The Warren Central sideline was a cluster of frayed nerves, sweaty palms and clinched fists as the minutes in Monday’s match with Clinton ticked past.

When the Viking defense held off a late flurry of attempts and the final whistle sounded, the rush to the field was equal parts relief and jubilation.

The Vikings lost the battle 2-1 but won the war, as they wrapped up the school’s first division title in soccer since 2004. Saturday’s 2-0 victory set the stage for Tuesday’s triumph, as the Vikings won in the head-to-head goal differential by one.

“I’ve got to give it to our guys because they played their hearts out,” WC coach Greg Head said after his first ice water shower as a division title-winning coach. “I told these guys earlier that the only things that are going to keep us in this game are heart and determination. Without the depth that they (Clinton) had, we still stayed in the game.”

The Division 4-6A title means that the Vikings (13-4, 5-1 in division play) will host a playoff match in the first round, likely against DeSoto County or Southaven at Viking Stadium. The loss by the Vikings also eliminated Vicksburg’s faint playoff hopes. The Gators travel to Clinton tonight.

“It’s just amazing to come here and take part in this incredible team,” Norwegian exchange student Robert Langeland said. “This is like nothing I’ve ever experienced.”

Down 2-0, the Vikings turned to the hero of Saturday’s match, Tim Hoeptner. The big-footed German exchange student got his chance when  junior     forward Eric Chappell was dragged down from behind by the Clinton defense to set up a crucial penalty kick.

Hoeptner took his time setting up his kick and it scudded off his foot with a boom, finding the back of the net past the right post. The boot changed the whole tenor of the contest.

Hoeptner said that he felt no nerves when he lined up. Just another shot.

“No, I didn’t think about that,” Hoeptner said. “I wasn’t nervous. I was concentrating on the moment.”

From that point, the Vikings just needed to prevent the Arrows from scoring. More and more desperate as the clock ticked down, the Arrows peppered the box with shot after shot. One schtoinked off the crossbar. Others found their way into Brinnon’s long-armed grasp.

But in the end, the Vikings survived.

“After that second goal, I just wasn’t sure because this team (Clinton) is very good,”Chappell said. “But we pulled it together in the very end and pulled it off for all of the second half.  We gave it our best. I’m so proud of our team.”

In the early going, the action was dominated by Clinton’s relentless attack. Jonathan Brown got the Arrows on the board in the 12th minute as he squeezed a shot just inside the left post and past the reach of WC goalkeeper Jamal Brinnon.

Then a defensive breakdown allowed Brown to get another look and the speedy forward showed a deft touch as he flicked a shot in on the move in the 23rd minute to give the Arrows (12-6, 4-1) a 2-0 lead at the break.

Clinton 4, WC 0

Clinton (11-5-2, 4-0) got goals from Natalie Murphy, Casey Gill, Samantha Jordan and Ashley Dubra to earn a victory. The Lady Arrows need only a win today over Vicksburg to lock up another division title. The Lady Vikes fall to 7-7-3.

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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com