Warren Central running back Larry Warner drives through Greenville defenders Brandon Johnson, right, and Darold Parker during the Vikings’ 39-0 win. (Jon GiffinThe Vicksburg Post)

[10/4/03]Warren Central ran its scoreless streak on defense to three full games on Friday night with a 39-0 thumping of Greenville-Weston, the third straight shutout for the Vikings (4-2, 2-0 Region 2-5A).

Last week, WC battered Forest Hill 48-0, but Friday night’s performance may have been more impressive.

The Vikings did not allow Greenville past its own 32-yard line until late in the fourth quarter, recovered two fumbles, intercepted a pass in the end zone and allowed a measly 1.5 yards per carry by the overmatched Hornets.

“Anytime you shut anyone out in 5A football, it’s big,” Warren Central coach Robert Morgan said. “Our boys played for that and they played hard for it. We got to foolin’ around a little in the fourth and almost let them score, but got the big boys back in there and shut them down.”

Against the Vikings’ third-team defense, the Hornets got the ball to the WC 10-yard line midway through the fourth quarter and had first-and-goal. Four plays and 12 yards lost later, WC took over and the Hornets never came close to scoring on their final drive.

“We started slow and finished slow,” Greenville coach Willie Young said. “Our guys looked dead and weren’t ready to play. We never could get started offensively.”

Vaughn Mims had three sacks for WC, while James Henderson recovered a Greenville fumble on the 3-yard line which set up a score. His biggest play, though, came in the fourth quarter.

With the Vikings leading 32-0, Henderson busted in on quarterback Willie Booker, batted his pass in the air and caught it in the end zone for his first career defensive touchdown.

“I didn’t do anything,” Henderson said. “I just tipped the ball and looked up and saw it. All I did was catch it.”

The score put an exclamation point on a victory that was in hand by halftime.

Being given good field position all night Greenville punted eight times for a 23-yard average the Vikings held a 25-0 halftime lead.

Quarterback Christian Hales connected with Amos Chase on scoring passes of 17 and 28 yards and Kevin Miller added a 1-yard touchdown plunge just before halftime. Will Clark also kicked a 40-yard field goal in WC’s 18-point second quarter.

Dexter Carson’s 9-yard run three minutes into the third quarter upped the lead to 32-0, and it stayed that way until Henderson’s interception for a score.

“We take every game as a championship game,” said defensive lineman Rod Goings, who helped harass three Greenville quarterbacks into a combined 11-of-26 passing for 108 yards and an interception. “We come out every day and get after it.”

Hales ended the game with 68 yards passing and Chase hauled in three catches for 63 yards.

Larry Warner rushed for 64 yards on 11 carries and Carson added 50 yards on 10 carries behind a strong performance on the offensive line.