One of Vicksburg High football coach Christopher Lacey’s recurring messages to his team is to “do the right stuff right.”

A lot has gone wrong for the Gators this season, though, and their latest outing was no exception.

Jamario Latham and D’Kyren Henderson ran for two touchdowns apiece, and Columbus pulled away in the second half to beat Vicksburg 41-27 on Friday.

“I don’t think it was an energy thing. I think it was just when you get out there and do the wrong stuff. Missed assignments and missed tackles are going to lose you football games, and that’s what ended up happening to us,” Lacey said.

Vicksburg (0-9, 0-4 MHSAA Region 2-6A) was officially eliminated from playoff contention with the loss. It will finish its season next Thursday at Ridgeland needing a win to avoid an unwanted place in history.

The last time Vicksburg High or one of its lineal predecessors — Cooper High or Carr Central — did not win a game in a season was 1952.

“It’s disappointing for my senior class. I’ve been with them for a minute and I hate to see them not be able to feel that playoff or get that last win inside of The Swamp,” Lacey said. “But, again, in order to win football games you’ve still got to do the right stuff right and we just shot ourselves in the foot and we’ve got to do a better job of fixing that.”

Cedrick Blackmore scored on a 2-yard run in the first half and Wallys Curry’s 10-yard interception return touchdown put the Gators ahead 14-13 at halftime. Knight’s 2-yard touchdown run in the third quarter extended the lead, but Columbus (3-6, 1-3) had the better finishing kick.

The Falcons ripped off 20 straight points, with a pair of touchdown runs by Henderson and a 12-yarder by Latham, to take a 33-20 lead early in the fourth quarter.

Knight got the Gators back within one score on a 47-yard touchdown reception with 8:37 left, but Columbus’ Shaun Williams scored on a 9-yard run with about a minute to go to seal it.

“Just mistakes. Mistakes killed us tonight again. We’ve just got to do the right stuff right,” Lacey said.