When they meet at midfield for the coin toss Friday night, Warren Central’s captains should offer their counterparts from Madison Central a grateful handshake.

Maybe a hug. Offer to buy dinner. Anything to show a dose of gratitude for the favor the Jaguars did to all of Class 6A by going to Batesville and beating South Panola last week.

I’m as in awe as anyone at what South Panola has accomplished over the past 20 years. It’s won 10 state championships and played for four more since 1996. By any measure, it’s the gold standard of Mississippi high school football.

That’s why it was so nice to see them fall flat for once.

South Panola’s success created a glass ceiling in Class 6A. No matter how good a team did, there was always the spectre of having to face the Tigers eventually. There was a chance your team could win — there’s always a chance, or why bother playing? — but also a sense of dread. This year’s playoff teams from Region 2-6A are a combined 5-33 against South Panola since 1996.

Now, with that beastly team gone from the bracket, not only will we have a new champion in Class 6A but it feels like anyone can win it.

Warren Central hadn’t won a playoff game since 2002. Now, instead of facing South Panola this week, it’ll go to Madison Central to play a team it’s already beaten once this season. After that, it’ll get either Clinton at home or Starkville on the road. Both are talented teams, but ones the Vikings have always been competitive with.

Clinton, with its Alabama commit Cam Akers at quarterback, will give Starkville a much tougher fight in this week’s second-round game than they did without him two weeks ago.

Starkville went undefeated against its region mates this season and is the favorite to get through the North half of the bracket, but has its hands full.

Even Madison Central, the No. 4 seed, will have a boatload of momentum after slaying the dragon that has terrorized Class 6A for so long.

That’s the gift we’ve all been given — uncertainty. It no longer feels inevitable that the same old team will win this thing, because they won’t. And we don’t know who will. Seeing the same team win year after year is great if you’re a fan of that team, but not if you’re a fan of sports.

So thank you, Jaguars, from the bottom of our hearts. You’ve done all of us a great service.

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Ernest Bowker is a sports writer. He can be reached at ernest.bowker@vicksburgpost.com