Like a furniture store going out of business, Vicksburg High is selling out this week. The Gators’ backs are firmly up against the wall, and they will need to win their last two games of the season to attain the fourth spot in Region 2-5A and slip into the postseason.

With that as the backdrop of this week’s preparation, coach Marcus Rogers has calmly but decisively reminded his team that it won’t matter what happens down the road if they don’t claim a victory on the road against Callaway (4-6, 3-2 Region 2-5A) Friday night.

“Like I told the kids, this is it. If you don’t win Friday we don’t even have to talk about next week. We’re gearing everything and putting everything toward beating them” Rogers said. “Like I told them… if Callaway wins, they’re automatically in. They’re going to sell out also. We’re going to get their ‘A’ game and we’ve got to come out with our ‘A’ game.”

Vicksburg enters Friday’s game against the Chargers at 2-3 in region play, just one game behind their opponent for the coveted fourth playoff spot and tied with Neshoba Central. If Callaway wins, it secures a postseason bid. If the Gators can snag a victory, the season will come down to the home finale against Neshoba Central to determine who stays and who goes.

The deluge of scenarios that could play out over the next week is of little concern to the Gators immediate future, however, with a strong Callaway team up ahead. While only averaging 28.4 yards in the air, the Chargers hang their hat on running the football for an average of 236.2 yards per contest. On paper, it looks like a solid matchup for a Vicksburg team allowing only 91 rushing yards a game.

“It plays to our strengths because we love to stop the run. We had (Pearl running back) Jordan Wright bottled up for a half, but constantly putting him on the field is not a good thing,” Rogers said. “We’ve got to move the chains. That’s all we have to do. We have to stay from behind the sticks and stay in front of the sticks and keep playmakers off the field. The best defense is a good offense.”

The Gators are also going on the road, where they are 3-1 on the year and feel more comfortable with less distractions and more time to think about opponent on long trips.

“It’s a big confidence boost. The quicker I can get them away from Vicksburg, the better it is,” Rogers joked. “We get them away from here, get them focused, get the game plan on their minds and less distractions, we’ve been more successful.”

Callaway also poses a significant threat defensively, as the Chargers run a versatile 3-4 that has limited opponents to just 23.7 points per game. Vicksburg is up for the challenge, though, and the Gators are hoping to conjure up a win and stay alive in the playoff race.

“They’re still focused. They’re hungry,” Rogers said. “That’s one thing I like mentally. They’re still excited and still having fun.”