[10/3/03]If the Warren Central Vikings are to battle for the Region 2-5A championship this season, they’ll have to do it without their most explosive tailback.

Junior Fred Payne is scheduled to undergo surgery on Thursday to repair an injured knee. He will be lost for the season.

Through five games, Payne has 403 yards on 64 carries, but has been slowed all season because of the injured leg.

“He’d probably have 700 yards by now if he was at full strength,” Warren Central coach Robert Morgan said.

In Payne’s place will be a bevy of talented, but untested, running backs. Larry Warner is scheduled to start tonight at tailback when the Vikings play host to Greenville-Weston at 7:30 p.m.

Behind Warner will be several backs including Dexter Carson, Jason Williams, Eugene Sorrells and Ricky Horton.

“It’s a running back by committee, I think they call it,” Morgan said. “We’ll keep playing guys until someone steps up to take the position.”

The Vikings’ offense may not need too much production considering the way the defense has been playing.

The Vikings have not allowed a point in two games and are coming off a 48-0 thumping of Forest Hill for the first region win of the season.

“When you have a strong defense like they do, you have to go after them,” Greenville coach Willie Young said. “You have to defeat their strengths. We plan to attack.”

The Hornets (3-2, 1-0) are also coming off a regional win, a 27-14 decision over Murrah. This is also the team that lost 75-9 to South Panola and were trailing in that game 61-0 at halftime.

The Hornets will start with Willie Booker at quarterback, but will move wide receiver David Surney under center in option situations.

Surney, Morgan said, is the Hornets’ most dangerous weapon.

A win tonight will vault Warren Central to 2-0 in the region.