In recent years, Region 2-6A has earned a reputation as the toughest football league in Mississippi and it’s not hard to see why.

The last two Class 6A champions have come out of the region. Its members have won seven of their eight first-round playoff games in the same span. This year, three of the teams ranked in the top six of the latest Associated Press Class 6A poll hail from Region 2-6A. Two others are a combined 7-1-1.

It’s a Thunderdome of football where eight teams enter, four teams leave following two months of constant challenges, and the road to decide those worthy of advancing to the postseason begins Friday night.

Warren Central (3-1) travels to Northwest Rankin (3-1) for a game that’s just the first of seven, but whose outcome will have long-lasting ramifications on the playoff race.

“This is a game that will carry weight for the next eight weeks. It’s going to stick with us, good or bad, the rest of the year,” Warren Central coach Josh Morgan said. “It’s two teams that will be contending for the playoffs. It’s a big game, but it’s one that carries so much weight that it really is like a playoff game.”

The surreal nature of talking about the playoffs in Week 1 of the region schedule was not lost on Morgan, even if it’s accurate.

In another big game Friday night, defending Class 6A champion Clinton (2-2) hosts Madison Central (3-1) in a rematch of last year’s North State championship.

Provine (4-0-1) also made it through its non-region schedule without a loss and is lurking as a dark horse playoff candidate. The Rams host Starkville (4-1) on Friday.

Starkville (No. 3), Madison Central (No. 4) and Warren Central (No. 6) are all ranked in this week’s AP Class 6A poll. They’re also in the top 10 of the state’s overall poll, at Nos. 4, 6 and 8, respectively. Northwest Rankin received votes in the overall poll.

“It’s the same as the last couple of years. Nothing’s changed. It’s going to be some good football teams that don’t get into the playoffs,” Morgan said, before adding with a chuckle, “And we’re here already talking about playoffs before we’ve played a game. You want to start on a positive note instead of chasing the crowd.”

The matchup between Warren Central and Northwest Rankin has often been a pivotal one in the 2-6A race, and should be once again. The only blemish on each team’s resumé to this point is a road loss at No. 1 Pearl, and both squads seem to be fighting for some respect on the state level.

Northwest Rankin opened the season with big wins over Germantown and Ridgeland before losing to Pearl. It bounced back with an impressive 28-14 win over Brandon last week.

The Cougars are starting to see the fruits of a steady rebuilding effort, Morgan said. Senior running back Cameron Carroll has rushed for 529 yards and four touchdowns already — an average of 179.7 yards per game and 9.5 per carry — while sophomore quarterback Phillip Short has thrown only one interception in 64 pass attempts. Short has 446 yards and two touchdowns passing.

“They won the Little Six with their ninth grade the last two years, and that’s a sign of things to come,” Morgan said. “What made them so special last year was their quarterback (Braden Smith) was phenomenal. Now their younger guys are taking on more of the load and doing a good job.”

That’s a similar path that Warren Central has traveled. The Vikings replaced 18 starters from last year’s 10-win team, but haven’t seemed to miss a beat so far. They’ve held three of their four opponents to seven points or less — only Pearl scored more than one touchdown — yet still have not played a truly dominant game from start to finish. In wins over Clarksdale, Vicksburg and Neville (La.), the Vikings have endured stretches filled with penalties and sluggish offense.

Morgan said the two biggest areas of concern were execution and communication, and both were points of emphasis during the bye week. Now they have to put it into practice during a seven-week stretch where there are no more breaks, figuratively or literally.

“I think we had a good bye week,” Morgan said. “We were productive and had good, physical practices, and talked about getting better at our execution. Now it’s up to the guys to do it, and putting it into game situations.”

FRIDAY’S AREA GAMES
All games start at 7 p.m.
Warren Central at NW Rankin (Radio: 105.5 FM)
Park Place at St. Aloysius (Radio: 101.3 FM)
Germantown at Vicksburg (Radio: 1490 AM/107.7 FM)
Porter’s Chapel at Union Christian (Radio: 104.5 FM)
Amite County at Port Gibson
Madison Central at Clinton
Tallulah Academy at Briarfield Academy
Rebul Academy at Christian Collegiate Academy
Central Hinds at Riverfield Academy
Madison Parish (La.) at General Trass

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