COLUMBUS – The Warren Central Vikings picked up a dominant 35-0 Region 2-6A win over the Columbus Falcons in the final game of the regular season on Thursday.
With the win, the Vikings claimed the district championship and the top playoff seed for the region. The loss brought the 2024 season to an end for the Falcons.
Heading into the offseason, Falcons head coach Barrin Simpson said he has high hopes for what is to come.
“I believe the future is bright once we are healthy,” Simpson said. “I think we are going to be a pretty good football team next year, and we’ll have an opportunity to do some great things here in Columbus.”
Simpson said it will take proper work and preparation in the offseason to achieve that.
It was all Vikings from the start of the game. The opening drive ended with a Falcon fumble inside their own 25-yard line. It didn’t take long for the Vikings to capitalize, as a five-play drive resulted in a three-yard touchdown run from Aden Greer.
The two teams would exchange punts before the Falcons fumbled once more. The Vikings could not capitalize on the turnover, missing a 35-yard field goal. The Vikings led 7-0 after a quarter of play.
Over the course of the first half, the Falcons struggled with injuries at the quarterback position, which resulted in junior defensive back Javion Trimble taking the wheel at quarterback for the remainder of the game. The Vikings continued to dominate defensively, not letting the Falcons have their way.
Warren Central scored again with just under eight minutes to go in the half when Eric Collins Jr. capped off a drive with a three-yard touchdown run. The Vikings got the ball back, and Collins scored again from 14 yards out, giving the Vikings a 21-0 lead with just over five minutes left in the first half.
Just before halftime, Warren Central took a 28-0 lead after Rickey Neal Jr. made an outstanding catch over two defenders before racing into the endzone for a 54-yard touchdown. Vikings quarterback Nash Morgan set Neal Jr. up for the touchdown.
Warren Central received the ball to start the second half and quickly scored. Greer ran in from 12 yards out, and the clock started rolling as the Vikings held a 35-0 lead.
Vikings head coach Josh Morgan was well pleased with how both his offense and defense played on Thursday. Morgan said he especially liked how his defense came out playing fast and physical.
“I thought we were pretty dominant on the defensive side of the ball,” Morgan said, “and once we got settled in, our offense got things going.”
The Vikings will now have their sights set on Saltillo, whom they will host next Friday for the first round of playoffs. Saltllio comes to Vicksburg with just two wins on the season.
Morgan said it starts with his team’s preparation and how they play. He said his team will have to play as the best version of themselves.
“I still don’t think this group has reached their ceiling,” Morgan said. “I think that we’re getting hot at the right time.”
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