The good news in Friday’s home opener was Vicksburg outscored visiting Jim Hill 28-21 in the second half.

The bad news?

Jim Hill owned a 21-0 lead at the break and held on for a 42-28 win over Vicksburg in the Region 2-6A opener for both teams.

In the first half, eight dropped passes, busted coverages in the back end and turnovers proved to be Vicksburg’s (1-4, 0-1) undoing.

“You just can’t spot a team 21 points in the first half,” Vicksburg coach Tavares Johnson Sr. said. “If it wasn’t one thing, it was another. We’ve just got to find people who can make some plays.”

On the Tigers’ first series, Justin Tidwell found a wide-open Alex Williams for a 42-yard swing pass TD and Joshua Palm’s PAT put Jim Hill in front, 7-0.

A Vicksburg fumble set the Tigers (3-2, 1-0) at midfield and five plays later, Marjarvis McGee scored on an 8-yard run. The PAT gave the Tigers a 14-0 lead with 10:35 remaining in the second quarter.

The Gators finally got the offense in gear, as Tavares Johnson Jr. hit a couple of big completions. But a fumbled option pitch was scooped up by Jim Hill in Vicksburg territory and Tidwell scored three plays later from 20 yards out to give the Tigers a 21-0 lead going into the break.

Jim Hill added to their lead on their second series of the third quarter, as Tidwell found a wide-open Williams for a 60-yard completion down to the Vicksburg 15. Running back Zackary Tidwell scored on the next play to give Jim Hill a commanding 28-0 lead.

Vicksburg finally showed signs of life on their next drive. Terrell Smith, who rushed for 126 yards — all in the second half — had a couple of big carries and Jalen Williams took the direct snap 2 yards to paydirt to put Vicksburg on the board.

The Gators’ defense appeared on the verge of giving their offense another opportunity with a three-and-out, but Zackary Tidwell took the fake punt 40 yards to give the Tigers a new set of downs. He later went 35 yards for a score to put Jim Hill up 35-7 at the end of the third.

In the fourth quarter, Johnson Jr. scored a 20-yard option keeper to cap an 8-play, 64-yard drive to cut the deficit to 35-14.

Vicksburg was forced to go for an onside kick, but Zackary Tidwell caught the ball on the hop and sprinted 50 yards to the end zone.

Johnson Jr. added a 6-yard score and Smith capped the night for Vicksburg with a 42-yard scamper.

“Everybody pulled together and just focused,” Johnson Jr. said about the much-improved second half offensively. “We just ran out of time.”

JIM HILL 42, VICKSBURG 28

Records: Vicksburg (1-4, 0-1 Region 2-6A); Jim Hill (3-2, 1-0)

The skinny: Mistake-prone Gators can’t overcome bad first half

Up next: Vicksburg at Northwest Rankin, Friday, 7:30 p.m.