It has been nine years since the Greenville High School football team defeated Vicksburg’s Warren Central (3-2), but this Friday night the Hornets will travel to Vicksburg with a deep belief they can win.
The 3-2 Hornets have already won two more games than they did all of last season, and first-year head coach Quintarus McCray said his team is still hungry for more.
“We can’t settle on what we have accomplished because we really have not accomplished anything yet,” Coach McCray said. “We have to keep fighting and keep working and keep believing in ourselves.”
It was Greenville’s defense that shined last Friday night in the Hornets’ 14-9 victory over Murrah. With the Mustangs threatening to win the game in the closing seconds, the Greenville defensive unit stuffed the final play in the backfield at their own nine-yard line.
The Greenville coach said just about each one of his defenders had a great game Friday, and he said Jakyle Johnson, Troy Bell, James Cosie Jr., Maxwell Washington and Desmond Washington played exceptional.
“We did a great job in stopping the run,” Coach McCray said. “Murrah likes to run the ball, and our players really stepped up as a team.”
The Hornets’ opponent Friday night is a well-balanced offense. Senior quarterback Parker Kivett has completed more than 67 percent of his passes for Warren Central this season for 647 yards.
On the ground, four Warren Central players have more than 100 yards rushing this season.
“Warren Central is a great team, and they do not make any mistakes,” Coach McCray said.
“Like I tell my kids, there are going to be four key plays that determine each game.
“If we make the four key plays, then we will have a great chance.”