6A playoff shocker: Warren Central takes down No. 3 Tupelo

TUPELO – Jerrious Stovall sprinted toward the scoreboard as he took off in the opening minute of the second half Friday at Tupelo. The Warren Central sophomore back was about the adjust the score, racing 75 yards for a Vikings touchdown en route to 30-13 win against No. 3 Tupelo in a Class 6A playoff opener.

An uncommonly good four-seed playing at the No. 3 team in the state, Warren Central handed Tupelo its first loss – in lopsided fashion. Stovall’s score made it 23-0 at the time.

“We expected to win it, prepared to win it,” Warren Central coach Josh Morgan said. “Our guys have been through some adversity and we felt about as prepared as you can be for the playoffs. I thought it showed tonight.”

The Golden Wave (11-1) boasted the best offense in 6A. It wasn’t until the middle of the second quarter they picked up its first first down. By the time Journey blared between the third and fourth quarters, many of the home crowd had stopped believing and had headed for the exits.

Warren Central headed back to Hwy. 27 awaiting a rematch with Madison Central in the next round. Madison Central won the first meeting in Madison, 31-27 in overtime.

More:A sophomore QB just led Madison Central into the second round of the playoffs

Fumble led to fast start

Warren Central (9-3) kicked off to open the game, only to have Tupelo give the ball right back. Devin Montgomery recovered a fumbled kickoff and Corey Wilson, Jr. scored from a yard out for a 7-0 Vikings lead.

“I think it sank us for a little bit,” Tupelo coach Trent Hammond said. “We had to battle back. Not once did they give up. We were still fighting. Just like we saw on film, they’re a good football team.”

Junior kicker Hank Holdiness kicked three field goals, including a 40-yarder at the halftime horn for a 16-0 lead. Walt Hopson picked off Stephon McGlaun and went 33 yards to the Tupelo 10 to set up the second field goal. Hopson had two picks.

“We came up here expecting to win,” Hopson said. “We had a great week of practice. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing. We’re coming in there to win.”

Tupelo added a late touchdown on a two-yard run from McGlaun, but Warren Central stuffed a two-point attempt. Wilson, Jr. added a 12-yard touchdown in the final minute.

Vikings not bothered

Warren Central wasn’t bothered by the four-hour drive from Vicksburg and it certainly wasn’t intimidated once it arrived on the blue turf at Renasant Bank Field.

The touchdown McGlaun threw to Sirmarcus Evans was the first touchdown the Vikings had given up in 12 quarters.

“We wanted to come out of the gates swinging,” Morgan said. “Had a lot of stuff go our way early and we took advantage of it. We knew we were going to have to bring it.”

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