Tonight’s renewal of the Vicksburg-Warren Central rivalry is all about pride.

The winner of the game does have an outside chance at the playoffs, but with both teams struggling through disappointing season, a win tonight could be a welcome boost going into the off-season.

“This game, for our senior class, is the rest of our lives,” Vicksburg senior wide receiver Milan Nasif said. “We’ve won three years in a row and we want to make it four, which is our whole high school career. As far as this game goes for this team, it’s a pick-me-up for next season. Last year, when we beat them, it gave us drive to keep working and try to better ourselves.”

On the other side, the Vikings seek to end the streak.

“We’re very excited about this game,” WC wide receiver Malcom Grant said. “You grow up as a kid wanting to play in this game.”

The Vikings are quick to brush off any lingering feelings from the past three years, when Vicksburg has come out on top in three tight games.

“It’s a big game for us, our program and our community,” Warren Central coach Josh Morgan said. “We’re not thinking about the streak. This is this year’s team vs. this year’s team.”

Vicksburg (1-8, 1-4 in Region 2-6A) is coming off its most disappointing loss of the season, a 38-37 shocker to previously winless Murrah, while Warren Central (2-7, 1-4) lost 21-0 to Clinton.

“We’re playing for pride and that’s enough said,” Vicksburg coach Alonzo Stevens said. “You’re at a point where reality that it has been a long season and it hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to go. It’s the biggest game of the year. It’s our BCS. It’s our playoff game. It’s a season that we’re both trying to build toward the future.”