Vikings cage Jags for big region win
Published 1:39 am Saturday, October 10, 2015
MADISON — In a game with big implications on the Region 2-6A race, Warren Central earned a big 16-6 win over Madison Central on Friday night.
Nick Wright kicked three field goals and D.J. Knight scored a touchdown for Warren Central (6-1, 3-0 Region 2-6A), which won its sixth consecutive game and beat Madison Central for the second straight year.
It’s the first time Warren Central has won back-to-back games in the series since winning four in a row from 2002-05.
“It was a big win for our football program. It was a big win for our school and it was a big win for our community and that’s the truth. That’s the way we approached it. We were carrying the torch for a lot of people tonight,” said Vikings coach Josh Morgan.
Warren Central’s lone touchdown drive went for 60 yards, and Knight contributed greatly. He had a 36-yard run down to the 1-yard line and then punched it home to take an early 7-0 lead with 4:18 remaining in the first quarter.
Wright kicked a 21-yard field goal midway through the second quarter to extend the lead to 10-0. He had two more field goals of 25 and 32 yards before halftime to put the Vikings ahead 16-0.
Madison’s six points were during a drive in which Warren Central gave up 20 yards off pass interference and unsportsmanlike penalties.
Jaylon Uzodinma caught a screen pass and made it to the Vikings’ 23-yard line to put the Jaguars in scoring position. A wide open Grayson Gunter finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown reception late in the third quarter.
A swarm of Vikings prevented the Jaguars’ two-point conversion.
“I guess you can call it a trick play,” said Jaguars coach Brad Peterson. “A Gus Malzhan play. Our tight end looked like he was the offensive tackle. He was eligible and our tackle lined up at wide receiver. It was a legal formation because we had all five linemen in a row, but one was split out wide.”
Peterson knew the Vikings would be using man-to-man coverage, but he quickly broke the huddle and was able to get the play off.
He also credited Warren Central and respected how well-coached the Vikings were.
“Warren Central has a heck of a football team. Hats off to them for how they played,” Peterson said. “They were more physical than we were. We had some missed opportunities, but our defense did a great job.”