Class 6A powers Warren Central, Oak Grove kick off season on Friday

Published 9:06 am Thursday, August 18, 2016

With seven new starters in the defensive starting lineup, Warren Central head coach Josh Morgan might have preferred to start the season against a cupcake team.

Instead, he and the Vikings got a beast.

Warren Central begins the 2016 season Friday night against Oak Grove in the annual Red Carpet Bowl at Vicksburg High’s Memorial Stadium. Oak Grove ranked fourth in scoring in Class 6A last season, at 35.3 points per game.

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That means a stiff test for WC’s rebuilding defense — or any defense it could have put on the field in recent years, Morgan said.

“I think it’s going to be a challenging matchup because they are a potent offense. On our end, it wouldn’t matter who we had. We’ll have to be up to the challenge,” Morgan said. “Everything that can give you problems offensively, they can do it.”

Oak Grove will have a new quarterback this season, but leading rusher Aaron Abram (701 yards, two touchdowns in 2015) and wide receiver Charles Hartfield (53 receptions, 1,089 yards, 10 TDs) are among the returning starters.

Warren Central will counter that with a defensive unit that only has two starters on the front seven returning — lineman Caleb Boyett and linebacker Kamren Ellis.

The Vikings do have a number of returning starters on offense, however. The list includes quarterback Jesse Wilson, wide receiver Shaun Walton and running back Demarcus Jones. Morgan believes his offense has the firepower to match Oak Grove, provided the defense can break serve once in a while.

“This has all the makings of a shootout,” Morgan said. “Our job on defense is to stop them and create turnovers. We’re going to be tested.”

The Vikings did see some encouraging signs on defense during last week’s jamboree against Ridgeland. They held the Titans to seven points in two quarters with the varsity, and also scored a defensive touchdown on an interception return by Shakee Shaw.

Shaw is one of two returning starters in the secondary, along with Joe’Vantae Shorter.

“It’s a good sign,” Morgan said. We did some good things. We did some bad things. I think we’re definitely heading in the right direction.”

The first game of this year’s Red Carpet Bowl — Vicksburg hosts Wayne County in the second half of the doubleheader — is a matchup of two of Class 6A’s best programs in recent years.

Oak Grove is one of only three 6A teams to win 10 or more games each of the past three seasons. It and Warren Central are two of six Class 6A teams that won 10 or more last season. Warren Central won nine games in 2014.

While facing Oak Grove right off the bat will be a challenge, Morgan feels it’ll be one that makes his team better in the long run.

“It’s going to be an exciting game. We’re excited for the opportunity to play them,” Morgan said. “It’s why we play and coach, is for these big ballgames, and we’ve got one right out of the gate. Whatever happens, it’s going to be good for us down the road.”

FRIDAY’S AREA FOOTBALL GAMES

All games start at 7 p.m. unless noted

• Warren Central vs. Oak Grove, at Vicksburg, 6 p.m. (Radio: 105.5 FM)

• St. Andrew’s at Porters Chapel (Radio: 104.5 FM)

• Cathedral at St. Aloysius (Radio: 101.3 FM)

• North Sunflower at Tallulah Academy

• Hebron Christian at Sharkey-Issaquena

• Rebul Academy at Calvary Christian

• Amite County at Port Gibson

• Union Christian at Central Hinds

• Wayne County at Vicksburg, 8:30 p.m.(Radio: 1490 AM)

About Ernest Bowker

Ernest Bowker is The Vicksburg Post's sports editor. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post's sports staff since 1998, making him one of the longest-tenured reporters in the paper's 140-year history. The New Jersey native is a graduate of LSU. In his career, he has won more than 50 awards from the Mississippi Press Association and Associated Press for his coverage of local sports in Vicksburg.

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