Warren Central’s Jason Williams (6) races down the field against Natchez on Friday night. (Melanie Duncan ThortisThe Vicksburg Post)

[9/26/03]Warren Central coach Robert Morgan knows how important it is to get a good start in regional play.

So in tonight’s Region 2-5A opener at Forest Hill, Morgan wants his players to step it up. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

“It’s division time and every game is a championship game, championship caliber,” Morgan said Wednesday. “What I was telling the boys yesterday is you don’t understand that when you get on down in your schedule, if you lose a couple of those then you’re fighting for your life just to make the playoffs.”

Getting off on the right foot will help the Vikings (2-2) make the playoffs for a record 19th consecutive season something that hasn’t escaped Morgan’s attention.

“I take it personally because we have a pretty good string of going to the division playoffs,” he said. “We’ve been to the playoffs more than anybody. It’s a personal thing with me, and I hope it’ll be a personal thing with (the players) not only to get in the playoffs but to win the division.”

Forest Hill (3-1) presents a unique challenge for Warren Central.

Most of WC’s opponents this season have featured speedy, finesse running backs, but the Rebels are just the opposite.

They pound the ball, right up the middle.

“This week here they’re coming,” Morgan said. “It’s like you see the light at the end of the tunnel and realize it’s a train. With them it’s keep on keeping on, three yards, three yards. Then they’ll raise up every so often and throw a deep pass.”

In the Vikings’ two losses this season to McComb and South Pike, giving up big plays on defense proved to be their end. Both teams used tricks, sweeps, reverses and anything else in the playbook to gain yards.

Forest Hill uses the power game. So far this season, Morgan said his defense has fared well against runs up the middle.

“They don’t do anything fancy,” Morgan said. “Bill Giles is the head coach and he’s just a down and dirty, mud-in-your-face kind of football coach. He’s not going to try to trick you in any kind of way.”