Considering how good he is at scoring touchdowns, it’s fitting that Tedarius Brown’s nickname is “TD.”

Brown has scored five times already this season and is chomping at the bit for more as Vicksburg High continues to fight for its playoff life with three games left in the season.

Brown is the physical embodiment of the phrase “speak softly and carry a big stick.” The reserved 5-foot-10 junior wide receiver is one of Vicksburg’s biggest offensive threats. He’s hauled in 21 passes for a team-high 439 yards and three touchdowns — good for an astounding 20.9 yards per reception average. He’s also become a weapon in the running game, piling up 165 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries. His 60-yard scoring run off a jet sweep was the difference last week in a 20-14 victory over Canton.

Brown’s big-play ability is not an accident. He wants the ball, and he wants it often.

“I came into the season, me and coach were always talking, always working,” Brown said. “I always want to be a leader of the guys and always want the ball. Give it to me and I’m going to make plays. That’s what satisfies me.”

Brown’s not being cocky. He’s just the owner of a cool, collected confidence that translates into trust between he and quarterback Marquez Pickett.

“Me and my quarterback are always talking. He says he likes to give me the ball because I always get yards after the catch,” Brown said. “I can make a man miss after I get the ball. That’s what gets me is the yards after the catch, because I’m explosive.”

That explosiveness was definitely on display against Canton.

After missing the previous game against Ridgeland with a shoulder injury, Brown came back to total 144 yards from scrimmage — 85 rushing and another 58 on three receptions.

The Gators’ other big-play threat, Kareeme Butler, had a season-high 125 receiving yards against Ridgeland, but Brown’s return provided an offensive spark to the team and should help open things up even more.

“He’s been injured the past couple of weeks, so we’ve taken some steps backward in our process, but I think he’s back on track,” Rogers said of Brown.

The first-year head coach understands how critical his junior wide out is to Vicksburg’s offensive success. If the quarterback is the oil to the machine, Brown is the quiet, humming engine.

“He is a big part of it. I like to say we can only go as far as he takes us,” Rogers said. “I look at him and Pickett as the veteran guys on that offense, as far as skill players.”

Those veterans have propelled the Gators back to the .500 mark in region play by winning a game at Canton that their playoff hopes essentially hinged on. Vicksburg (4-4, 2-2 Region 2-5A) hosts Pearl (6-3, 4-0) this Friday, and still has a chance to complete its goal of making the playoffs.

“They say we have to win three out of four to make the playoffs, but we really want to win all four,” Brown said last week. “We’ve been hyped up all week and coach has been talking with us, giving us his speeches. We’ve been working hard and I think my guys are really ready.”