After consecutive missed trips to the playoffs and back-to-back 5-6 seasons, Warren Central looks to turn things around behind a younger, quicker team in 2008.

Vikings coach Curtis Brewer said his staff is still moving people around in a bid to solidfy a defense that lost two key components in All-County products Bennie Peoples and R.W. Comans. WC opens its season Friday against Class 4A power Clarkdale at the Red Carpet Bowl at Vicksburg High’s Memorial Stadium.

“We’ve looked at different personnel in several spots, just trying to find the right people in spots where they can be good,” Brewer said.

The Vikings have just three starters back on defense.

“It’s like any coach would tell you, we’ve worked hard in the offseason. One thing we can say for sure is that we have more overall foot speed than we’ve had in the last two or three years. We also have more depth at running back, including a three-year starter at tailback in Joel Forbes.”

The Vikings also have their starting quarterback returning in senior Keaton Sanders, who threw for 674 yards last year. With a good nucleus back on the offensive line, the Viking offense appears to be in good shape.

“We’re better off on offense. We’ve got some people back on the line, like Danny Bunch,” Brewer said.

Bunch, a 6-foot-3, 300-pound senior, keys the Vikings offensive line. He’ll be joined by Jonathan Chaney 5-11, 265), Clay Koestler (6-0, 245), Jamie Anderson (6-2, 290) and Leighton Breithaupt (6-1, 225). The two seniors, Bunch and Koestler, were All-County last year. With the two other seniors in Chaney and Anderson, along with Breithaupt, the Vikings should open up lanes for Forbes, who has 1,944 career rushing yards.

“The emphasis for Joel is to put the ball in the end zone more,” Brewer said of his senior back, who has filled out to 215 pounds. He rushed for 1,131 yards last year to earn All-County and All-Region honors.

Sanders came on in the final four games of the season, leading WC to a third straight win over archrival Clinton. He will have a new corps of receivers to throw to in Larry Davis, Cordell Valentine and B.J. Williams.

On defense, the Vikings will have to hope returning All-County linebacker Joe Harris (5-10, 215) can settle the unit. Harris led the team in tackles with 98.

“We’re pretty solid at linebacker with Joe Harris and David Cosby (6-2, 180). But Josh (Morgan) is still trying to scrap together the other spots,” Brewer said.

Morgan, a former Mississippi State product, is running the Vikings’ defense with his father, Robert.

“Josh is looking for some big things out of his defensive line. He’s working in sophomores in order to get us depth. It’s a tough area because we lost Bennie and R.W.,” Brewer said.

John Gustavis will be a mainstay at tackle. Jimal Johnson, a 245-pound junior, and JaRelle Pedyfoot (6-0, 245) could move into a rotation.