Like all great rivalries, some of the best moments in the Vicksburg-Warren Central series have names attached to them.

There was “The Comeback,” when Warren Central rallied from 23 points down to win 35-23 in 1996, and last year’s 17-13 victory that snapped a five-game losing streak in the series.

On the Vicksburg side, 2002 brought “Finally,” when the Gators ended an 11-game losing streak in the series and won for just the second time in 22 years. Vicksburg was also on the right side of 2009’s “Monsoon,” a 13-7 double-overtime win witnessed by just a couple of hundred fans who braved a torrential downpour.

We’ll have to wait until Friday night to see exactly how the 2014 edition will be remembered. For now, appropriately, let’s call it “The Waiting Game.”

Both teams are led by quarterbacks who waited two years for their turn to shine behind entrenched starters.

Vicksburg’s Marquez Pickett played a good bit as a sophomore, when incumbent starter Tavares Johnson Jr. broke his leg midway through the season, then was shuttled back to the bench when Johnson returned last year.

With the exception of one game in 2012, Warren Central’s Alex Stevens sat patiently on the bench for two seasons soaking up whatever knowledge he could.

As juniors the two combined to throw a grand total of seven passes. Now that both are seniors, however, they’re showing that good things come to those who wait. Each signal caller has performed well and been an integral part of their team’s early success this season.

Pickett only threw nine passes in a 37-12 win over South Delta last week, but three of those went for touchdowns and he didn’t throw an interception. He also threw two touchdown passes in a Red Carpet Bowl loss to McComb.

Stevens threw for 156 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-6 win over Callaway last week and has yet to be intercepted this season. Warren Central’s defense forced six turnovers in that game, but coaches said it was Stevens’ steady play that was the real key to victory.

Both Pickett and Stevens will need to be on top of their games this week for their teams to win. Pickett needs to figure out a way to do what few others have done, and dissect WC’s stout defense. Stevens must continue to keep his team out of bad situations and make plays when necessary.

Both approaches will require plenty of skill, and also plenty of patience. Based on their high school careers so far, it looks like they’ve got that to spare.

Now it’s time to make a name not only their showdown this Friday, but for themselves.

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Ernest Bowker is a sports writer. He can be reached at 601-619-7920 or by email at ernest.bowker@vicksburgpost.com.