According to the old coach’s cliché, Warren Central’s home game Friday night is the biggest of the year because it’s the next one.

Forget that.

It’s the biggest of the year because it’s the biggest of the year.

The Vikings (7-1, 3-1 Region 2-6A), ranked fourth in this week’s Associated Press Class 6A poll, face No. 1 Clinton (8-0, 4-0) in a game filled with high stakes, high star power, and a bright spotlight shining down on it. It’s the only game in Mississippi this week pitting two teams in the top five of the 6A poll or the overall top 10, and will have major implications on the Region 2-6A race.

It doesn’t get much bigger than that.

“With our team, we’re still competing for a district championship and a playoff berth. It’s a really big opportunity for our program to face the No. 1 team and player, and a bunch of other talented players,” Warren Central coach Josh Morgan said. “So it’s a really big opportunity for our football team.”

The No. 1 player Morgan referenced is, of course, Clinton quarterback Cam Akers. The five-star recruit has thrown for 1,718 yards and 17 touchdowns this season, with only three interceptions in 132 attempts. He’s also run for 933 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Unlike in years past, however, the 2016 Arrows are more than just Akers. Running back Darius Maberry has 611 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Four receivers have at least 12 receptions apiece, and as a team the Arrows are averaging 19.6 yards per reception.

A total of five Clinton players — Akers, Maberry, defensive back Kam White, defensive end Jacobi Hearn and wide receiver Reggie Landing — were selected to either the Mississippi-Alabama or Bernard Blackwell All-star games.

“They’re definitely not a one-man show,” Morgan said. “Football is the biggest team sport there is, and you’re not going to do much running a one-man show.”

While the Arrows pack plenty of firepower, Warren Central has had enough success against them in recent years to not be intimidated.

The Vikings have won two of the last three meetings between the longtime rivals, including a 28-26 decision last year in Clinton. Three of the last four games in the series have been decided by a total of four points, a margin Morgan called “unbelievable.”

“I don’t know what it is, but I know our guys feel comfortable playing them. We’re going to have to play good football, but we’re also very confident,” Morgan said. “That just shows you that the margin for error is very slim. Every possession, every big play is going to be magnified.”

Also magnified are the stakes. Clinton can clinch a playoff spot, and all but wrap up the Region 2-6A championship, with a win. Beating the Vikings would give it head-to-head tiebreakers over three of the four top contenders in the region, and what amounts to a two-game lead with two to play.

Warren Central, meanwhile, needs to win to not only keep alive its region championship hopes but its hopes of hosting a first-round playoff game. It is tied with Madison Central for second place, but is effectively a game behind because of the head-to-head tiebreaker. Another loss with two to play and a road trip to defending Class 6A champion Starkville (5-3, 2-2) next week would put the Vikings in a precarious situation.

Madison Central, Starkville, Warren Central and Northwest Rankin (6-3, 2-2) are all battling for three playoff spots. Five region wins will clinch a spot. Three losses might push one of them out, or force them to take a long road trip to undefeated Tupelo in the first round.

Much like the WC-Clinton series, it’s a fine line with little margin for error and a big degree of difficulty to navigate.

“This game right here could really shake a lot of things up for us. In a good way,” Morgan said.
Warren Central’s confidence got a big boost last week with a 60-6 rout of Murrah. It was a lopsided victory over a struggling opponent, but that was exactly what the Vikings needed following an uneven performance the week before in a loss to Madison Central.

The Vikings carried a shutout into the final minute of the Murrah game, had five players score at least one touchdown, and posted a season-high point total.

“It was good medicine,” Morgan said. “We needed to fix some things and go back to who we started out the year being. It was about all of us. Losing still hurts, and I hope we can learn from that.”

 

FRIDAY’S AREA GAMES
All games start at 7 p.m.
St. Aloysius at Riverfield (Radio: 101.3 FM)
Clinton at Warren Central (Radio: 105.5 FM)
Canton at Vicksburg (Radio: 1490 AM)
Porters Chapel at Amite School (Radio: 104.5 FM)
Briarfield at Tallulah Academy
Delta Academy at Sharkey-Issaquena
Rebul Academy at Clinton Christian
Hartfield Academy at Central Hinds
Port Gibson at Wilkinson County
Richwood at Madison Parish

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