It’s the rivalry that’s divided the county between two schools.

In some places, just a short city block divides families who bleed red and those who bleed green.

Steve Wilson is the sports editor of the Vicksburg Post. He can be can reached at 601-636-4545, extension 142 or email.

It’s a rivalry that has seen the two teams wax and wane as the leaves continued their annual metamorphosis into a bright palate of golden yellows and reds as cool nights invade the River City.

All of those days in the August humidity running, pulling sleds and lifting weights come to fruition Friday.

The players know each other as rivals, some as friends, starting on the youth ballfields where they competed alongside and sometimes against each other.

To those outside the town, the rivalry’s 29th meeting has lost some luster. Warren Central (5-4, 3-2 Region 2-6A) has enjoyed a turnaround season and needs only a win over its archrival to lock up a spot in the Class 6A playoffs starting in two weeks.

Vicksburg is nearing the nadir of a winless swoon that has led to many disgruntled fans and parents clamoring for coach Alonzo Stevens’ job.

Think that means a walkover forWC? Think again.

When bragging rights are on the line, all bets are off.

The Gators (0-9) have absolutely nothing to lose and will redline the motor in the hopes of pulling an upset that may salvage or at least salve the wounds of a lost season. They will also be aiming to avoid infamy, as Vicksburg High has never gone winless in football. One of the predecessor schools for Vicksburg, Carr Central, went 0-10 in 1952. Losing 32 seniors and playing a schedule tougher than a mid-winter climb up Nepal’s most dangerous mountain, K2, didn’t help matters.

“If anyone says Vicksburg hasn’t played anybody, shame on them,” Stevens said. “Ocean Springs was ranked, Tylertown was ranked, Richwood (La.) was ranked. And when I say ranked, they didn’t just have playoff aspirations, but championship aspirations.”

Warren Central has plenty to play for, too. Win and a playoff berth is theirs, the end of three years of watching the postseason from the sidelines.

But the revenge motive is big, too. For the past two years, the Gators have won a pair of 7-0 games that the Vikings feel slipped away late. This came after the Vikings had dominated the series, winning 20 out of the first 21 meetings.

There are plenty of Viking starters who have never tasted victory over the the Gators.

A win would also serve as proof that the Vikings have stemmed the downward momentum of the past few years.

“It would be huge,” WC quarterback Beau Wallace said of the Vikings getting back to the playoffs. “We’ve been talking about it, but the coaches have said ‘Don’t talk about it, do it.’”

The chance for words to turn into deeds will come Friday night at Viking Field. Who will come through?