Warren Central is used to pounding its opponents into submission well before the second half gets under way. The Vikings hadn’t faced much adversity in four runaway romps to cruise to a 4-0 start. But, on Friday, Warren Central faced its first true test of the season.

It’s safe to say it passed.

Nursing an eight-point lead with 2:03 to play, the Vikings lined up against Northwest Rankin’s offense at the Cougars’ 40 yard-line. Josh Morgan’s stellar defense needed a huge stop to secure a win, and they delivered like they have all season long. Jeremy Judge came flying into the backfield untouched on a corner blitz to nail quarterback Braden Smith for a sack on second down that sent the packed crowd into a frenzy. That sound crescendoed into an ear-popping roar two plays later when Chris Stamps batted down a deep pass on fourth down to seal the 21-13 victory in the Region 2-6A opener.

“That’s what I wanted to see. I’ve been anxious to see how we would hang in there and claw and fight for four quarters,” Morgan said. “We had to do that. Hats off to Northwest. We knew they were going to be a tough football team and I was glad to see us fight through some adversity and come out on top.”

It seemed as if this game would be like all the rest in the beginning, after Warren Central stormed out of the gate to a 14-0 lead. After three big runs by DJ Knight, Alex Stevens threw a 29-yard touchdown strike to Miraculous Powers to put the Vikings on the scoreboard with 4:41 remaining in the first quarter. WC’s defense then stuffed Northwest Rankin on a three-and-out, and Stevens methodically drove the offense back down the field to hit Knight from six yards out to make it a two-possession game right before the half.

Stevens was an efficient 7-of-9 passing for 99 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

“(Stevens) did what he was supposed to do. He made some big plays,” Morgan said. “That second touchdown pass he threw was an unbelievable decision to get it done and he was a big time player tonight and one of the main reasons we won.”

Northwest Rankin battled back to cut the deficit to 21-13, however, behind a 34-yard pass from Smith to running back Ricky Price and a one-yard run by Smith with 3:20 to play.

But it was Warren Central’s stout defense, which has only given up 25 points all year, that staved off a comeback run by the Cougars.

“I’d rather it not be that close, but I am excited about seeing us in a tight ballgame and seeing us play in crunch-time situations, seeing how we handle that,” Morgan said. “That’s what it’s going to take to win these district ballgames.”

Warren Central 21, NW Rankin 13

Records: Warren Central (5-0, 1-0 Region 2-6A); NW Rankin (2-3, 0-1)

Up next: WC at Greenville-Weston

Skinny: Vikings use late defensive stand to hang on in region opener