Like most of the recent editions of the Vicksburg-Warren Central rivalry, Friday night’s game came down to the final frantic moments.

And, like most of the recent editions, it had the same result.

A.J. Stamps caught three touchdown passes, Darius Youngblood rushed for 155 yards and a score, and Vicksburg claimed its fifth consecutive win over Warren Central, 28-23.

Since losing 22 of the first 24 meetings in the rivalry, Vicksburg has won five of the last six. Four of the last five games have been decided by a touchdown or less. The eventual winning score on Friday night came midway through the fourth quarter, and Vicksburg fended off a last-ditch drive by WC to hang on.

“It was a great game. Every year we’ve played them it’s been a great game,” said Vicksburg quarterback Cameron Cooksey, who completed 15 of 27 passes for 185 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception. “It seems like it doesn’t matter what the record is between us. It’s always a good game. We come ready to play and we want it on both sides.”

The win also kept Vicksburg’s playoff hopes alive. The Gators (4-6, 2-4 Region 2-6A) can reach the postseason for the first time since 2008 by beating Clinton in next week’s season finale.

Warren Central (1-9, 1-5), meanwhile, was eliminated from the race and will miss the playoffs for the second straight year. It’ll wrap up the season next week at home against Jim Hill.

WC twice cut a two-touchdown deficit to five against Vicksburg, but couldn’t get closer. After using a safety and a 10-yard TD run by Curtis Ross to make it 21-16 in the third quarter, Cooksey tossed a 12-yard TD pass to Stamps on a wide receiver screen to put the Gators back in front by 12 points.

“We had all of the momentum on our side when we got that safety. We had our chances offensively. We just couldn’t convert,” WC coach Josh Morgan said.

Stamps’ third touchdown catch of the night was a big blow, but not a fatal one for the Vikings. They got back within a single score when Aaron Stamps pushed his way into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 28-23 with 3:44 remaining.

And then, as so often happens in this rivalry, things took a dramatic turn.

WC elected to kick the ball deep and rely on its defense to stop Vicksburg’s potent offense. The tactic worked, and the Vikings got the ball back at their own 28 with 1:47 left on the clock.

Aaron Stamps — who finished with 180 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries — ran for 10 yards on first down, but then the Vikings stalled. Quarterback Chase Ladd missed on a deep pass on second down, a short pass on third down was stopped for a 1-yard gain, and Ladd’s fourth-down pass was knocked away from the receiver.

Moments later, the Gators hoisted the brand-new River City Classic trophy for the first time and celebrated yet another victory over WC.

“It feels good, but this ain’t the one we want,” said A.J. Stamps, who caught seven passes for 104 yards . “We ‘re trying to get to the playoffs. We want that state trophy, not this little one. This is just a step. A step to the next step.”