Warren Central wasn’t perfect Friday night.

The Vikings dropped a touchdown pass and had another called back because of a penalty. A couple of promising drives stalled out, and there was one especially embarrassing breakdown on defense.

They still won by 32 points.

There was plenty to work on after WC’s 38-6 rout of Terry in the Red Carpet Bowl, but the good -— as well as the thrill of victory — far outweighed the bad. It was a memorable start to what the Vikings hope will be an even more memorable season.

“That last loss at the end of the season took a lot away from us, but we used it as motivation during the summer,” WC cornerback Chris Stamps said, referring to last season’s first-round playoff loss to Tupelo. “It was all about preparing and getting off to a good start. You can’t win them all if you don’t win the first one.”

Despite their occasional missteps, the Vikings had no trouble winning the first one.

They took the opening kickoff and marched 60 yards in 10 plays to their first touchdown of the season, a 2-yard run by DeArius Christmas.

WC went on to score on three of its first four possessions and should’ve had a fourth touchdown. Stamps, who also plays wide receiver, dropped a pass when he was wide open at the goal line, and an illegal block wiped out another scoring pass on the next snap.

Defensively, the Vikings were even more in control. Terry’s touchdown came on a quarterback sneak by Rayshard Kennedy that went for 82 yards, but it didn’t get another first down until the last two minutes of the game.

Excluding Kennedy’s touchdown, Terry gained 42 yards on 34 offensive snaps.

“It was just basically doing your assignments and being in the right place at the right time,” Stamps said before lamenting the touchdown WC allowed. “You can’t fall asleep on plays like that, or you give up a touchdown. That’s just something we want to be better at. We don’t want to do that any more.”

One thing the Vikings do want to do more of, however, is win.

Callaway (0-1) is up next this week. With its first Red Carpet Bowl win since 2008 secured, Warren Central will try for its first 2-0 start since 2005.

There’s also an even bigger prize on the Vikings’ radar, one they haven’t sniffed in 20 years -— a state title. With the bronze Red Carpet Bowl trophy and tons of momentum from a convincing victory now in their possession, the Vikings are ready to take steps toward an even shinier football-shaped trophy.

“We want a gold one. Fifteen-and-oh. That’s what we’re aiming for. That’s what we’re working for,” WC linebacker Derrick Thomas said. “We’ve got a good coaching staff, good people, good team. That’s all we need to do what we want to do.”