The start of region play is symbolic for Mississippi’s high school football teams. Whatever has happened in the first month, good or bad, the slate is wiped clean and teams are given a fresh start as the playoff race begins.

Few teams need that approach more than Vicksburg High.

The Gators are 0-4 for the first time since 2010, and have only scored 26 points. It’s been a difficult stretch that has tested the team’s patience and resolve, but this week’s Region 2-5A opener against Germantown provides the reset button it needs to get things back on track.

“Whether we were 2-2, 0-4 or 1-3 at this point, it’s a whole new season. It’s a familiar opponent in Germantown, and the kids know what’s at stake,” Vicksburg coach Lorenzo Breland said. “The goal was never to go undefeated. It was to win the district and make the playoffs, and all of those are still in place for us.”

Vicksburg and Germantown (1-3) find themselves in a similar situation coming into Friday’s game at Memorial Stadium. Vicksburg won nine games last season and Germantown eight, but both have struggled coming out of the gate this year.

Both teams have played difficult schedules, but have also had their own issues on offense. Germantown is averaging 258.8 yards per game, and Vicksburg 150.8.

Of the four touchdowns the Gators have scored this season, one was by the defense and another was set up by a fumble return to the 1-yard line.

“Offensively, we have to find a way to make it happen and sustain it. That’s something we haven’t been able to do yet,” Breland said. “We’ve got to be able to come in and establish a tempo, and do that early and sustain it throughout the game.”

Breland added that a handful of key injuries have contributed to the slow start. Starting running back Mike Sims has been hobbled by a knee injury, and an already young offensive line has also dealt with some bumps and bruises.

“It’s really just getting everybody healthy,” Breland said. “We were playing another week without our starting running back, Mike Sims, and that makes it tough when you’re already out of sync. We have to find a way to get it kick started.”

The Gators did find a bright spot in their last game. They had been outscored 70-6 in the second half of their first three games, but only allowed a field goal in the second half of a 27-7 loss to Columbus.
Breland was optimistic that that can provide a spark to a team that hasn’t had a lot to cheer about so far.

“We’ve just got to focus on the good. We played one of our best second halves of the year last week,” Breland said. “That’s one of the things we focused on and we struggled with, was getting outplayed in the second half. We did better defensively, and just have to get better on offense and with our turnovers.”

FRIDAY’S AREA GAMES
All games start at 7 p.m.
Germantown at Vicksburg (Radio: 107.7 FM)
Park Place at St. Aloysius (Radio: 101.3 FM)
Porters Chapel at Union Christian (Radio: 104.5 FM)
Warren Central at Northwest Rankin (Radio: 105.5 FM)
Amite County at Port Gibson
Tallulah Academy at Briarfield Academy
Rebul Academy at Christian Collegiate Academy
Central Hinds at Riverfield Academy
Madison Parish (La.) at General Trass

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