There’s no question Warren Central can jump out to a big lead. The Vikings have outscored opponents 55-0 in the first quarter this season and held on to win each of their first five games by an average of 33 points. What had yet to be seen, at least before Friday night, was what would happen when that usually enormous lead gets dwindled down to a single possession.

With Warren Central taking each one of its first four opponents and grinding them into dust, coach Josh Morgan had yet to witness how his squad handles adversity. The mark of a truly good team lies not in how it establishes a lead, but instead on how it holds on to one.

That was evident Friday when Warren Central proved its worth by preventing a furious late rally by Northwest Rankin. Despite giving up two potentially backbreaking fourth down conversions — one that extended a touchdown drive to bring the game within eight points, and one that continued Northwest Rankin’s final chance — it never seemed as if the result of the contest was in doubt. The Vikings’ defense just clamped shut like it has been programmed to do all year long and preserved the 21-13 victory.

“They stood up when they had to. We gave up a cheap touchdown, I feel like, on that pass play,” Morgan said. “You can’t do that. We can’t give up big plays. I’m disappointed in that aspect but proud of how we stood tall in the end.”

The offense even had a chance to end the game in the fourth quarter behind two long runs by D.J. Knight that were wiped away by penalties. But the unfortunate circumstances didn’t prevent Warren Central from finishing what it started to build — an avalanche of momentum with a region-opening win.

“That was a backbreaker because we were fixing to go in and seal the deal. It turned into a (long) penalty,” Morgan said. “It was unbelievable, but stuff like that happens and we found a way to win.”

And that’s what separates good teams from great ones. The ability to, when things don’t always go according to plan, still dig in and hang on for a victory. It’s a quality that has made Morgan so proud of his players through their first five games, and one that will pay major dividends as Region 2-6A play continues Friday on the road against a reeling Greenville-Weston (1-4, 0-1 Region 2-6A) team.

“We’re knowing how to win. That’s what it takes. It’s not going to be pretty, but we’ve got to find out ways to win and that’s what I’m more pleased with than anything,” Morgan said. “These guys know how to win and have gotten that experience and confidence. That’s an important thing to have.”

On the radio

Friday, 7 p.m., 105.5 FM

WC at Greenville-Weston