With the warm up acts out of the way, it’s almost time for Warren Central’s boys’ soccer team to see the headlining act.

The Vikings crushed a pair of Region 4-6A foes in their return from a month-long holiday break, beating Greenville 10-0 on Monday and Provine 10-1 on Tuesday.

Only the Provine game counted in the standings — the Greenville game was a friendly, and the teams will play their region matchup on Jan. 19 — but showed that once again the Vikings and archrival Clinton are the only real contenders for the region title.

Warren Central and Clinton meet up next Tuesday at Viking Stadium. The boys play at 7:15 p.m., and the girls at 5:30.

The two victories this week gave Warren Central (7-2-2) six in its last eight games and served as a good return to the pitch. They were also the team’s first games since a 1-1 tie against Pearl on Dec. 11. WC will host Laurel at noon on Saturday before taking on Clinton (5-9-1, 0-0).

Brandon Gilliam had a hat trick against Greenville and added two more goals against Provine. Hank Holdiness had four goals in the two games — including three against Provine — and four assists.

Nine players scored at least one goal in the two games. John William Madison, Tony King and Josh Griffin had one in each game. Jagger Weekly had an assist in each game. King and Madison had assists against Greenville.

The Vikings took 53 shots against Provine and put 23 of them on goal.

(G) Warren Central 11, Greenville 0
Warren Central 15, Provine 0
Warren Central’s girls’ team performed a similar demolition job on Greenville and Provine by scoring 26 goals — double its output from the first half of the season combined — in two victories.

Fourteen players scored in the two games. Madelyn Polk totaled four goals and three assists, while Laney Smith and Maddie Watkins had three goals apiece. Aryn Greer, Sarah Prescott and Jayda Griffin each scored two goals for the Lady Vikes (7-2-2, 1-0 Region 4-6A).

Watkins also had two assists, and Smith had one.

Addie Hale, Cassidy Lumpkin, Elaina Bailey, Emily Powers, Abby Fuller, Anna Hoben, Bree Butler and Haley Oldenburg had one goal.