Vicksburg quarterback Eugene Morgan (10) is sacked by Madison Central’s Mario Butler (94) and Sean Radar (27) during the first quarter on Friday. (Jon GiffinThe Vicksburg Post)

[10/23/04]In Vicksburg High’s locker room, the coaches hung several photocopies this week with pictures of Madison Central running backs Jonathan Vance and Reggie Hicks. Next to the pictures was written, “You can’t stop us!”

It turns out the pages were right.

Madison Central used its power running game to dominate Vicksburg’s highly touted defense in a 32-0 shutout for homecoming on Friday. All of MC’s points were scored in the first half, in which the Jaguars picked up nine first downs and never once punted or turned over on downs.

“It seemed like everything they ran worked for them,” said VHS defensive back Marcus Harris, who had an interception. “We went through a couple of our defenses in the first half, and nothing was working for us.”

The win guarantees Madison a spot in the playoffs, while Vicksburg is all but eliminated from the postseason with its worst loss of the year.

“We just did not rise to the occassion,” VHS coach Alonzo Stevens said. “It was the first time this year we got outplayed on the field by a team that wanted it badder than we did.”

The Jaguars (7-2, 4-1 Region 2-5A) ran for 241 yards on 45 carries, led by Hicks with 116 yards and two touchdowns (19, 5). Vance added 71 yards and a TD (1), and Tim Buckley threw for 108 yards and a score (4).

“It really wasn’t me, it was the O-line,” said Hicks, who had two runs of more than 30 yards. “Those holes in the beginning of the game were huge. Anybody could have run through them.”

MC’s defense held the Gators (4-5, 2-3) to 104 yards of total offense, and 19 rushing yards on 22 carries.

Madison started the game on a short field after a Gator punt and drove 42 yards on eight running plays to take a 6-0 lead.

On Vicksburg’s first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, Shannon Tillman fumbled and MC’s Tommie Cooper picked it up and ran 32 yards for a touchdown.

Madison got in one more score in the first quarter, and it took only two plays. Vance ripped off a 29-yard run, and Hicks followed with a 19-yard TD scamper to give MC an 18-0 lead with 3:09 left in the period.

“We came out and got the jump on them, got the punch on them,” MC coach Ted Taylor said. “They couldn’t rise back up to play.

“We went through homecoming two weeks ago, and it’s tough to keep your players focused on the game … They’re a lot better than that. I don’t think we’re 32 points better than them.”

Vicksburg finally picked up its initial first down of the game on a 19-yard run by Chavous McWhorters, but the Gators punted again soon after.

Madison put together another long drive and capped it with a 4-yard TD pass. Another three-and-out by Vicksburg followed, and Hicks picked up his second score to give the Jags a 32-0 halftime lead.

The Gators’ defense buckled down and allowed only 36 rushing yards in the second half, but it was too late.

“It’s a character thing now,” Stevens said of the rest of the season. “It’s now how much pride you have because you can still salvage a winning season.”