Warren Central bulldozed its way to the MHSAA Region 2-6A championship, and dominated the league’s postseason awards list as well.

The Vikings received seven of the 14 individual awards on the All-Region 2-6A list in voting by the league’s coaches.
Defensive linemen Larry Reynolds, Tekarius Qualls and Ronnie Blossom wreaked havoc on opposing offenses and cleaned up on the Region 2-6A defensive awards. Reynolds was named the Region 2-6A overall MVP, while Qualls and Blossom shared the Defensive MVP award.

Reynolds had 81 total tackles, and led the Vikings with 11.5 sacks and a whopping 39 tackles for loss. He forced four fumbles and recovered three.

Blossom led the Vikings with 96 tackles, along with 9.5 sacks, 26 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries.
Qualls had 76 tackles, five sacks and 31 tackles for loss. He also blocked two field goals and forced four fumbles.

“They were definitely talented. (Defensive line coach) Corey Wilson did a tremendous job with them not just this year but in the development of them the past 3 1/2 years,” Warren Central head coach Josh Morgan said. “They’re very gifted athletes that love football and work tremendously hard at it. They were definitely a force to be reckoned with. Usually you’re lucky to have one of those types of players every now and then, and we were fortunate that we had three.”

Kicker Jonah Artman was the Special Teams Player of the Year after converting 10 of 12 field goal attempts and 44 of 47 PAT tries.

Artman, a junior, set the Warren County record for most career field goals that had stood for 39 years. He has 27 in three varsity seasons.

Another record-setter, Maddox Lynch, earned the Most Outstanding Tight End award. Lynch finished the season with 42 receptions for 459 yards and three touchdowns.

For his career, Lynch wound up with 105 receptions for 1,358 yards, which are both school records. The senior is one of only five Warren County players to amass 100 or more career receptions and ranks third on the all-time list.

Two other Vikings, sophomore quarterback Nash Morgan and senior linebacker Gavin Davenport, were also named the best at their respective positions.

Morgan passed for 1,372 yards and nine touchdowns, and ran for three more TDs. Davenport had 77 tackles, four sacks and 17 tackles for loss.

Warren Central’s coaches were the Staff of the Year after the team won its second consecutive Region 2-6A championship and reached the Class 6A semifinals. Warren Central has won 15 consecutive region games since 2022.

“Any time you get recognition like that, you’re well thought of by your peers. That’s pretty overwhelming,” Josh Morgan said. “I think it speaks for itself when your opposing coaches see you like that. That’s a pretty big compliment. A good year usually comes with that recognition. They’re very well-deserving.”

Another Warren County player, Vicksburg High running back DeCorey Knight Jr., took home some hardware as the Region 2-6A Athlete of the Year.

Knight was an outstanding all-around offensive player. He rushed for 1,169 yards and six touchdowns, caught 24 passes for 442 yards and four TDs, and had another 410 yards and three touchdowns on kickoff and punt returns.

Knight set Vicksburg High’s career rushing record, with 2,998 yards in three seasons. Including his freshman year at Warren Central, he is the only player in Warren County history to have 3,000 yards rushing and 1,000 receiving in their high school career.

Knight will play in the Bernard Blackwell Mississippi All-Star Game on Dec. 21 in Gulfport. Warren Central’s Blossom and Lynch will play in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game Dec. 14 in Mobile, Alabama.

Other Vicksburg High players who made the All-Region first team were defensive back Mincer Minor and offensive linemen Willie Edmond and Mickell Jones.

Gators linebacker Jadarius Henderson, running back Cedrick Blackmore and wide receiver Marquis Knight made the second team.

Vicksburg’s Jakoby Smith, Jayden Woods, Shaun Archer Jr., Abel Gonzalez, Stephen Anderson, Dennis Battle, Cameron Nailor and Wallys Curry were on the honorable mention list.

For Warren Central, wide receiver Jaylon Winters, running backs Aden Greer and Eric Collins Jr., H-back Jadarius Miller, and offensive linemen Don Taylor, Spencer Smith and Carmelo Clark were on the first team offense.

Defensive backs Dekasei Crump, Chester Savage and Roosevelt Harris; defensive lineman Allen Oliver; linebackers Landon Green and Chaka Walker; and long snapper Harber Williams were on the first team defense.

Offensive linemen Marquise Overton and Daniel Pitzer, and defensive backs Rickey Neal and Chance Ward represented the Vikings as second-team selections.

Other individual award winners were Ridgeland quarterback D.K. Wallace as the Offensive Player of the Year; Ridgeland’s Martavious McCain and Jaylen Johnson as the top offensive linemen and receiver, respectively; and Neshoba Central’s Zach Ruffin as the best defensive back.

Neshoba’s Mekhi Gaddis and Callaway’s Marvin Moore shared the honor as the top running back. Neshoba’s Anthony Hopson and Columbus’ Shaun Williams shared the honor as the best defensive lineman.