Old rivals to battle when VHS tackles Clarksdale|[08/31/07]

Published 12:00 am Friday, August 31, 2007

They used to be rivals in the old Big Eight Conference. Through the 1960s and 1970s, Clarksdale and Vicksburg, whether they were called the Greenies or the Gators, were regular-season foes in the Delta Zone.

Back then, Vicksburg dominated the Wildcats.

When the teams meet tonight at Viking Stadium in the Red Carpet Bowl, it will be the Gators, who will be considered the heavy underdog. Beginning in the 1990s and through this decade, Clarksdale has become one of the strongest Class 4A programs in the state. Theyve won four state titles and were a finalist last year, losing to Wayne County on the final drive of the game.

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If youre going to do anything in 4A, you have to go through Clarksdale, VHS coach Alonzo Stevens said. I know this Clarksdale team is one good football team. It may be the best one Ive seen in a long time. Theyve brought most everybody back.

Clarksdale returns seven starters on both offense and defense off a team that finished 13-2 last year. The lone two losses were to four-time Class 5A champ South Panola and to Wayne County in the 4A title game. Clarksdale hosts South Panola, who beat Warren Central Thursday night in the first of the two RCB games, next week.

Stevens main concern with the Wildcats is their returning starter at quarterback in Brandon Williams. Williams leads anattack that saw him complete 78 of 162 passes for 1,091 yards and 15 TDs.

They have a quarterback who can run and throw, but I think hes more dangerous when he runs. If he gets outside your ends, he can take it to the house. He reminds me a lot of Derek Pegues when he was at South Panola, Stevens said.

The Wildcats also have a prominent running back in Charles Mitchell, who doubles as an All-State defensive back. Mitchell ran for 1,151 yards and 12 touchdowns last year, but it is at corner where Mitchell will find himself next year in college.

The Gators will counter with what could be an explosive offense built around Mississippi State commitment Delmon Robinson. Last year, Robinson platooned between tailback to slot back to receiver. He had 299 yards as a receiver and 292 as a rusher, but Stevens said those numbers will be nothing compared to what he expects this season.

We want to get the ball to our game-breakers and what is so good about making Delmon our tailback is that hes going to get the ball a lot. Not only is he going to run the ball, but well be able to use him as the check-off guy for Stanton as a receiver out of the backfield.