Football coaches are fond of breaking the season into three parts — the non-region schedule, the region games, and the playoffs. Each segment has different goals and a different meaning, and is essentially different mini-seasons within the grander scope of things.

Rarely has that concept applied more than to the 2017 Vicksburg Gators.

They lost their first five games in segment one. They won five of six in segment two. And now, with another reset, they enter segment three full of confidence and optimism as they prepare to tackle their biggest challenge so far.

The Gators (5-6) go to Olive Branch (10-1) on Friday night for the first round of the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs. It’s not an easy draw, but it is one coach Lorenzo Breland is grateful to be preparing for after the rollercoaster ride to get to this point.

“Everything that we talked about at the beginning of the season is here now. That’s what I explained to them yesterday. You have the preseason, then the district season, and now we’ve got the postseason. So now it’s 0-0, win or go home, all bets are off, everybody’s on an even playing field,” Breland said.

Vicksburg’s second-half surge to the playoffs has been built around an all-around effort that has found a way to get the job done each week. The defense has scored a touchdown in five consecutive games and not allowed more than 21 in its last six. On special teams, kicker Greg Hayden has booted two field goals of 50-plus yards in the last three games and a series of successful fakes have given that unit another dimension.

The offense, meanwhile, has improved enough to provide opportunities for the other two phases of the game. The Gators have averaged 26.3 points per game after scoring a total of 33 during their five-game losing streak to start the season. Penalties have been an issue the past couple of weeks, but they’ve limited the turnovers and ineffectiveness that put the defense in bad spots earlier in the year.

The finished product is a well rounded team that has found its footing. The Gators don’t have the best record in the Class 5A bracket, but are playing well and have developed a winning formula.

“That’s one of the things we talk about, is just being good in all three phases of the game. If it comes to us faking a field goal, or converting for two, or kicking a big field goal, or being able to move the ball on offense or force turnovers on defense,” Breland said. “Any time we can get a defensive touchdown, that’s great for the team because now we’re playing with momentum. We took the momentum off their side, and now it’s on our side.”

The Gators’ hot streak earned them the No. 3 seed from Region 2-5A, which was also crucially important. Region 1-5A champion West Point has steamrolled everyone in its path and is an odds-on favorite to win the Class 5A North championship. West Point is also on the other side of the bracket.

By finishing third in its region, Vicksburg won’t have to face the Green Wave until the semifinals.
Olive Branch — whose only loss was a 51-7 blowout against West Point — won’t be an easy opponent, but Breland said it’s preferable to the alternative.

The Conquistadors have rebounded from a couple of down years — after winning the Class 6A championship in 2011, they steadily declined before bottoming out with a winless campaign in 2016 — to re-emerge as a team to be reckoned with.

Other than the loss to West Point, they haven’t given up more than 14 points in a game this season. On offense, running back Demarcus Ware II has rushed for 1,631 yards and 24 touchdowns.

“They’re an interesting group, too. I think last year they were 1-9 or 1-10. They’ve been able to turn that around and go 10-1. They’re definitely a good football team. We’re not going to take them lightly by no means,” Breland said. “But like we’ve been saying all year, it’s going to be more of what we do.

Us making plays, the defense making stops and big plays, winning the special teams game and just protecting the football. I think if we focus on that, and focus on what we do, we’ll have some good results on Friday night.”

As for what those results might be, Breland laughed and said he didn’t care as long as the Gators wound up with the bigger number on the scoreboard.

“I don’t care if it’s 3-2, 6-0, 6-3, 9-6, whatever it is we want to get a win,” he laughed. “I think everybody understands that, so there’s going to be some chances we take on offense and defense and special teams, but there’s also going to have to be some strategic things we do. Our main focus is just going to be to get points every drive, or at least get in a position to get points, and hang our hats on the defense. Let them work. They’ve been playing lights out all year.”

FRIDAY’S AREA GAMES
All games start at 7 p.m.
Vicksburg at Olive Branch (Radio: 1490 AM/107.7 FM)
Warren Central at Tupelo (Radio: 105.5 FM)
Port Gibson at Seminary
Briarfield Academy at Riverdale

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