[10/1/04]Losing the region opener can give coaches headaches. The way Vicksburg lost last week’s 6-3 game at Grenada nearly gives coach Alonzo Stevens migraines.

The Gators (2-3, 0-1 Region 2-5A) shot themselves in the foot all night with unforced mistakes and penalties, and the ball just didn’t bounce their way in a game Stevens felt Vicksburg deserved to win.

Chavous McWhorters had a run of more than 50 yards called back for a clipping penalty. Shannon Tillman bobbled a reception that landed right in the hands of a Grenada defender for an interception.

After Grenada scored its touchdown to take a 6-3 lead late in the game, Tyler Wells ran the kickoff back to the Grenada 8-yard line, only to have it brought back by a flag.

“It’s Murphy’s Law right now. Everything bad that can happen, it seems like it’s happening to us,” Stevens said. “We are playing outstanding football, I believe, as a team.”

Still, the Gators find themselves fighting an uphill battle in region play, heading into tonight’s game at Clinton at 7.

Stevens said the players have remained upbeat and returned to practice on Monday ready to work.

“These guys come back in Monday practices and I thought we had won 6-3,” he said. “It’s a positive attitude. I just told them to keep playing out there and play through it. We’re long overdue for one, and I don’t know where, but we’re long overdue for one.”

Clinton is off to a slow start as well, but don’t be fooled by the 1-4 record. The Arrows have played their share of tough teams, including No. 5 Meridian, No. 14 Brookhaven, Northwest Rankin and Madison Central.

Put a pair of struggling teams in the same pot, and it creates a volatile mixture.

“You’ve got two good football teams that are extremely dangerous in Vicksburg and Clinton,” Stevens said. “We’ve just got to put it together.”

Vicksburg’s defense has been outstanding through a brutal opening schedule that featured powerhouse teams such as No. 14 Brookhaven, No. 4 Gulfport and No. 7 South Pike. The Gators have held some of the state’s top offenses to 15 points a game.

Excluding the 52-6 win over lowly Natchez, the Gators offense has been downright anemic, averaging 10 points per game.

Stevens has challenged his offense to step up and match the intensity of the defense.

Clinton quarterback Brandon Boone leads the way on offense as the Arrows have struggled to put together a solid rushing attack. Clinton’s offense has had its share of woes, notching 20 points only once in five games.

But VHS defensive back Marcus Harris said Clinton has the ability to move the ball on the ground or in the air.

“We’ve seen two sides of them,” he said. “When they played at Madison, they pounded the ball. When they played against Northwest Rankin, they tried to air it out. We’re just going to be ready for both and we feel like we can stop both.”

Stevens compared the Gators to television cartoons such as Captain Planet or Voltron, in which individual parts unite to become stronger.

“We are a team that together we can be awesome, but we’ve got to be together,” he said. “We’re not strong enough to have a lot of individuals play.”

One of the two teams will find itself at 0-2 in region play, with a slim chance of making the playoffs in a strong division that features Warren Central, Madison Central and Grenada each at 4-1 on the season and 1-0 in the region.

“Every game is a must-win now, and that’s only going to make us play even harder,” Harris said.