[10/12/02]Vicksburg High walked away from Jackson’s Newell Field feeling mighty fortunate.

The Gators (5-2, 3-0 Region 2-5A) kept pace with Warren Central with a 27-26 win over Murrah on Friday night.

The Mustangs (1-6, 0-3) scored 26 points in the fourth quarter and were driving for a potential winning score late in the fourth before time ran out.

“We do feel very lucky,” Vicksburg assistant coach Tim Hughes said. “We did not play anywhere near the level we are capable, but we made it out of here.”

Darrell Williams, filling in for the injured Phelan Gray, led all rushers with 126 yards on 21 carries and Michael Rainey had 107 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown in the win.

Quarterback Justin Henry threw for only 68 yards and a 14-yard TD pass to Ben Shelton, but Hughes said the Gators ran mostly in the second half to keep Murrah’s offense off the field.

Jermaine Wright had a 96-yard fumble return for a score late in the second quarter as Vicksburg held a 14-0 halftime lead.

Rainey’s 10-yarder in the third upped the lead to 21-0 before the Mustangs’ comeback. Chris Cox added a 64-yard fumble return for a score in the fourth quarter as Murrah started its comeback.

The Mustangs scored on two long pass plays, a run and a punt return all in the fourth quarter.

The Gators will play a key region game next week at Clinton, which is in second place in the region.