Warren Central got used to steamrolling teams as it racked up wins and style points early in the season, but two back-to-back gut-wrenching losses to Clinton and Starkville brought it back to earth.

Friday night, the Vikings unleashed two weeks worth of frustration on Columbus and the result was similar to what they were accustomed to.

DeArius Christmas scored two touchdowns and recovered two turnovers, and Warren Central’s defense controlled the game as the Vikings cruised to a 37-14 win over the Falcons to claim a No. 3 seed in the Class 6A playoffs.

Warren Central (9-2, 5-2 Region 2-6A) will go on the road to play Southhaven (9-2) in the first round next week.

“The best has yet to come for this football team. It was good to see us bounce back after two heartbreaking losses and really put together our best game of the year. That’s what it’s going to take moving forward,” WC coach Josh Morgan said. “We did exactly what we needed to do tonight to beat a fine Columbus team who was red hot and playing for their playoff lives.”

The Vikings dominated from the very first snap in every phase of the game, bursting out to a 27-0 halftime lead that allowed the second team to play for most of the second half. Morgan’s squad efficiently ran the ball and stuffed any chance for Columbus to gain momentum on offense. The Falcons had just 116 first-half yards before the second string came on to finish the game.

Christmas, a linebacker who moonlights as the team’s short yardage back on offense, put his stamp on things early. In a span of nine plays, he scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown, intercepted a pass and cashed in the turnover on a 3-yard run to put Warren Central up 14-0. The senior also recovered a fumble off a bobbled snap.

“He’s one of those seniors who we need and who we call upon,” Morgan said. “Seniors have to make those kinds of plays and that’s something he’s been doing for a long time here, and I’m hoping we can keep him playing as long as we can.”

The win gives WC some much-needed momentum as it heads into a potentially grueling playoff stretch against some of the state’s best teams. It also gets rid of the bad taste that two consecutive losses left behind.

“You don’t want to come into the playoffs limping around and head down. It really means a lot to us,” Morgan said. “To get to nine wins is huge. To be a third seed instead of a fourth seed is huge. Taking all that in, I’m more pleased with how our guys played.”

Warren Central 37, Columbus 14

Records: WC (9-2, 5-2 Region 2-6A); Columbus (4-7, 3-4)

Up next: Warren Central at Southaven, Friday, 7 p.m.

Skinny: Vikings blast Columbus to earn No. 3 seed in playoffs, snap two-game losing streak