Warren Central has spent the better part of two decades chasing Madison Central.

While the Jaguars won seven consecutive Region 2-5A and 2-6A championships, Warren Central was the fading power and plucky underdog trying — and often failing — to earn an upset each year.

Nowadays, however, the roles have reversed. Warren Central (6-0, 2-0 Region 2-6A) comes into this Friday’s meeting with the Jaguars with a No. 2 ranking in this week’s Associated Press poll and as one of only three undefeated teams in Class 6A. Madison Central (3-3-1, 1-1) is the team trying to claw its way back into the top half of the region standings.

Despite the shift in dynamic, Warren Central coach Josh Morgan said a lot of things remain the same. It’s still a key region game between two contenders in Region 2-6A, and one the Vikings need to win to stay on course for a championship.

“It has changed a little bit, but at the same time it hasn’t changed much,” Morgan said. “We’re expecting a big-time game. We have a lot of respect for them, and it’s going to carry a lot of weight moving forward.”

The respect comes from years of being thwarted by Madison Central. Warren Central lost eight in a row in the series before winning two straight regular-season meetings, but Madison won when they faced each other in the playoffs last year. It also comes from seeing what this “mediocre” Jaguars team has done this year.

Five of Madison Central’s six Mississippi opponents have been ranked at one time or another in the AP’s Class 5A or 6A polls. It also played Louisiana power West Monroe to a 17-17 tie.

Four of its games have been decided by a total of nine points, and it hung tough with No. 1 Clinton two weeks ago before losing 30-21. So, even though the Jaguars are coming to Viking Stadium with a .500 record, Morgan said they’re much better than that.

“They’re definitely battle tested,” Morgan said. “They play big matchup after big matchup, and ran that gauntlet. They played Clinton about as good as you can. You look at their wins, they beat Meridian, South Panola and Murrah. And then their losses were Brandon, Clinton and Oxford. That’s not too bad.”

Few teams have played as tough a schedule as Madison Central, Warren Central included. The Vikings have beaten all comers, though, and seem to be getting better each week.

Their latest improvement came last week in a 56-34 win over Greenville. After completing just 42 percent of his passes in the first five games of the season, quarterback Jesse Wilson was 13-of-18 (72 percent) for 155 yards and three touchdowns against Greenville.

Seven different receivers caught passes as well. It took until Week 4 for anyone other than wide receiver Shaun Walton or running back Demarcus Jones to record a reception.

The Vikings had been passing just often and well enough to keep defenses honest against their explosive running game. If they can throw the ball that well moving forward, it could take an offense that’s already averaging 36 points per game to another level.

“We completed 15 passes with four touchdowns, and no sacks or turnovers. You mix that with the explosiveness of our backs and wideouts, and that’s impressive,” Morgan said. “It makes us that much harder to defend. If we can do that, it really helps us out.”

Friday’s area games

All games start at 7 p.m.

Madison Central at Warren Central (Radio: 105.5 FM)

Vicksburg at Lanier (Radio: 1490 AM/107.7 FM)

Manchester Academy at St. Aloysius (Radio: 101.3 FM)

Porters Chapel at Wilkinson Christian (Radio: 104.5 FM)

Tallulah Academy at Sharkey-Issaquena

Park Place at Rebul Academy

Riverfield at Central Hinds

Wesson at Port Gibson

Madison Parish at Wossman

Online: For live scoring updates on all of Warren County’s high school football games on Friday night, visit twitter.com/vixpostsports and facebook.com/thevicksburgpost