OLIVE BRANCH — When Warren Central’s senior class looks back on the season, the hope expressed was their work laid a foundation for the future.

Consider it mission accomplished. The Vikings (6-6, 5-2) came back from consecutive losing seasons and finished third in Region 2-6A to earn a spot in the Class 6A playoffs.

Although their first playoff game since 2009 ended with a 53-21 loss to Olive Branch — the third time the Conquistadors have bounced WC from the playoffs in seven years — it was an important step on a journey back to respectability.

“We can’t let this loss really dictate what we’ve accomplished this year, which was a really wonderful year,” third-year WC coach Josh Morgan said. “We’re not happy with this, but it’s our stepping stone and a foundation and we’ve got to keep building on that as a program.”

Against Olive Branch (11-1), the Vikings were unable to stop the big play on the ground or through the air. Quarterback Samuel Craft presented a matchup nightmare. He threw for two touchdowns, rushied for another and caught two TD passes from backup quarterback Josh Cooley.

The two TD passes Craft threw in the first quarter, both of which went longer than 30 yards, were backbreakers.

“Coach (Josh Morgan) always tells us the first five minutes are extremely crucial,” WC senior defensive lineman Gary Williams said. “We didn’t come out in the first five minutes and set the tone. I thought we handled other games on the road better, but this one was one we couldn’t take.”

The Vikings, who up to that point had run the ball effectively in recent weeks, were stymied by a huge defensive front and an aggressive, speedy group of linebackers. Junior Aaron Stamps finished with 38 yards on 12 carries and one score. The good news is Stamps will return next season, along with playmaking sophomore Marcus Ragan, who had a 30-yard TD run in the fourth quarter.

Junior quarterback Carlisle Koestler completed 11 of 24 passes for 98 yards with one interception. He hit senior Kourey Davis in his last game as a Viking with a 47-yard scoring strike in the fourth quarter.

Koestler finished the season 98-of-188 for 1,377 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Davis took the WC school record for career catches (59) with 32 receptions, 430 yards and five touchdowns this season.

With the exception of fullback Greg King and Davis and several offensive lineman, most of the offense will return next season.

Same goes for the defense, which returns the core of a unit that improved greatly this season.

With so much of this year’s playoff team coming back, the expectation level will be higher. Exactly where this year senior’s class wanted to leave it.

“We’ve really turned the program around this year and I think we’ve got this program headed in the right direction,” WC defensive back Trey Prentiss said.