Region 2-6A has three undefeated teams, another that’s got one loss and is one of Mississippi’s top up-and-coming teams, and one more that’s a perennial power.
And then there’s Greenville-Weston.
The Hornets haven’t had a winning season since 2002 and have fewer wins in the last two-plus seasons combined, four, than Warren Central has in this one alone.
On paper, Friday’s game between WC and Greenville looks like a rare breather in a brutal league gauntlet for the Vikings. They’re not treating it that way, though. They know it’s a game they should win, but can’t afford to lose, if they want to challenge for the region championship.
“We’ve got Greenville this week, and that’s it,” WC coach Josh Morgan said. “We’re trying to be 2-0 in the district, and all of our goals can’t happen without having this win first. It shouldn’t be hard for us to stay focused.”
Warren Central (5-0, 1-0 Region 2-6A) is one of three teams in the region, along with Starkville and Murrah, to make it to October with a perfect record.
The Vikings broke into the Associated Press overall Top 10 this week at No. 10 to give Region 2-6A three teams in the poll. Starkville is No. 1, and Clinton is No. 8 after beating Madison Central last week.
Madison has long been the standard-bearer for the region, and the Vikings get them next week at home. Now they just have to make sure they get there unscathed.
“It’s a week to week thing. We’re not looking at Madison right now. We’re focused on Greenville,” said quarterback Alex Stevens, who has thrown for 484 yards and eight touchdowns this season. “We’re doing a great job at it, going week to week. That’s part of the reason we’ve been so successful so far.”
Greenville has only beaten Warren Central once since the two were moved into the same region in 2003, and seven of WC’s wins in those 11 meetings were shutouts.
Morgan, though, remained wary of the Hornets (1-4, 0-1). He remembers the 2010 season, when Greenville beat WC 8-3, and the 2011 game when the Vikings had to scratch out a 35-34 victory.
No matter their struggles the past few years, Morgan said, the Hornets still have the talent to compete in any given week.
“They’re capable of winning the ballgame. You’re playing 6A talent. They have weapons all over the field,” Morgan said. “We’re expecting a big game, and we’re going to try to play our best game yet.”