Warren Central’s October schedule is scarier than any horror movie playing in theaters.

Four teams with a combined record of 21-4, three of whom are or have been ranked in the Associated Press overall poll this season, are lined up like a gauntlet of angry chainsaw-wielding zombies.

No. 1 Starkville sits at the end — appropriately enough on Halloweeen night — but the scariest and toughest of the bunch might be the one kicking in the Vikings’ front door on Friday night.

Warren Central hosts Madison Central in a game with huge implications not only on the Region 2-6A championship race, but on WC’s status as state title contenders.

Madison Central (4-2, 1-1 Region 2-6A) has beaten the Vikings (6-0, 2-0) eight consecutive times and has won at least a share of the region title six years in a row. Notching a win over the region’s perennial juggernaut would make a huge statement that WC is ready to move up in the pecking order.

“In order to be the best you’ve got to beat the best,” WC cornerback Chris Stamps said. “It’s all about handling your business and beating the team that’s considered the best. Once you beat those teams, you’ll be labeled as one of the top teams in the state.”

Warren Central’s eight-game losing streak to the Jaguars is its longest against any current Region 2-6A opponent.

It’s come close to beating Madison in recent years — in each of the last three meetings the game has been tied or within one score going into the fourth quarter — but hasn’t been able to seal the deal.

Last year was especially painful. Two second-half interceptions led to Madison touchdowns as the Jaguars wiped out a 14-point deficit and won 28-21.

It turned out to be Warren Central’s only region loss. Although WC still claimed a share of the region title, the loss put it third in a three-way tiebreaker with Madison and Starkville and sent the Vikings on the road to Tupelo for the first round of the playoffs.

“The last two years we were in the lead going to the fourth quarter and we ended up blowing it. For us, it’s about finishing the job and staying on top of the district,” Stamps said.

Madison Central, while still formidable, is playing from behind in the region standings after losing its opener to Clinton. The Jaguars also lost a close game to Petal, and much of the blame for the back-to-back defeats was placed on the absence of quarterback Trey Smith.

Smith was injured against Petal and sat out most of that game and the loss to Clinton. The senior, who has committed to Louisville, has rushed for 640 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, thrown for 505 yards and five scores, and is the team’s offensive engine.

Smith returned last week and accounted for five touchdowns in a 52-28 win over previously undefeated Murrah. WC coach Josh Morgan said the Jaguars are a much better team when Smith is in the lineup.

“When he’s played all four quarters, they’re unbeaten. Those are jam-up teams they’ve played, too,” Morgan said. “He’s one of those special players, and that makes them extremely dangerous.”

Morgan quickly added that WC can hold its own, however. The Vikings have allowed just 32 points in their first six games, the fewest of any team in Class 6A.

“They’re a great football team, but we’re pretty dang good, too. That’s the way we’re going to approach it,” Morgan said.