From staff reports

CANTON — Malcolm Butler’s 46-yard touchdown run in the second quarter keyed the Vicksburg Gators to a 41-0 rout of Canton Friday night.

With the win, Vicksburg (7-2, 5-1 Region 3-4A) can finish no worse than third in the region heading into next week’s regular season finale at Memorial Stadium against Ridgeland. If the Gators beat Ridgeland, they will clinch a home playoff game in the first round on Nov. 6 against the second-place team from Region 1-4A.

Senior linebacker Carlos Williams scored the Gators’ first touchdown on a 3-yard run while lined up as the fullback. Patrick Parker followed with the first of five PAT kicks.

Butler had the first of his two touchdown runs from 61 yards out. Trey Prentiss scored on a 25-yard TD run to put the Gators up 27-0 at the half.

Vicksburg finished it off with  a 6-yard TD pass from Les Lemons to Kurt Cooksey. Jeremy Hamlin scored on a 5-yard run.

Butler ended with 107 yards on just two carries, both touchdowns. Lemons was 7-of-17 passing for 98 yards. Dominique Taylor caught two passes for 36 yards.