The beta test is complete and the Vicksburg High School football team is ready for full rollout in the Red Carpet Bowl. Head coach Marcus Rogers is pleased with the things he saw at Friday’s jamboree in Memorial Stadium.

“I saw what I sat out to see and I wanted to see if we can run the ball,” Rogers said. “We dedicated ourselves to running the ball.”

Tim Jackson was the focus of the Gators running game and came up with big yards Friday night. Rogers said if he brings his lunchbox to work everyday and handles his business the Gators will be okay.

“Anybody that’ll tell you about a good football team will tell you ‘if you can run the football, you’re going to be in a lot of football games because you can control the clock,’” Rogers said. “If we can run the ball like we did tonight I think we’ll be a pretty good team and can compete with anybody we play.”

Rogers also praised the offensive line and said the gators had about 15-20 plays that resulted in positive yards.

The defense came out the gate early making hard hits, deflecting passes and shaking up the offense of Jefferson County.

However, there was a series in the game where several defensive players were called for encroachment penalties leading Jefferson County to its only touchdown of the game.

Rogers plans to fix those mental mistakes by working them hard in practice.

Injuries have crept on to the Gators roster since Wednesday.

Rogers’ alternate quarterback was injured in practice with a possible ACL tear.

Friday night he also lost another key player in a scramble for a fumble in the first quarter. As Kirk Parker hustled for the ball, his elbow was popped out of place.

Parker was taken off the field in a stretcher and put in the back of an ambulance.

Rogers has been trying to build depth on his team and instill a “next man up attitude.”

With the first game approaching, he is confident his team will perform well.

“If everyone does their assignment we’ll be okay,” Rogers said.