[11/11/03]Hurricane Hales and Warren Central ravaged through Viking Stadium to win the 21st of 23 meetings between the Vikings and Gators 35-6 on Friday.

In the aftermath, Vicksburg is left to patch up its wounded ego as it prepares for a first-round playoff appearance against West Point.

Two years ago, Vicksburg found itself in a similar position during Alonzo Stevens’ first year as the Gators’ head coach.

Coming off a debilitating 27-14 loss to Warren Central, Vicksburg entered the playoffs with hopes of bouncing back. The Gators did just that and went all the way to the North State championship game.

“We’re in the playoffs just like we were two years ago, and we went further than (Warren Central) did,” VHS wide receiver Ben Shelton said, adding that the loss to the Vikings doesn’t matter anymore. “We’re still in the playoffs. It’s still lose and you’re out in the playoffs, so they could lose and we could keep going.”

One of the biggest questions that must be answered concerns a Gator defense that allowed 35 points for the biggest deficit in series history since a 55-15 annihilation in 1982.

VHS, which had allowed 21 points in their previous five contests, often looked confused and outmatched against Warren Central.

“They came out pushing the ball, and they did pretty good,” Vicksburg defensive back William Erves said. “Hats off to them.”

Vicksburg gave up 223 yards, mostly because of Warren Central’s field position throughout the game.

Three of the Vikings’ five touchdown drives were from 50 yards or closer, thanks to turnovers by the Gators’ offense and poor play by the special teams unit.

In the second quarter alone Warren Central racked up 21 points off Vicksburg mistakes.

Four minutes into the period, missed tackles allowed WC’s Otis Stamps to return a punt to the Vicksburg 12. Christian Hales hit Ferdale Carr on the next play to give the Vikings a 14-0 lead.

Five plays later, James Jackson’s interception set the Vikings up with good field position again. Warren Central ran three times for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Three plays after that, Jackson threw his second pick which was returned to the Vicksburg 4. Larry Warner capitalized on the first play, and WC entered halftime with a 28-0 advantage.

“To me it was a carbon-copy of the Southaven game,” Stevens said. “We just played on a short field. Nothing good’s going to come if you play on a short field.

“… We just didn’t play, and the buck stops here. We’ve just got to go back and figure out what we did and get ready for the playoffs.”

Getting that defense ready will be more difficult now with the injury to star linebacker Rory Johnson. The standout senior tore his anterior cruciate ligament and is lost for the season.

“He had a good week of practice, and I thought at that point that we needed a boost, and we felt that maybe that could be it,” Stevens said. “We wind up with our Achilles’ heel.”