Warren Central’s football team is tired of moral victories.

After Saturday’s 17-13 loss to Hattiesburg, a team with Class 6A title aspirations, the mood was glum in the locker room. Tears were shed and heads were bowed in disappointment.

With a three-point lead, 4 minutes remaining and Hattiesburg’s offense buried deep in the shadows of its own goalposts, the Vikings had to feel good about their chances.

But one missed tackle proved to be the difference as the Tigers escaped on the heels of quarterback Jamal Hatten’s 97-yard TD run.

The good news is that the game doesn’t count toward Warren Central’s playoff hopes. If the Vikings emerge from a brutal non-region schedule 2-2, they’ve really accomplished something.

It could mean the Vikings are awakening from a long slumber. Since 2005, the Vikings have gone 22-47, including finishing 2-9 in 2010 and 1-10 in 2011.

An emergence couldn’t come at a better time for the Vikings (1-2), as opportunity is knocking in Region 2-6A. Northwest Rankin is down this season in the midst of a rebuilding year with a new coach. Ditto for Clinton. County rival Vicksburg, with a roster gutted by graduation, has yet to find its footing. Greenville-Weston is down again. Jim Hill is mediocre, while Murrah is improving after being knocked around in its opener with Hattiesburg. Only Madison Central remains as the top dog.

The Vikings get a bye next week to rest some injuries and scratch the rough edges off an offensive line that allowed too much pressure on quarterback Carlisle Koestler in the 2-minute drill against Hattiesburg.

That’s about all that requires fixing. The Vikings have established an offensive identity with the hard running of Aaron Stamps, who gives WC a back who gets north and south as soon as possible and who is a load to bring down in the open field. The wide receivers, led by huge target Kourey Davis and speedster Marcus Ragan, are much improved. The youth-laden defense took its lumps last year, giving up 34.4 points per game, but has improved greatly. On special teams, the Vikings have found yet another solid kicker, Michael Mason, who already has a game-winning kick and was 2-for-2 on field goals against Hattiesburg. Punter Hunter Bell, the younger brother of Mississippi State kicker Devon Bell, has become an ace at helping the Vikings win the field position battle, pinning the Tigers inside their own 10-yard line twice in Saturday’s loss.

Now, all the Vikings have to do is put it together. A solid finish after the bye week could put WC in position for a home playoff game. An undefeated finish could give WC its first region title since 2004.

It’s one thing to dream, but the Vikings are in a position to not only dream big, but make them reality.

•

Steve Wilson is sports editor of The Vicksburg Post. You can follow him on Twitter at vpsportseditor. He can be reached at 601-636-4545, ext. 142 or at swilson@vicksburgpost.com.