Just a few short years ago, a game with Murrah seemed like an easy mark, a nice oasis in a tough Region 2-6A.

Not any longer.

The Mustangs (3-4, 2-1) sit alone in third place in the region after a 42-41 triple-overtime win at Clinton.

“This is a very good team,” WC coach Josh Morgan said. “They’ve had some success and that always breeds confidence. Last week, they showed what kind of team they are. We’re going to have to be at our best.”

Beneath them in the standings is a confused jumble.

Warren Central, Vicksburg, Clinton and Jim Hill are tied for fourth with 1-2 records and a win against Murrah would do much for the Vikings’ playoff hopes. Northwest Rankin and Madison, barring epic collapses, are almost locks for the top two seeds at 3-0 in region play and meet on Oct. 27 in a de facto region championship game.

Last week, WC did

everything for the better part of three quarters to nearly pull off an upset over Madison Central. But a seven-minute span, ignited by a costly kickoff return for a touchdown, cost the Vikings any shot in a 42-14 loss.

“We played a very good game, carried out our assignments well,” Morgan said. “We moved the ball on offense. We just got lackadaisical on kickoff coverage, they ran it back and we just could not recover from that. It just got away from us. We were right there.”

The key for WC (1-6) against Murrah will be balance on offense. After wide receiver Kourey Davis and quarterback Chase Ladd had a breakout game in the win over Greenville-Weston, the running game had its turn in the sun against Madison Central. Aaron Stamps rushed for a career-high 140 yards and two touchdowns against the Jaguars.

The Vikings need a balanced approach against one of the best defensive fronts they will see.

“Best defenses we’ve seen this year,” Morgan said. “They get a lot of pressure with their front five and as a result, they don’t have to blitz. If your front five does a good job like they do at stopping the run and getting pressure with everyone else back in coverage, the odds are in your favor.”

Also improving last week was WC’s run defense. Defending Madison Central’s triple-option, the Vikings played as well as they have all season against the run.

They’ll need to improve even more with Murrah bringing a potent spread offense rushing attack to Viking Stadium. Fred Franklin is the team’s primary threat, rushing for 756 yards and seven touchdowns. He torched Lanier for 267 yards and two touchdowns, gashed Madison Central for 145 yards and had three touchdowns against Clinton.

A physical runner despite his 188-pound frame, Franklin will be a load for WC’s young defense to handle.

“We can’t stay blocked,” Morgan said. “We’ve got to gang-tackle. If the first person on the scene slows him up, that pursuit is got to come. We’ve got to pursue down the line correctly.”