Vicksburg rolls over Southaven, 30-6|[9/24/05]

Published 12:00 am Saturday, September 24, 2005

SOUTHAVEN – Vicksburg demonstrated the importance of the ‘foot’ in football on Friday night, kicking the Southaven Chargers on their homecoming, 30-6.

Gator kicker John Howard had four touchbacks and three punts inside the Southaven 10 to allow Vicksburg the advantage of short fields throughout the contest.

“Our defense played wonderful tonight. It was fun to watch them get after it,” VHS offensive coordinator Jackie Williamson said.

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After a scoreless first quarter, Vicksburg (3-1) drew first blood on a 2-yard touchdown run by Chavous McWhorter. The PAT by Howard put the Gators in front 7-0 with 8:32 to go in the first half.

Southaven (1-3) had a chance to tie with 3:58 left in the first half after the Chargers scored on a fake reverse with quarterback Joel Rich hooking up with tight end Bryan Rhoads on a 32-yard TD.

But, Charger kicker Jamie Cairns missed the extra point kick and Vicksburg held on to take a 7-6 lead into halftime.

The Gators’ special teams shined again in the third quarter as Willis McGowan returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown to put the Gators ahead 13-6 with 3:50 remaining in the third quarter.

After Howard’s punt backed Southaven to their own 2-yard line near the end of the period, the Gators’ Mario Gray picked off a pass and returned it 15 yards for a score to extend the lead to 20-6 after Howard’s PAT.

Howard added a 35-yard field goal with 5:35 left in the game to make the it 23-6.

The Vicksburg defense did the rest as McGowan picked off a pass by Rich and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown to make the final 30-6.

The Gators’ special teams and Southaven’s three turnovers helped turn around a game in which neither offense could get much going.

Southaven outgained Vicksburg by a 245-119 margin as the Gators got 44 yards passing and 75 yards rushing, while the Chargers mustered 100 yards through the air and 145 on the ground.

The Gators were coming off heels of a 30-14 loss to Hazlehurst last week.

“It always feels go to get back off a tough loss with a win,” Williamson said. “The best way to get over a loss is with a win.”

Vicksburg will open Region 2-5A play on Friday at home against Provine at 7:30 p.m.