It’s almost fitting that the Gators Region champion will, in fact, be a team of Gators.

The 1973 squad was the first at the modern version of Vicksburg High. Formed from the merger of Cooper and Temple, and then North and South Vicksburg during desegregation, the ‘73 Gators only allowed 26 points and three touchdowns in 11 games. One of those came in the Big 8 championship game, which ended in a 7-7 tie vs. Greenwood.

Vicksburg was picked as the state champion by a poll of Mississippi’s sports writers, however, for its first title since Carr Central won it in 1955.

The 1990 Vicksburg Gators, meanwhile, had a season built like a sandwich. They started 5-0, lost two of the next three — with the one victory the program’s first ever over Warren Central — and then ripped off four consecutive wins to reach the MHSAA Class 5A semifinals.

The Gators’ defense, led by linebacker Ronnie Taylor, had two shutouts and allowed 12 points during the late-season winning streak. They lost 21-20 to Tupelo in the semifinals, but still had one of the best seasons in school history.

It’s Gators vs. Gators, for the Gators Region championship. Vote for a winner at vicksburgpost.com.