Warren Central football coach Curtis Brewer commented little about Northwest Rankin’s 14-0 victory over the Vikings on Friday night, choosing instead to make a plea for his players to do a little soul-searching.

The Vikings outgained Northwest Rankin 255 yards to 216, but gave the ball away on turnovers six times and rarely threatened to score a touchdown.

&#8220There’s no use making excuses. If we don’t play better, we won’t get better,” Brewer said. &#8220Somewhere along the line the kids are going to have to step up and look in the mirror and figure out what they are doing.

&#8220They have to figure out what they can do to make the team better. We need them to step up and be leaders and quit whining.”

Warren Central, which has been stuck in an offensive funk since a 37-0 Red Carpet Bowl victory in the first week of the season, crossed into Northwest Rankin territory only three times – each of them ending in turnovers.

If not for a yeoman’s effort by a worn-down defense, the score would have been worse. The Vikings’ defense forced two turnovers inside the WC 5-yard line in the second half to keep the deficit at 14 points.

&#8220We’re glad to get a win,” Northwest Rankin coach David Coates said. &#8220Warren Central always has a good team and we are happy to get out of here with a win.”

The Cougars (3-2, 1-0 Region 2-5A) join three others with unbeaten region records, while Warren Central will travel to Greenville on Friday night trying to put an end to a four-game losing streak.

Michael Holt led all rushers with 105 yards on 26 carries and Keaton Sanders threw for 102 yards on seven completions, but tossed three interceptions.

The highlights of the game for both teams were the punters. Warren Central’s Eric Richards, a Mississippi State commitment, averaged 50.6 yards on five punts, while Parker Ware averaged 53.6 yards on six punts.

Northwest Rankin pieced together a five-play, 46-yard drive early in the second quarter, capped by a 16-yard touchdown run by Josh Brumfield.

The senior running back, who had been averaging nearly 200 yards per game, was held to 103 yards on 21 carries.

The Cougars added a third-quarter score on a 32-yard pass from Robby Robinson to Jeff Goldsmith for a 14-0 lead.

After exchanging punts, Warren Central drove inside Northwest Rankin territory, but a fourth-down fake punt pass from Richards was intercepted. The teams traded punts again, then the Vikings lost their cool.

Three personal foul penalties led to 40 yards for the Cougars, who drove to the WC 3-yard line before Wade Carter recovered a fumble in the end zone.

An interception four plays later set up Northwest again, but Brumfield fumbled a second time to end the threat.

The Vikings took over at the 2 and drove to the Northwest 33-yard line as time was running down. On the last play, Northwest recorded its fourth interception.

&#8220We did pretty good on defense, but we are going to have to get something going on offense,” Brewer said.