For vastly different reasons, Vicksburg and Warren Central both need a win tonight.

For many of the same reasons, there’s no one else they’d rather face to get it.

The Gators and Vikings hook up for the 29th installment of Warren County’s Super Bowl tonight at Viking Stadium. Vicksburg (0-9, 0-5 Region 2-6A) has won two in a row, and three of the last four games in the series — after losing 20 of the first 21 meetings. Making it three in a row would salvage something from a train wreck of a season that has the very real possibility of being the first winless campaign for a Vicksburg High squad since Carr Central went 0-10 in 1952.

Avoiding that fate, and doing it against their archrival, would be a season highlight for the Gators.

“As long as we beat Warren Central, that’s all we want. That’s all we have left, is to beat Warren Central,” Vicksburg defensive end Jarvis McDaniel said.

For Warren Central (5-4, 3-2), the game has even more meaning. Most of its players haven’t beaten Vicksburg as varsity starters. They also haven’t been to the playoffs, and a win tonight would allow them to cross both accomplishments off the list.

WC can clinch its first playoff berth since 2005 by winning one of its last two games, and would finish third in Region 2-6A by winning both. A loss to Vicksburg would send them into a must-win game at home next week against Grenada. That’s motivation enough to keep the Vikings focused this week. Beating the Gators is just gravy.

“Anytime you can beat Vicksburg makes it even sweeter,” WC offensive lineman Steven Jordan said. “Just because it’s the first time they’ve ever beaten us twice in a row. We’ve got to get the series going back our way.”

Although both teams will give their best effort of the year, this edition of Gators-Vikings appears to be a mismatch on paper. Vicksburg is winless at this point in the season for the first time since 1969. Including the records of VHS’ predecessor schools Cooper and Carr Central, there have only been three winless seasons in the program’s history — 1912, 1923 and 1952. The 1912 team only played two games, while the 1923 team played five, and both squads earned one tie.

All of the losing has brought coach Alonzo Stevens under fire from the fan base and made these tough times to be a Gator.

“It’s hard for us. We’ve got to take it around the school and around town. It’s hard,” McDaniel said, adding that beating WC “will make us feel like a team.”

By contrast, this is Warren Central’s best season in four years. The program that made 21 consecutive playoff appearances is on the cusp of getting back there. Led by tailback Tim Jones (1,240 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing) and quarterback Beau Wallace (619 yards and three TDs passing), the Vikings are a force again. A win tonight not only locks up a playoff berth but also assures WC of its first winning regular-season recrd since 2005.

“We as coaches emphasize the importance of making the playoffs. That’s something extra,” WC coach Curtis Brewer said. “It’s something we want to do. It’s a reward. Something you can put in your scrapbook and keep from now on.”

Kind of like a win over your archrival.

“It’d be awesome. We’ve been talking about it, but the coaches say ‘don’t talk about. Do it,’” Wallace said. “We can’t look by this game because they’re 0-9. We’ve got to whup ‘em like they stole something from us.”*

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Contact Ernest Bowker at ebowker@vicksburgpost.com