For years, Warren Central was famous for its offense. A strong, power-I running attack became synonymous with Viking football and led the program to nearly 300 wins in four decades.

In the new century, though, a different WC unit is making its mark on the program. While the offense has struggled the last two seasons, the Viking defense has stepped up to fill the void. After allowing 20 points or less in all but one game in 2006, WC’s stop squad is off to another strong start in 2007. It has given up just three touchdowns in three games since a 31-18 loss to top-ranked South Panola in the season-opener and carried the team to its first win of the season Friday night at Hazlehurst.

WC forced three turnovers, held Hazlehurst to 177 total yards, and came up with two big stops in its own territory in the fourth quarter to preserve a 14-12 win.

“We’re centered around defense, and the kids are doing a good job,” WC coach Curtis Brewer said. “The defense has kept us in ballgames, and we expect them to do that.”

The Vikings pitched a defensive shutout three weeks ago in a loss to Vicksburg — the only touchdown in a 7-0 loss came on an interception return — and was strong again in a 12-10 loss to South Pike. Hazlehurst’s two touchdowns were hardly the fault of the defense, either.

One score came on a 65-yard interception return, while the second was a 2-yard run set up by a bad punt snap. Hazlehurst’s Fredrick Fuller scored on the first play after the miscue to cut WC’s lead to 14-12 early in the fourth quarter.

Just like they did for most of last season, however, WC’s defense rose to the challenge. After the offense was unable to convert a fourth-and-inches near midfield, the defense forced a punt. When WC’s next possession ended in a punt with just under two minutes to play, Hazlehurst quickly moved into Viking territory with a pair of passes. It didn’t go much farther, though.

The Vikings got good pressure on Hazlehurst quarterback Justin Durr on second-and-1 at the 36-yard line, only to have an interception dropped. On third down, lineman Bennie Peoples hit Durr as he threw, forcing a floating pass that was picked off by Darius Buck with 34 seconds to go.

It was the third turnover of the night, and the second forced by pressure. In the first quarter, defensive end Mark Lee jarred the ball loose with a big hit on running back Kynshon Reese. The fumble was recovered by WC’s Tim Jones at the WC 35 to short-circuit another drive into Viking territory.

The bend-but-don’t-break style is what Brewer hopes to see out of his defense throughout the season.

“We’re covering the deep stuff and not giving up big plays,” Brewer said. “We’re making folks work for their yardage. We have a lot of young players, and they’re getting better every week.”