Football practice arrived Monday for Vicksburg’s three public school programs.

The St. Aloysius Flashes got off to an early start with an morning workout followed by an afternoon practice. Vicksburg High did the same while Warren Central went out only once with a 90-minute afternoon practice. Porters Chapel Academy had two practices scheduled for today.

For St. Al coach Jim Taylor, the first couple of days is vitally important.

&#8220We’re trying to put in our base offense so it’s good that we will have at least three days of two-a-days. We’re using the morning practice to work on our running game and then come back with the throwing game in the afternoon,” Taylor said.

Thirty-four players reported to work Monday morning, three fewer than expected. Two were excused because of family trips.

The Flashes will open the season at home on Thursday, Aug. 24, against archrival Cathedral.

At Warren Central, the Vikings had 80 players out.

&#8220We had a real good offseason turnout for our varsity players and a better than usual turnout from the ninth-graders,” WC coach Curtis Brewer said.

A key early emphasis for the Vikings is settling on a quarterback following Ryan Williams’ graduation.

&#8220We’re looking at three in Jacoby Johnson, Joel Harris and Keaton Sanders,” Brewer said. &#8220We’re leaning to Johnson but the other two are going to get to play in certain situations.”

Johnson, a junior, has the edge in experience while Harris and Sanders are sophomores.

The Vikings also have some holes to fill on defense with the departure of top players like Mississippi All-Star and Jackson State signee Desmond Carson, linebacker Dexter Carson, end Trey Ettinger, Chico Hunter and safety Tiger Robinson.

&#8220We’ve got two spots at linebacker and two on the defensive line we need to fill after we moved one of our d-linemen to linebacker,” Brewer said.

&#8220We’ve lost some good players like Trey, Carson, Tiger and Chico (Hunter). But I feel like we’ve got a promising bunch of youngsters coming up. We also like that we’ve got eight games in Warren County this season,” Brewer said.

The Vikings open the season Aug. 25 in the Red Carpet Bowl against Memphis Kirby at Vicksburg’s Memorial Stadium.

Across the county, the Vicksburg Gators took the field for the first time with 62 dressed out. Offensive coordinator Jackie Williamson said he expects that number to rise.

The Gators practiced twice on Monday and will have evening workouts beginning today.

&#8220It was the best morning-evening practice we’ve had in years,” Williamson said. &#8220Everyone was excited to get on the field and they felt confident in the things we were doing.”

Williamson said players’ conditioning was further along than expected.

&#8220We’ve spent a lot of time in the weight room,” Williamson said.

Vicksburg will try to advance to the playoffs again this season in a competitive Region 2-5A. The Gators made the playoffs last season following a 10-0 victory over Warren Central. VHS lost the first-round playoff game to eventual state champion South Panola.

Vicksburg opens the season against Indianola-Gentry in the Red Carpet Bowl on Aug. 25.