Gators headed to North State

Vicksburg High School football team advances to the third round of the playoffs for the first time in 21 years after defeating Callaway 27-22 on Friday.

“At this time of the year you don’t care how you win just as long as you win it,” VHS Head Coach Todd McDaniel said. I’m just happy for the guys and our defense stood up but all these guys fought through all kinds of adversity tonight.”

The Gators got on the board quickly as DeCorey Knight Jr. helped get VHS down the field to the one-yard line where Malik Montgomery drove in the short touchdown. Knight ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-0.

VHS then recovered a onside kick to get the ball back. Knight would breakout for a 25-yard touchdown a short time later to put the Gators up 14-0.

DeCorey Knight Jr: Photo by Keith Phillips

As the Gator defense came out onto the field, they quickly forced a turnover on downs.

Late in the first quarter, VHS drove the ball down the field and on the first play of the second quarter Knight would get his second touchdown from three-yards out. Bobby Taylor kicked the extra point to make it 21-0.

Wallyeke Curry came up with multiple tackles as VHS would force another punt with 8:38 left in the half.

Malik Montgomery would get the Gators on the board next with a 89-yard touchdown run as they took a 27-0 lead.

Malik Montgomery: Photo by Keith Phillips

Demarcus Johnson also made a big defensive play by hitting the ball carrier for a five yard loss.

Penalties would help the Chargers score their first touchdown late in the second quarter.

The Gators would fumble on their next possession and Callaway capitalized from that mistake and threw a 30-yard touchdown along with a two-point conversion to put the score at 27-16.

VHS quarterback Ronnie Alexander would pick up a first down by carrying multiple defenders but the Gators would let the time expire going into halftime up 27-16.

Coming out of halftime, both teams chose to run the ball heavily which drained the clock a good bit. Callaway would soon score again as they capped off a 64-yard drive with a 24-yard pass to the one-yard line and they would score on the next play. The two-point conversion would be no good and the score remained at 27-22 with three minutes left in the third quarter.

By the fourth quarter, the run game suffered for VHS and it was left up to the defense to attempt to stop the Chargers’ offense.

The Gators forced a turnover on downs with 7:14 left in the game. VHS eventually punted the ball and left Callaway in good with position.

Kellen Washington and Curry made a big stop on the drive along with Nick Mickey.

As the Chargers had was on fourth down, they attempted to throw a pass that was batted down by the Gators which gave VHS the win.

VHS is now the only school in Warren County that is in the playoffs and they will now be headed to North State.

“We’re going there to win it and I wish WC could’ve won as well because Coach Morgan is doing a awesome job out there,” McDaniel said.