Ever since they moved up to Warren Central’s varsity football team as sophomores, Walt Hopson and Jeremy Miller have been big parts of the team’s defense.

Hopson, a safety, and the linebacker/defensive end Miller have terrorized quarterbacks, lit up ball carriers and anchored one of the most successful stretches in Warren Central’s storied history.

Their high school careers ended last month, but there’s still one bit of unfinished business to take care of before they move on to the college ranks.

Hopson and Miller will both play for the North in the Bernard Blackwell Mississippi All-Star Game Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Gulfport High School. The game will not be televised, but will be streamed online at fnutl.com.

“It’s so fun to be with another teammate. We accomplished something together,” Miller said. “We talked about playing in the all-star game since we were sophomores, and now we have the opportunity.”

Miller played in 30 games over three seasons for the Vikings, including every game of the 2016 and 2017 seasons as a starter. He alternated between linebacker and defensive end, with his primary mission to rush the passer.

Miller had 49 total tackles last season and 71 this year, with 22 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in his high school career.

“It’s fun being in the trenches and putting your hand in the dirt, and coming off the edge and beating up quarterbacks,” Miller said with a smile.

One of the beneficiaries of Miller’s efforts was Hopson. The safety had 132 total tackles over the past two seasons, and led the team with seven interceptions this year. He returned one of the picks for a touchdown in an early-season game against Class 6A champion Pearl.

Hopson also returned punts for the Vikings and punted. He had a 35.0-yard average this season and put 26 of his 59 punts inside the 20-yard line.

“I’m going to the all-star game as a safety, but I wouldn’t mind punting or returning some punts,” Hopson said. “I really think doing all of those things got me there.”

Together, Miller and Hopson were two constants on a defense that allowed just 17.2 points per game over the past two seasons. This year, Warren Central ranked fourth in Class 6A in fewest points allowed despite losing nine of their 11 starters on defense from 2016.

Hopson and Miller were the two returning starters, and now they’ll close out their careers with one last ride together.

“It’s great when you worked with somebody since seventh grade and then, at the end, you get to play in the all-star game with them,” Hopson said.

BERNARD BLACKWELL CLASSIC:
• Mississippi football all-star game
• Saturday, 11:30 a.m.
• At Gulfport High School
• Online: The game will not be televised, but can be streamed online at fnutl.com