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Warren Central linebacker Landon Green (2) and a teammate bring down Pearl receiver Jkarius Gilbert (23) during Friday's game at Viking Stadium. Warren Central won, 21-0, for its first win of the season. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Jadarius Miller (21) runs with the football during Friday's game against Pearl. Miller scored a rushing touchdown to help the Vikings win their first game of the season, 21-0. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central defensive end Ronnie Blossom (18) closes in on Pearl quarterback Dylan Story during Friday's game. Warren Central beat Pearl, 21-0, for its first win of the season. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Tekarius Qualls (5) blocks a punt off the foot of Pearl's Kingi McNair (2) during Friday's game. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Jonah Artman attempts a field goal during Friday's game against Pearl. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Members of Warren Central's Big Blue Band perform at halftime of Friday's game against Pearl. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central's Aden Greer runs with the football during Friday's game against Pearl. Greer scored a rushing touchdown to help the Vikings win their first game of the season, 21-0. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central head coach Josh Morgan talks to his team after the Vikings beat Pearl 21-0 on Friday. (Walter Frazier/For The Vicksburg Post)

Warren Central bounced back from a rare Red Carpet Bowl loss with a 21-0 thumping of Pearl on Friday.

The Vikings made good use of their three-headed monster in the backfield, as running backs Eric Collins Jr., Aden Greer and Jadarius Miller ran up and down the field at will and scored a touchdown apiece.

Defensively, Warren Central (1-1) pitched a shutout and notched four takeaways — two fumble recoveries and two interceptions — en route to the season’s first win.

“It was a great response by our football team. The level that we played at. We had a rough showing last week, so it was good to see us play like we’re supposed to be playing,” Vikings head coach Josh Morgan said.

That response began early in the game when Ronnie Blossom recovered a fumble at the Pearl 28-yard line, setting up a 1-yard touchdown run from Collins five plays later.

An interception by Dekasei Crump and a blocked punt by Tekarius Qualls gave Warren Central the ball in Pearl territory, but both drives ended in missed field goals.

Miller also lost a fumble at the goal line late in the first half, but made up for his mistake midway through the third quarter. He capped off a touchdown drive with a 3-yard run to give the Vikings a 14-0 lead.

Late in the third, T’Kylan Wright recovered another fumble, ending Pearl’s most threatening drive of the game and setting up the Warren Central offense at its own 20-yard line.

Greer rounded out the scoring with a 9-yard touchdown run with just under three minutes to play.

Landon Green cut the Pirates’ next drive short with a pick-six at the Pearl 38 that was called back because of a penalty. The points didn’t stand, but the Warren Central possession nailed the coffin shut on the Pirates.

Warren Central recorded its first shutout since Oct. 21, 2022 against Terry.

“I think we still left some points on the field when we didn’t execute and things like that, but this team can be really good when we slow down and play together and do what our jobs are,” Morgan said. “We’re building that and we are in that process early in the year.

“I’m very proud of how we ran the ball and of our O-line,” Morgan added. “That’s a really good defense. And obviously, our defense with the takeaways and the shutout. It’s hard to beat somebody. It’s really hard to shut somebody out. So really proud of our guys.”

Morgan said the win will help build the confidence needed to improve from week to week, but not before his team takes a moment to enjoy the early-season victory. They’ll go on the road next week to face Germantown.

“It’s a long journey, and it’s one week at a time. Keep working. Keep getting better. Keep the big picture in mind,” Morgan said. “We’re going to enjoy this night and we’ll get back and get ready to play a really good football team in Germantown.”

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