The Vicksburg Gators have a pretty simple plan for tonight’s monster battle with Warren Central: Protect the ball.

The Gators (6-4, 3-3) need a win, or at least a Clinton win over Provine, to qualify for the playoffs and earn a date with No. 1 ranked South Panola next week. To get there, they will need to play a carbon-copy game like they had last week in a 34-0 rout of Murrah at Memorial Stadium.

&#8220I really feel we came full circle last Friday night in the win over Murrah,” VHS coach Alonzo Stevens said. &#8220We finally put a complete game together. Now, we need another of those type games.”

Against Warren Central, that could be a tall order. Vicksburg has won only twice in the 24-game series history, the last in 2002. They’ve never beaten WC in Viking Stadium.

Still, the Gators have confidence heading into the final regular season game with their archrivals.

&#8220Turnovers have always been a big part of this game. We have to protect the ball,” Stevens said. &#8220We’ve got to be smart and don’t make the dumb mistakes.”

&#8220We just need to go out and play our game,” said VHS defensive back Gerald Mims.

Turnovers have been the big problem for the Gators this season in their losses.

They committed four in a 28-0 loss at Madison Central two weeks ago. A similar number were lost in a 13-12 loss to Provine.

&#8220It’s going to take all of us together and being on the same page and manage our game plan,” added linebacker Harold Knight who is second on the team in tackles with 83.

The Gators are expecting sophomore Stanton Price to be ready at quarterback. Price went down in the first half against Murrah with a sprained ankle and did not return.

”He’s been day-to-day, but on Tuesday he showed a lot more mobility and the swelling has gone down,” Stevens said.

Price has thrown for 835 yards on 66-of-149 passing, but he has been picked off 14 times.

Look for the Gators to try and power the football with fullbacks Chavous McWhorter and Jomar Hunt along with wingbacks Delmon Robinson and Tyler Wells.

Wells and McWhorter have combined for 884 yards rushing, while Robinson got to run more at wingback last week against Murrah. He also is the Gators’ leading receiver with 397 yards on 28 receptions. But with Vernon Wolfe (23 for 305) and Jordan Henry at the wideouts, Stevens would like to run Robinson more.

&#8220He’s like our Reggie Bush. We need to get the ball into Delmon’s hands,” he said.

The Gators’ defense has played well all season and has allowed only 174 yards in total offense per game. They have also forced 21 turnovers, including 13 interceptions.

Defensive back Willis McGowan leads the talented Gators’ defense with seven interceptions, three of those going for touchdowns.