On the night when Warren Central honors some of its greatest teams of the past, the current generation of Vikings is hoping to write part of its own legend.

Warren Central (4-3, 2-0 MHSAA Region 2-6A) will host Neshoba Central (3-4, 2-0) Friday at 7 p.m. at Viking Stadium. The winner can gain the inside track to the Region 2-6A championship, as well as clinch a playoff berth if other results in the league fall the right way this week.

“I know that if we want to be district champions we’ve got to win. We’ve got to beat Neshoba. That’s the way we’re looking at it,” Warren Central coach Josh Morgan said. “We’re really anxious to get a shot at them. It’s a big game for us.”

Warren Central and Neshoba Central have emerged as the frontrunners in Region 2-6A. It’s still too early to declare the winner of Friday’s game the region champion, but they will be in control heading into the final two games of the regular season.

The winner can also clinch a playoff berth Friday, if Ridgeland beats Columbus and Callaway beats Vicksburg.
Morgan said he’s just trying to keep the Vikings focused on beating a quality opponent, and not on the bigger picture.

“We knew Neshoba was going to be a contender and they’ve got some really good players. They have two guys on the defensive side of the ball that’s going to the Miss-Al game, and a really good running back, and a really good program,” Morgan said. “This is a big game for us between the top two teams in the district where they sit right now. It’s another big week for us.”

Warren Central is coming off of a hard-fought, emotional victory over crosstown rival Vicksburg last week.

It seems like a textbook case of a letdown spot, but Morgan thinks the Vikings will handle the turnaround well. He said the non-region schedule that was packed with Class 7A opponents and longtime rivals like Clinton, Brandon and Madison Central was designed, in part, to deal with just this kind of scenario.

“Our non-district schedule really prepares us for a lot of different things. Number one is playing really good people in big environments, but also playing them back-to-back-to-back. We’ve had to be ready to go week in and week out, and if you’re not you’re going to get embarrassed,” Morgan said. “I think we’ve seen that, and been through that, and understand it. And also the stakes that this game has, our guys should really be zoned in and ready to put ourselves in a spot that we’ve been wanting to be in all year long. We’ll have that opportunity and should be ready to take advantage of it.”

In addition to the game, Warren Central will welcome back some of its championship teams from the past for an all-classes football reunion. More than 200 former players from the past 60 years are expected to attend, and the 1974 Little Dixie Conference and 1994 MHSAA Class 5A championship teams will be recognized before the game.

Morgan said the best way to really honor them will be to beat Neshoba Central and take a big step toward turning the 2024 Vikings into a championship team as well.

“We’re trying to honor our guys. We’re hoping for a good night, and hoping we represent them the right way,” Morgan said. “It puts a good deal of pressure on us playing in front of those former Vikings. Hopefully they can give us a boost as well. It’s a great opportunity to honor the guys who have helped build this program — and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do.”

FRIDAY’S AREA GAMES
All games start at 7 p.m.
Neshoba Central at Warren Central (Radio: 105.5 FM)
Prairie View at Porter’s Chapel (Radio: 104.5 FM)
St. Aloysius at Winston Academy (Radio: 101.3 FM)
Tallulah Academy at Claiborne Academy
Port Gibson at Franklin County
Madison Parish at Delhi Charter