MADISON — Warren Central came to Madison with hopes of springing an epic playoff upset. Ninety minutes later, all it could do was tip its cap, head home, and look toward next season.
Ridge Brohaugh scored two goals, and four other players scored one apiece as Madison Central handed Warren Central a 6-0 defeat in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs Wednesday night.
It’s the third straight season that Warren Central (10-8-1) has lost in the first round of the playoffs. Madison Central (19-1-2), the defending Class 6A champion, advanced to face either Olive Branch or Hernando in the second round on Saturday.
“This group of seniors has been with me for six years. I wanted it more for them. They’re (Madison) just too strong,” WC coach Greg Head said. “We had some players hurt. They’re young and they’re good, but they just can’t compete against the older kids, especially kids that are this talented. They’re strong, no doubt about it. No weak spots whatsoever. We had a strategy, but when they’re that good it’s hard to execute your strategy.”
Warren Central hung tough for a while, but it seemed only a matter of time before Madison Central broke through. The first half was largely a repeating sequence of offensive pressure by the Jaguars, saves by WC keeper Baxter Richardson, and goal kicks by the Vikings that quickly developed into the next Madison rush.
In the 15th minute, Lewis Tillman finally slipped a shot past Richardson to break the scoreless tie. Brohaugh added his first goal in the 25th minute to give the Jaguars a 2-0 lead at halftime.
“They can pass. They were in better shape, they had better touch, better passing. Their finishing was much better. Their striker was on top, he was left footed. They’re all on top of the ball, ready to win the ball,” said Richardson, who finished with 17 saves.
In the second half, Madison Central beat Richardson with several well-placed shots rather than sheer volume.
Brohaugh, moving toward the left sideline, kicked the ball across his body and off the inside of the right post three minutes into the second half to give the Jaguars a three-goal lead.
Connor Johnson zipped a ball through a lane in the defense and past a screened Richardson in the 64th minute, and in the 68th, Patrick Ross bounced a high, arcing shot from 40 yards out into traffic in the goal box and over Richardson’s head for a 5-0 lead.
Devin Brown added the final goal in the waning moments of the game.
“They did wear us down,” Head said. “We held them, but you just can’t hold a team with this much depth for that long. My kids just wore out, and that’s when they started putting the goals in.”

(G) Madison Central 9, Warren Central 0
Warren Central’s playoff run was over before it ever really began.
Bryce Wheatley scored three goals and assisted on another, Adaugo Anyamele and Jayden Gardner both scored twice, and Madison Central (19-2-2) routed Warren Central (9-9) in the first round of the Class 6A girls playoffs. Madison Central scored three goals in the first 14 minutes of the game, and five in the first half.
“Anytime you play a team like this, and our history playing this team has not been good, when you do go down it’s a mental thing and it’s hard to bounce back from that. I think that had a lot to do with it,” WC coach David Case said. “Other than that, I’m proud. They had to make a big change. The things that we started can be built on, and keep developing this program to what it used to be, a powerhouse in the state.”
The Lady Vikes might have needed a perfect game to beat Madison Central, but never gave itself a chance. Tay Cavett scored just five minutes into the game, and Wheatley got her first goal less than two minutes later. Wheatley scored again in the 14th and 25th minutes, and Anyamele knocked in a rebound in the 26th to give the Lady Jaguars a 5-0 lead at halftime.
Gardner scored both of her goals in the second half, and Anyamele added another. Megan Endt tacked on the final goal with less than two minutes left.
“I think we just didn’t warm up good and we were flat at first. We just weren’t ready,” WC midfielder Kylee Burke said.