Dressed in black jerseys and pants, the Vicksburg Gators treated Friday’s matchup with archrival Warren Central as a special “blackout” themed game.

Before the sun had even set over the western end zone at Memorial Stadium, it was WC that turned out the lights.

The Vikings turned three turnovers into touchdowns in the first 4 1/2 minutes of the game, and rode the fast start and another dominating defensive performance to a 42-0 victory.

“It’s a huge advantage, starting like that, starting that fast,” Warren Central coach Josh Morgan said. “If you’re too careful you’re too tense and don’t play well. You’re not ready for it and it’s overwhelming to you. Getting that fast start was a huge advantage for us.”

It was Warren Central’s 10th shutout in 32 meetings with the Gators, and first since 2004.

It’s also the largest margin of victory by either team in the series. The previous record for margin of victory was WC’s 40-point, 55-15 win in 1982.

It put an emphatic stamp on the series for Warren Central’s senior class. It’s won three in a row over the Gators, including a forfeit in 2012, after Vicksburg had won five straight meetings.

“It feels amazing,” said WC senior defensive end Hastings Ragland, who had two fumble recoveries in the first quarter. “It’s satisfying as can be. I love it.”

Vicksburg (1-2) got the opening kickoff, and a nice 24-yard return by Paul Wilson, and then immediately collapsed as if a sinkhole had opened up on the sideline.

The Gators committed three turnovers — an interception and two fumbles — on their first six plays from scrimmage. Warren Central scored three times in seven plays off the mistakes to take a 21-0 lead with 7:44 left in the first quarter.

D.J. Knight scored on a 9-yard run, DeArius Christmas on a 4-yard run, and Miraculous Powers on a 21-yard pass from Alex Stevens. The three scoring drives covered a total of 57 yards.

“When you turn the ball over like that against a good ball club — and hats off to that team, they’re a pretty good ball club — but when you turn the ball over like that inside the 25 going in, there’s not much you can do,” Vicksburg coach Marcus Rogers said. “You’re asking too much out of your defense if you keep turning the ball over.”

Vicksburg settled in after its rough start, but couldn’t move the ball well enough — or hang onto it long enough — against Warren Central’s stout defense to make a dent in the scoreboard.

Vicksburg only had 35 yards of total offense in the first half, and 139 in the game. It fumbled twice more in the third quarter, and even its best drive of the game didn’t come close to getting into the end zone.

The Gators went on a 17-play, nine-minute drive spanning the third and fourth quarters. They made it to the WC 15-yard line before turning it over on downs.

“I will say this, they were very coachable this week. We bent on them pretty good and they did everything we asked them to do today,” Morgan said of his defense. “They really executed what we were trying to do defensively. I’m proud of them, and proud to see them scratch and claw to the end.”

Warren Central settled in, too, after its fast start, but kicked it back into gear long enough to turn the game into a full-fledged rout.

The Vikings only had four first downs, punted three times and turned it over once in four possessions following Christmas’ TD run that made it 21-0.

Then, on their last possession before the half, the Vikings took over at the VHS 28-yard line following a short punt and cashed in. Jeremy Lewis scored on a 21-yard run to make it 28-0 with 1:05 left in the half.

On the first play of the second half, Knight broke off a 65-yard TD run for a 35-0 lead. Christmas added a second short TD run with 5:14 left in the third to make it 42-0.

Knight finished with 115 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, and the Vikings had 205 rushing yards as a team.

Lewis’ touchdown ended whatever momentum Vicksburg had built through the second quarter, and Knight’s long run ended any dwindling chances of a miracle comeback.

“I think that hurt, because we had stopped them for about 18 straight minutes after they went up 21-0. We had stopped them five or six drives in a row before that touchdown before the half,” Rogers said. “I was hoping we could go in only down 21-0 and that TD before the half, I think it did hurt.”

Warren Central 42, Vicksburg 0

Records: Warren Central (3-0); Vicksburg (1-2)

Up next: WC hosts Natchez; Vicksburg hosts Gentry

Skinny: WC turns three early turnovers into touchdowns, rolls to first shutout of Gators since 2004