Being 0-4 has done little to help Vicksburg coach Alonzo Stevens’ home life.

“I love to win. And we’ve won here. You’re always going to have ups and downs. But it’s no doubt this season has taxed me a lot. It’s been hard for me to sleep. When I go home, I’m a grouch. When my wife and daughter see me, they go the other way,” Stevens said.

At least tonight’s game at Grenada (2-2) represents a fresh start of sorts. It’s the start of Region 2-6A play, and a chance for the Gators to shake off an abysmal first month of the season.

Vicksburg has turned the ball over 20 times and scored just 14 offensive points, while the opposition has scored 42 points or more in all four losses.

Stevens has received plenty of grief both from the Internet and on the street.

“It’s time for us to start playing better because we did absolutely nothing in the first four games. If it’s me, so be it. When you lose 35 seniors, and they were quality seniors who were good athletes, it’s going to be hard. When I was at Alcorn, I could go out and get a 6-foot-6, 300-pound left tackle. Here, I’ve got to go with the 5-8, 185-pound guy,” Stevens said.

Turnovers have been the Gators’ biggest problem. They had three in the first 14 minutes of last week’s 48-7 loss to Lawrence County. All three were turned into scores and the Gators found themselves down 21-0 and out of the game. But there have been other problems as well, including injuries and inexperience. Leading tackler Kederrick Parson (ankle) and senior cornerback Harold Pickett (quadriceps) are the latest injuries.

Stevens said Parson, who has been one of the team’s best players at defensive end, should suit up tonight but may be limited.

“We finally get Harold Pickett back and then we lose Parson. We’ve got talent, but it’s very young talent. I’m seeing improvement in some people. All we can do is to continue to work and teach,” Stevens said.

The Gators will face a Grenada club that is all too familiar with bad seasons. The Chargers were 0-11 last year.

With a new coaching staff and an easier non-region schedule, Grenada is 2-2. They’re led by quarterback Channing Martin, who is 27-of-50 passing for 317 yards and two TDs on the season.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com