson mixed in,” Lemons said.

“We’re just playing a lot smarter,” Allen said. “We were able to take away the quick slant. Coach Sizemore had Les in the right place and then he took home. Eddie Sanders got the other interception and that was on another quick slant.”

Williams says the Viking win has the Gators already looking forward to the start of its region slate.

“We’re going to win district and then look to go to state,” he said.