CLINTON — As the final seconds ticked off at Arrows Stadium in a 34-15 loss to third-ranked Clinton, the Warren Central Vikings could find solace that their next game would be back at Viking Stadium against arch-rival Vicksburg.

The Vikings (5-4, 3-2 Region 2-6A) will have several motivating factors in facing the winless Gators (0-9, 0-5). This group of WC seniors has yet to beat Vicksburg. The Gators have won two straight by identical 7-0 scores and three of the last four in a rivalry the Vikings once dominated since the series’ inception.

On the radio

7 p.m. Friday

1490 AM, 105.5 FM

Vicksburg at Warren Central

The second big factor is the playoff scenario for Region 2-6A. The Vikings are currently tied for third with Northwest Rankin at 3-2 in the eight-team division. WC owns the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Cougars following a 27-26 overtime win on Oct. 2 in Brandon. Northwest moved to 3-2 with Friday’s 49-14 rout of Greenville-Weston.

A win over the Gators would clinch a playoff berth for the Vikings. Another win next week at home against Grenada (4-5, 2-3) would lock up the No. 3 spot in Region 2-6A and likely land WC a playoff game on the road at Olive Branch. Vicksburg, meanwhile, comes in off a 27-7 loss to Murrah last Friday at Newell Field in Jackson.

“It’s a huge game for us,” Viking senior linebacker Jericho Harris said of the matchup with the Gators. “I know Vicksburg has had a tough year, but a win against them would give us a big confidence boost going into that last game with Grenada.”

Warren Central coach Curtis Brewer relied on a pair of old football clichés in cautioning his team but not overlooking the Gators, who are having their worst season in four decades.

“When it’s us and Vicksburg against each other, you just throw the records out. We have to focus on ourselves. We know it’s a big ball game and it’s a big ball game for the community. We just have to show up and play as a team. We can’t look ahead toward Grenada or the playoffs. We have to take it a step at a time,” Brewer said.

The Vikings missed a chance to get a leg up on a possible home playoff game had they been able to contain Clinton’s potent passing game. The Arrows got three touchdown catches from Alex McWilliams to put up 34 points.

“The kids wanted this one bad, but things kind of fell apart for us in the second half,” Brewer said. “We felt like we prepared ourselves pretty well for this game, but we made some mental and physical mistakes.”

The Vikings had two opportunities to stop Clinton (8-1, 4-1) on its opening drive of the second half. Down just 14-7, WC let a fumble squirt pass several defenders and then had a sure interception dropped. The Arrows capitalized with quarterback Elliot Brashier hitting McWilliams for the second of the three TD hookups to turn a 14-7 game into a comfortable 21-7 lead. Brashier finished with 190 yards passing.

“We were able to make some plays against them,” said McWilliams, who finished with five receptions for 133 yards.

WC was led by tailback Tim Jones, who had the lone Viking score on a 71-yard run in the second quarter to make it 14-7.

*

Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com