[10/10/03]Vicksburg High has rebounded well from a poor start. The Gators (3-3) find themselves as one of three undefeated teams in Region 2-5A. In the past two weeks, they’ve picked up wins against No. 15 Grenada and last year’s region co-champion Clinton, but VHS coach Alonzo Stevens isn’t ready to pack his bags for the playoffs just yet.

“If we’re going to have a chance in this, the defense is going to have to continue to get better,” Stevens said. “We’re going to ride the defense as far as we can. We think if we’re going to win a championship, we’re going to win it with defense.”

The defense has shown signs of improvement.

Vicksburg’s 26-14 win over Clinton last week was, surprisingly, its most lopsided victory of the season. It was also the fewest points the defense allowed, since giving up 14 to Natchez earlier in the year.

“I think this team, all year, the one trademark is we continue to improve and improve,” Stevens said. “I just want to see another step toward that improvement this Friday night, just go out and play like we’re capable of playing.”

Rory Johnson and Roderick Erves each notched 10 tackles as Vicksburg contained Clinton’s star running back Paul Cavett.

Not counting Cavett’s 48-yard touchdown run, the Gator defense stifled him for 90 yards on 26 rushes, for an average of 3.4 yards per carry.

“They’re getting better and more aggressive,” Stevens said. “They’re cutting down on mistakes and penalties, and that’s a good thing.”

Tonight when Vicksburg squares off with Forest Hill (3-3, 0-2) at 7 on South Jackson Field, it will face a similar ground game to Clinton’s.

The only difference is that Forest Hill attacks defenses with its running quarterback, Tommy Burrell.

“This kid can turn around a game. He’s got good speed and he’s a heady-up type of guy,” Stevens said of Burrell.

Vicksburg seems to be headed in the right direction ever since the Natchez loss on Sept. 12. Stevens thinks the team’s low point helped his players believe in the coaching system and turned the season around for his team.

“Everything has a reason,” he said. “We played some good teams. It seems right now we’ve learned from those mistakes. We’ve seen when we’re not playing and when we’re not executing what happens then.

“We’ve just got to go in there and play hard-nosed Gator football. That’s what I want to see. It’s coming, but it’s still not where I want it.”