Vicksburg coach Alonzo Stevens knew early on his team was in trouble against Pearl. He’s hoping that won’t be the case tonight when the Gators head to Yazoo City for a key Region 3-4A contest.

Pearl ran roughshod over the Gators (3-2, 1-1 Region) from the opening kickoff and went on to post a 40-13 victory. The Pirates rushed for more than 300 yards and got four touchdowns from tailback Chester Horne.

“We played like we were in a daze all night. In 30 years of coaching, I had never seen a Vicksburg team just kind of stand still on a kickoff return. No way would I have thought Pearl could rush for over 200 yards on us. They just whupped us big,” Stevens said.

The Gators must recover quickly or could face a repeat against a Yazoo City club that leads the region at 2-0.

“Yazoo City is a very good football team. We will have to play. I know we can’t play no worse than we did against Pearl,” Stevens said.

And if the Gators need any reminders, they could just look back to last year when the Indians rallied from a 9-0 halftime deficit to beat Vicksburg 22-15 at Memorial Stadium.

This year’s Indians (4-1, 2-0) feature one of the best defensive lineman in the state in Fletcher Cox.

“Fletcher Cox may be the most outstanding defensive lineman in the state. It starts with his legs. He’s much like Michael Myers,” Stevens said in comparing Fletcher to the former Gator great who went on star at Alabama and become a starter in the NFL with the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals.

“He’s going to be a force to deal with. But they’ve got other good players as well. The other defensive tackle (No. 53) can come after you. They have a good wide receiver and they have a good little quarterback who can run and throw,” Stevens said.

Central Hinds at Benton

With a month left in the regular season, it feels like the playoffs are already starting for Central Hinds.

The Cougars play at Benton tonight in a pivotal game in the District 5-A race. Nothing will be settled — both teams must still play frontrunner Porters Chapel and a handful of other district opponents — but the winner will have the inside track on one of the district’s two automatic playoff berths. The loser, meanwhile, will only have four more games to scramble into position for a wild-card berth.

Central Hinds (3-3) is currently ranked seventh in the power point rankings for the South half of the Class A playoff bracket.

Benton Academy (3-3) is ninth and Veritas (3-2), another District 5-A team, is eighth. Two wild card teams, determined by the final power point rankings, make it to the playoffs.

“The biggest one so far. It’s got playoff implications. If we win, we feel like we have a legitimate shot to finish no worse than second in the district,” Central Hinds coach Bobby Allen said.

Tallulah at Trinity

Before this season, Justin Horath had never played running back in a regular-season game. He’s making the adjustment rather nicely.

The senior had his second straight game of 190 or more yards last week in a 34-12 win over Wilkinson Christian, and has quickly become Tallulah Academy’s most potent weapon.

Horath has rushed for an area-best 814 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, including 388 yards and seven TDs in the last two games. He’s also tied for the team lead with 11 receptions for 119 yards.

Horath played on the line last season, but played running back in the Trojans’ spring game. Tallulah coach Doug Branning, who took over as coach in July, saw the film from that game and realized he had found his new tailback.

“He breaks as many tackles as any back I’ve seen. No one person is going to bring him down,” Branning said of the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Horath. “He’s much better now than he was at the beginning of the season.

“He’s running with better instinct.”

Horath may find the going tougher this week. Tallulah travels to Natchez to face Class AA power Trinity Episcopal, ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press’ private schools poll.

Forest Hill at P. Gibson

Port Gibson’s losing streak reached 12 games with last week’s 38-12 defeat to Florence

Port Gibson has been outscored in four games this season, 141-18 and scored only six points through its first three games, then registering 12 in the loss to Florence.

Barry Thompson also scored a touchdown for Port Gibson on a 35-yard run.

Madison Parish at Lake Providence

The Jaguars’(0-4) best chance at a win comes tonight with a trip to Lake Providence. Coach Toriano Wells’ team has scored just 20 points in four games and has been shutout twice.

This will also be the last non-district game as the Jaguars open District 1-3A play at Rayville next week.

SIA at G’ville Christian

The Confederates (1-5, 1-4)) head to Greenville to battle the Saints in a District 2-A play. SIA won its first game three weeks ago when they blasted North Sunflower Academy 48-6.

Briarfield at Central Holmes

The Rebels (4-2, 4-1) step back in district play tonight in Lexington when they visit Central Holmes. Last week, Briarfield was smashed by Academy AA champion Trinity Episcopal 61-29 at home.

Marshall at South Delta

The Bulldogs (3-2) open region play tonight when they host Tchula Marshall.

Last week, South Delta blanked Ruleville Central 32-0 in its last non-region tune-up game.