Warren Central remains 5A, changing local sports landscape for at least two years.

The numbers are in, and Vicksburg High is on the wrong end of them.

Vicksburg will drop to Class 4A after 20 years in Class 5A under the Mississippi High School Activities Association’s new reclassification plan. VHS had 1,088 students according to figures released Tuesday by the MHSAA, making it the largest Class 4A school. Hancock was the smallest Class 5A school, with 1,104 students.

A large freshman class boosted Warren Central’s enrollment to 1,244 students, ranking it 20th and keeping it safely in Class 5A.

The 32 largest schools in Mississippi are classified as 5A, and the next 56 are placed in 4A. The MHSAA reclassifies schools every two years based on enrollment numbers submitted by the school and verified through the state education department.

Vicksburg was in Class 4A from 1984-87, but has been in 5A ever since.

The MHSAA will release its division alignment for 2007-08 on Friday.

&#8220We didn’t deal with anything but numbers, and the numbers are pretty plain,” Vicksburg Warren athletic director Lum Wright Jr. said. &#8220We knew there were some schools that had grown. It wasn’t so much us getting smaller as some other schools getting bigger.”

Vicksburg was one of three schools to drop from 5A to 4A, along with Forest Hill and Moss Point. Terry, Petal and DeSoto Central made the move up.

It’s DeSoto County’s growth that could be a harbinger of things to come for Vicksburg. Placed in Class 4A when the MHSAA last realigned in 2004, DeSoto ranked 22nd in enrollment this time. Several other new schools in North Mississippi will also open soon and are expected to grow quickly. If they do, they may end up in 5A before long and push VHS further down the ladder.

For now, Wright said he planned to keep VHS’ athletic programs on a high level in anticipation of a return to 5A in the future.

&#8220I think Vicksburg is very competitive, and will be competitive at the 5A level,” Wright said. &#8220We’re going to try to keep those programs at a 5A level.”

Wright added that VHS and Warren Central will continue to play each other in all sports. The biggest change, however, will be noticed in football season.

The annual grudge match between Vicksburg and Warren Central has been played as the regular-season finale for both teams since the early 1990s. Now that they are no longer competing in the same region, the game will have to be moved to September.

Coaches on both sides said that is not necessarily a bad thing.

&#8220The quicker you play it, to me, and get it behind you, the better off you are,” WC head coach Curtis Brewer said. &#8220Vicksburg and Warren Central are going to have a tremendous challenge this summer preparing for their opening games. You won’t get to look over the Red Carpet Bowl if you want to get ready for each other.”

Other sports will also see tweaks to their schedules. Class 4A divisions for sports such as baseball, basketball and softball have seven teams rather than the four that 5A divisions feature. That makes it easier to fill out a schedule, but also means fewer opportunities for non-division games.

&#8220We’re looking to have 14 to 16 games scheduled before we do anything. That’s five to eight more games that we don’t have to schedule,” VHS baseball coach Jamie Creel said. &#8220We may not be able to play them two times, but we’ll be able to play Warren Central home and away, and a few others. It’ll knock out our spring break tournament, though.”

While Class 5A has bigger schools and, theoretically, more athletes and better teams, dropping to 4A doesn’t mean Vicksburg will face easier competition.

Class 4A mainstay Lanier is a perennial national power in boys’ basketball, and borderline schools like Wayne County and Moss Point – both of whom are in 4A for the next two years – have each won a state football title in Class 5A since 2000. The Gators’ Red Carpet Bowl opponent, Clarksdale, is one of the top football programs on any level.

&#8220Just because you go to 4A doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed a weak schedule,” said VHS offensive coordinator Jackie Williamson, who was the head coach at Class 4A Terry in 2003 and ‘04. &#8220I had plenty of nights in 4A that were just as rough as 5A. To me, they’re both real competitive. You can only line up 11. You can’t line up the other 700 or 800 you’ve got in the school.”

Dellie C. Robinson, the boys’ basketball coach at Vicksburg, said the next two seasons will be tough for his Gators. He pointed out that in addition to Lanier, schools like Canton, Gentry and Brookhaven all have solid teams that can hang with anyone – no matter the size.

&#8220In boys’ basketball, top to bottom, the teams in 4A are better. You’re not just talking about Lanier, you’re talking about some powerhouses,” Robinson said, before shifting gears and admitting that 5A is still more glamorous. &#8220Class 4A may be playing better basketball, but the prestige is in 5A. If you’re the 5A champion, it’s going to mean a little bit more because it’s bigger schools.”