Warren Central downed Southport (Photo: Wayne Carter, VarsityViews.com)

Underdogs Southport (Indianapolis) came out with a bang, recovering an onside kick on the very first play against No. 21 Warren Central (Indianapolis) in Class 6A Sectional 7 title game Friday night.

But that would be the lone first-half highlight for the Cardinals. Following a rather sloppy outing last week, the Warriors ran like a well-oiled machine as they routed Southport 50-20.

Warriors showed their class, intercepting passes on Southport’s first two drives with senior defensive back Terrell Anderson taking one back for a touchdown. Warren put the clamps Southport’s receiving options all night, and the Cardinals were never in any position to establish a run game.

The Cardinals were playing catch up all night, with Warren Central sprinting to the line on every offensive play.

“The kids play better when they’re going fast, not thinking — just go,” said Warriors coach Jayson West.

It worked. The score was 24-0 in Warren’s favor at the end of the first quarter, which ballooned to 43-0 by halftime.

Southport managed to string together three scoring drives following halftime, but the second half was more a formality than anything.

Sophomore receiver David Bell had 6 grabs for 117 yards and three scores for the Warriors, and senior running back Tristen Tonte added 92 yards on the ground and a score.

Up next for the top-ranked Warriors is a rematch of an early-season showdown against No. 3 Center Grove in regionals.