Knowledgeable sports fans in Warren County will likely agree that the Vicksburg-Warren Central rivalry is the most heated.

But when either school plays Clinton, the intensity level matches, if not surpasses, that of the intra-county rivalry.

There should be no lack of emotion on Saturday when both the Missy Gators and Gators meet Clinton in the Class 5A state soccer playoffs. The Missy Gators (14-11) are scheduled for an 11 a.m. start at Memorial Stadium.

That leaves more than enough time for fans to reach Clinton for the Gators’ (15-8-1) matchup with the third-ranked Arrows (19-3-4) at 2 p.m.

The winner of each game advances to the North State championship on Tuesday.

&#8220We’re going to have to pass more and our defense has to step up another notch,” said Vicksburg’s Michael Cooper, who scored a pair of goals and had three assists in a 6-1 win over Horn Lake in the playoff opener. &#8220Hopefully we can get the ball in the net and come out with a win.”

The Gators scored two goals within the first 15 minutes against Horn Lake and cruised the rest of the way. Conversely, the Arrows, who finished second in Division 4-5A to Northwest Rankin, needed a pair of second-half goals to beat Tupelo in Tuesday’s first game. It marked the ninth time this season the Arrows have had to come back to win a game.

&#8220Our guys play with a lot of heart,” Clinton coach Jeff Long said. &#8220We play all 80 minutes and don’t give up. We seem to turn it up a notch when we get behind.”

These two are certainly no strangers. Less than a month ago, Clinton shut down Vicksburg in a 3-0 victory, and last season defeated the Gators in the Class 5A state championship game. Vicksburg was classified in the South last season before redistricting. Clinton won last year’s state championship, 2-0.

Before the boys kick off, though, two old rivals will battle again with a chance to advance to the North State championship game.

Vicksburg needed a Holly Head goal to slip past Southaven 1-0 on Tuesday night. The Missy Gators outshot the Lady Chargers 20-1, but could only muster a single goal.

Clinton breezed past Grenada 4-0 in its opening game.

The winner of Saturday’s game will play either Madison Central or undefeated Tupelo in the North State title game on Tuesday.

The Gators-Arrows winner will battle either Southaven or second-ranked Northwest Rankin, also on Tuesday.