Tonight’s game against Greenville-Weston has all of the makings of a classic trap game for Warren Central.

On the radio

7 p.m. Friday, 105.5 FM

Greenville-Weston at WC

Exhibit A is the Vikings’ overtime 27-26 win over Northwest Rankin last week. It’s tough for teams coming off an emotional victory to tap into that level of energy and emotion the next week.

“At least we’ve got some air in our sail and we’re confident in what we’re going to do,” WC coach Curtis Brewer said. “It was one of the biggest wins we’ve had here in a long time. Especially to win at Northwest Rankin and win in overtime is very special. The kids were overjoyed and that was an understatement.”

Exhibit B is what is next after this week for the Vikings. On Oct. 9, the Vikings travel to nationally-ranked and undefeated Madison Central.

So Brewer has made sure that his charges understand one thing: this game is a Division 2-6A contest and is just as important as all of the others that follow.

“All these kids on the team have been here for three years,” Brewer said. “They know the history of not making the playoffs. They know what caused it. They know what happened. We don’t have to repeatedly tell them about it. They know the reality of it. Northwest Rankin always started us off stumbling and we’re fortunate to not be in that position.”

A win tonight will give the Vikings (3-2, 1-0 Region 2-6A) a springboard to the postseason and the chance for a possible home playoff game. A loss to lowly Weston (2-2, 1-0) could cast a pall over the rest of the season.

How lowly is Weston? In two defeats to Clarksdale and third-ranked Noxubee County, they were outscored 71-0.

But the Hornets did blank division foe Murrah 14-0 and crushed hapless Canton 23-0 to get into the win column.

Last year, the Vikings blanked the Hornets 17-0, but they won’t be overlooking them this time around.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” Brewer said. “It’s not a game you can look over. We’re not a team that can say ‘we can play an average game and get by.’”

Weston Running back Daniel Brown had 21 totes for 142 yards and two scores in a win over Canton and will lead an power running game against the Vikings’ big defense.

“Their offense is a lot like Northwest Rankin,” Brewer said. “They just load up and come right at you. It’s going to be one of those slobberknockers, I’m afraid and we’re going to have stand in with the kids we’ve got and the fill-ins we’re going to have to use and they’re going to have to grow up and play.”

Another key matchup will be quarterback Beau Wallace, running back Tim Jones and the Vikings’ multiple offense against a veteran Hornet unit. Eight starters return for Weston.

Jones shredded Northwest Rankin, rushing 28 times for 241 yards and the winning two-point conversion.

•

Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com