The first Greatest on the Gridiron semifinal pits two great Vicksburg High teams, 10 years apart, for a spot in the championship game.

Although separated by a decade, the two teams share some similarities.

Both of them won 10 games and reached the MHSAA Class 5A semifinals, where they lost close games. Both had strong, balanced offenses featuring multiple running backs, and both featured a dominating player named Taylor on defense — Ronnie in 1990, and D’Eldrick in 2001; both were The Vicksburg Post Defensive Player of the Year in their respective seasons.

Both teams also ended playoff losing streaks for the program with their deep runs, and flew under the radar a bit during the season.

The 1990 Gators, which featured the “Swamp Thing” defense, started off 5-0 and then slipped to a No. 12 ranking in the state after losing two of three games in the middle of the season. They still won the Region 2-5A championship and beat top-ranked Starkville in the playoffs.

The 2001 Gators, meanwhile, won four in a row late in the season, lost to Warren Central in the regular-season finale, and then beat Columbus and Region 2-5A champion Madison Central in the playoffs.

Which flavor of Gator do you prefer? Twentieth century or 21st? Swamp Thing or New Thing?
Vote in the Greatest on the Gridiron poll to send one of them on to the championship game!