The Vidalia Vikings debuted its “ace” offense in a 21-6 loss to the Bolton Bears.

The results the new offense provided were varied.

After going three-and-out on their opening possession with the double-wing offense, the Vikings went to its ace package, which featured one running back and two split ends on their second possession. The new formation led to two trips to the red zone, but the Vikings were unable to punch in scores.

“When the field gets smaller, the guys get closer to the line of scrimmage, and we have to learn to block,” Hancock said. “We have to be able to execute the plays that we have.”

Multiple penalties and missed blocking assignments stalled two 30-plus yard drives in the first half for the Vikings. Vidalia quarterback Landon Seyfarth chalked that up to the youth and inexperience upfront.

“Young guys not thinking, nervous I guess” Seyfarth said. “We’re all still learning. We have to keep working.”

The game was a defensive struggle for the majority of the first half, and Bolton struck first blood with less than three minutes remaining in the second quarter. Bolton quarterback Reggie Williams found a streaking Tre’l Hall down the sideline for a 44-yard touchdown pass. Williams completed 11-of-20 for 220 passing yards and three touchdowns. Hall finished the game with six receptions and 167 receiving yards, including three touchdowns.

After Bolton marched down the field and scored on its opening drive to make the score 14-0, Vidalia mounted a drive from its own 25-yard line. Vidalia running back Antione Taylor produced multiple long runs and Seyfarth found Eric Genous and Curtis McNulty on 10-plus yard passing plays.

Taylor finished with 74 rushing yards on 12 carries, while Seyfarth completed 6-of-13 for 65 yards and two interceptions.

The Vikings made it to Bolton’s 15-yard line before facing a 4th-and-20 from the 25-yard line. That’s when Hancock dialed up a trick play. Cole Cangemi threw it to Seyfarth, who stayed behind the line of scrimmage and threw back to Cangemi on the far side, except a Bolton defender held Cangemi and prevented him from catching the ball. No penalty was called, and the Bears took over on downs.

“Their coach was yelling at their player for doing it, and the referees chose not to call it,” Hancock said. “That’s why I called that referee over to talk to him about it. I won’t comment on the referees. It was executed perfectly, though.”

Bolton scored on the ensuing play with a 75-yard touchdown connection from Williams to Hall, extending the Bears lead to 21-0 heading into the fourth quarter.

Hancock, who said the game plan was to alternate between the Ace formation and double wing, used a heavy dose of the Ace formation in the fourth quarter, giving the ball to freshman Julian Wilson, who provided big runs for the Vikings. Taylor capped off the drive with a 6-yard touchdown run, and Wilson finished the game with 90 yards rushing on 15 carries.

“The ends were crashing in every time, so I had the outside wide open,” Wilson said.

Despite Randrell Jones recovering a fumble on Bolton’s 30-yard line, the Vikings could not produce any more scoring drives. Jones also had an interception earlier in the game.

The Vikings finished the game with 238 total yards, while Bolton had 297.

Vidalia falls to 0-4 on the season, while Bolton (1-3) picks up its first win of the season.

“Our guys are still learning how to win,” Hancock said. “The effort and the hard work have never been in question. We just have to clean up the penalties and the missed assignments upfront.”