Football coaches are fond of pointing out that the beginning of region play marks a new season. It’s a fresh start for everyone, and nothing that came before matters.

For Warren Central, that’s a very good thing.

The Vikings (2-2) enter their Region 2-5A opener on the heels of two blowout losses, and are staring down the barrel of a third if they don’t improve in a hurry.

Their opponent tonight, Northwest Rankin, is ranked seventh in Class 5A and sports a 4-0 record. And there’s nothing the Cougars would like more than to take down the Vikings for win No. 5.

“It’s not what Northwest Rankin does, it’s what we do in executing our plays and playing defense,” said WC coach Curtis Brewer, whose team has not lost three straight since falling to Clinton, Murrah and Vicksburg at the end of the 2002 regular season. “We’ve got to do what we’re supposed to do. The biggest thing we’ve got to do as a team is start playing with more enthusiasm and play as a team.”

Ironically, trying to cover for teammates is part of the reason Warren Central lost its last two games after a 2-0 start.

In a pair of 31-point losses to South Pike and Meridian – 31-0 to South Pike and 37-6 to Meridian – WC’s pass defense was torched for a total of 317 yards and six touchdowns. Four of the scores covered more than 30 yards, including a game-changing 61-yarder by Meridian just before halftime of last week’s game.

Brewer said a review of the game films showed some players out of position because they were trying to help a teammate with their assignment.

“We gave up some big plays. When you look at them on film, you’re a half step away trying to help somebody cover their position and they hit you where you’re supposed to be,” Brewer said. “These are things you have to correct.”

If they don’t, Northwest Rankin will be quick to add to the Vikings’ misery.

Northwest has a strong passing game led by mobile quarterback Jordan King, who threw for two scores and ran for another in a 34-0 win over Tchula Marshall last week. The Cougars also boast a strong running game, with tailback Stephen Wright tallying six touchdowns already on the year.

Northwest Rankin has averaged 32 points per game so far – and hasn’t scored less than 28 in any game – but coach David Coates said that won’t matter when the Vikings come to town.

After all, it is a new season.

“I expect them to be ready to play, no doubt. It doesn’t matter how they’ve done,” Coates said. “We’ve done well at times, and at times haven’t done so good. We’ll find out this week what kind of team we have.”