When talking about the road ahead for Warren Central, coach Josh Morgan brought up a legend from another sport’s past whose best work was done in the 10th month of each year.

“They called (New York Yankees’ Hall of Fame outfielder) Reggie Jackson ‘Mr. October’ and that’s what we’ve got to be,” Morgan said. “The whole month is important for us, but right now, we’re just focused on Madison Central.”

It’s all about clutch for the Vikings (3-3, 2-0 Region 2-6A), as they face the stretch run that will determine its postseason fate.

The Vikings will need to emulate Jackson’s ability to pull victory from the gaping mandibles of defeat with one swing of the bat.

In the next 30 days, they’ll will play the other two teams at the top of the region standings — Madison Central and surprising Jim Hill — and Murrah, which sits one game back at 1-1. Then there are archrivals Clinton and Vicksburg.

But the first obstacle in the road, Madison Central, is a formidable foe that has dominated affairs in the region.

To be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. And the best by far in Region 2-6A is Madison Central. Since 2007, the Jaguars are 35-2 in region play. The Vikings haven’t beaten the Jaguars since 2005.

Morgan sent a call out to WC fans everywhere. He wants them loud and proud, filling the stands of Viking Stadium.

“We need our crowd to be there and be loud and I know they’re just as hungry as our boys are,” Morgan said. “We definitely need them to come help us and establish an atmosphere that hasn’t been seen here in a long time. I hope the fans are there to help pull us through this one, because it’s going to take everybody in this game.”

In the past two years, the Vikings merely hoped that they could be in the conversation this late in the season for a playoff berth and more. An anemic offense that had too few big plays and a defense that gave up too many proved to be WC’s undoing the past few years.

This is a different WC team, with a stingy, young defense that is forcing turnovers and an offense that has a running game that’s been missing in recent years.

Best of all, the Vikings have been imposing their will up front on opposing teams late in games, a good sign of future success.

“We’re really doing really good at creating turnovers and I think we’ve got the capability for being a great defense,” Morgan said. “I like the fact that people know we’re trying to run the ball, stacking the box and we’re still able to run the ball. You really, as a coach, like being able to do what you want to do, rather than letting someone else dictate what you’re going to do.”

The Vikings own their postseason fate. Win out and a division title is theirs for the taking. Take a couple of slipups and their postseason dreams will circle the drain.

A win against Madison Central won’t automatically put the Vikings into the playoffs or even mean that their program is truly back. But it would be a great step forward on a larger journey.

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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.