Warren Central is one step away from reaching its initial goal.

Callaway is that step.

Coach Robert Morgan has said since the beginning of the season that he wants his eighth-ranked Vikings (5-0, 1-0 Region 2-5A) to be undefeated when they visit defending state champion Madison Central Oct. 6.

They will be if they can top Callaway (3-2, 0-1) tonight at Viking Field. But Morgan isn’t taking that for granted, especially after his team barely escaped Callaway with a 13-6 win last year.

“Like always, they’re a physical team with a lot of good athletes,” Morgan said. “If you let them hang around, they can beat you. I told our players they’re going to have to go on and get ’em.”

The Chargers hung around with MC last week, trailing just 14-7 at the half before eventually falling, 45-7.

“Their numbers just wore us out,” Callaway coach Gerry Anderson. “We have a good defense, we just had too much of it against Madison.”

The difference last year was the kicking game, Morgan said. The Chargers blocked two punts to set up easy scores.

“We’re 100 percent better on special teams this year,” he said. “I think that will be a big difference in this game.”

Before the MC game, the Rams were giving up just eight points per game. Defensive end Gerret Ford and noseguard Percy Jones lead the way.

“(Ford) is a player,” Morgan said.

Ford, Jones and the linebackers, who are “as good as anybody’s,” Anderson said, will be keying on junior WC John Hicks.

“He’s an excellent fullback,” Anderson said. “He bothers me.”

The Vikings may be able to pass against the young Callaway secondary. That’s why Anderson is concerned about WC quarterback Brett Morgan. He’s also worried about tailback Pat Minor, who had 159 yards in last week’s 47-28 win over Gentry. Both look “solid,” he said.

“Nothing they do is really out of the ordinary, but down after down, everyone seems to get their job done,” Anderson said of WC.

Coach Morgan agreed with that assessment.

“We’ve just got a bunch of boys making contributions,” he said. “Every week, there’s a different hero.”

Marcus April leads Callaway’s offense with about 800 yards rushing.

“We expect a battle,” Anderson said.

“We’re going to show up. We’re not going to stop in Bolton and turn around,” adding with a laugh, “maybe we should, but we’re not.”

A look at the recent past, though, shows that the Chargers usually play the Vikings close.

“But that was at our place and that definitely makes a difference,” Anderson said of the seven-point loss in 1999.

“Our kids do get up for them,” Anderson added. “We’re not as in awe of them as Madison, I guess.”

Sophomore standouts Larry King and Andrew Patton will be back from injuries, Morgan said.

“Practice has really been clicking this week,” he said. “There’s a lot of enthusiasm out there, with the players and the spirit at school. I think the two are directly related.

“Things are going so good, you kind of hate to talk about it … but I think the best for this team is yet to come.”