Whether they wanted it or not, the Vicksburg Gators earned a moral victory Friday night.

Their 35-21 loss to Oxford ended the season in the first round of the playoffs, but by jumping out to an early lead and then going toe-to-toe with the top-ranked team in Class 5A, the Gators showed they could play with the best and took some momentum into the offseason.

“Our last four games, we played the No. 4 team in 5A with Grenada, and the No. 1 team, and both games were very winnable. It bodes well for our future and the direction the program is heading,” Vicksburg coach Marcus Rogers said.

The future appears bright for the Gators. This year’s roster included 50 sophomores and juniors. Among those are quarterback Joe Johnson, defensive lineman Jomon O’Neal and Brandon Kees, and wide receiver Raheam Moore.

Johnson threw for 1,635 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, and finished up with three consecutive games of 200 or more yards. O’Neal, Kees and Mike Sullivan, another sophomore, combined for 22 sacks. Moore caught five touchdown passes.

The group of sophomores and juniors was the spearhead of Vicksburg’s effort against Oxford. Johnson threw a touchdown pass to Moore early in the second quarter to put the Gators ahead 21-7.

The same youthful energy led to their downfall, though. A blocked punt and dropped punt snap set up Oxford for two easy touchdowns to tie the game by halftime. Two turnovers in the second half helped the Chargers take and preserve the lead.

Despite the mistakes, Rogers said he was pleased with the fearless attitude the Gators showed Friday night — and throughout the year.

“It’s just not being able to close them out,” Rogers said. “The kids never had a feeling of, ‘We’re just here to play.’ They thought they could win.”

While excited about the prospects of his returning players, Rogers was also grateful for the effort of this year’s seniors. A total of 11 starters and 22 players will depart via graduation, including a number of key pieces.

Defensive back Paul Wilson was a four-year starter, and wide receiver Tedarious Brown a three-year starter.

Brown was selected to play in the Bernard Blackwell Mississippi All-Star Game and is one of only three Warren County players to catch more than 100 passes during their high school career.

Linebacker Antonio Brown and defensive lineman Roderick Williams, two of the team’s top tacklers, will also graduate. Brown also played running back and led the Gators with seven rushing touchdowns.

“It’s a special senior group. Anywhere from eight to 10 guys should sign scholarships, whether it’s a four-year school or a juco,” Rogers said. “People want to measure success by wins and losses, but to me it’s measured by those kids going to the next level.”