SICILY ISLAND — For Vidalia to win its first game in two years, the Vikings were going to have to fight for it, sometimes literally.

In a 27-26 win against Sicily Island Friday night, the Vikings and the Tigers delivered helmet-to-helmet collisions in the end zone, late hits out of bounds and several scuffles after the play that resulted in offsetting penalties.

With the crowd engaged, chirping at the referees from both sides of the field, the Vikings had the ball with four minutes in the game, clinging to a 27-26 lead. The Vikings needed a few first downs to milk the clock, but Vidalia was facing a third-and-long. Freshman quarterback Tristan Weatherly dropped back to pass and found Julian Wilson in the flats, who took on two Sicily Island defenders, broke two tackles and accelerated up the field for the first down to all but seal the victory for Vidalia.

After another first down, the Vikings would take the victory formation on the field before gathering at midfield and celebrating the first win of the season.

“I feel so happy for these kids,” Jeff Hancock said, after getting his first win as Vidalia head coach. “The psychological aspect can take its toll, and this wasn’t pretty. They came after us.”

Sicily Island came after Vidalia early, as Devion Dunbar finished a drive started by a 64-yard pass from Tyreke Tolliver to Tyrell Jordan to give the Tigers a 6-0 lead. Vidalia answered a minute later, with Antione Taylor punching in a short touchdown run after Weatherly connected with Errick Genous for 46 yards.

Momentum swapped as Ryan Mason put the Tigers back on top with a short score before Weatherly regained the lead for the Vikings with a 28-yard touchdown pass to Josh Pace. And as the Vikings took the field with a 14-12 lead in the third quarter, Vidalia made its mark on defense when Garrett Floyd stole a Sicily Island handoff and returned it 20 yards for a score, giving the Vikings a 21-12 lead in the process.

The Tigers didn’t relent, but the fumbles (three total) combined with the constant cramping in the second half would stall drives for Sicily Island.

‘“We got tired, and that’s expected,” Sicily Island head coach Stephen Collins said. “They came with 50 and we had about 32 guys. I’m proud that we hung in there. When we get in shape, we’re going to cause teams trouble.”

And while the Vikings defense limited Sicily Island to 180 passing yards and 124 rushing yards, Wilson was breaking tackles and making plays for Vidalia on offense. Wilson rushed the ball 22 times and totaled 160 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown that put the Vikings up 27-20 late in the third quarter.

“He is a special talent,” Hancock said. “He’s just a sophomore. You know, we’re really young. Like Tristan showed his youth when he missed a wide open Antione (Taylor), but then showed his potential when he threaded the needle on that Josh Pace touchdown. We’re just young on both sides of the ball.”

Sicily Island had its chance to take the lead in the fourth, as Mason took a bootleg 20 yards for the score on a fourth down conversion, inching the Tigers within one. On a two-point play, the Vikings defense stood tall, preventing the conversion, which would prove to be a game-winning play.

In defeat, Collins said he was proud of his players for taking Vidalia to the limit, and happy a large crowd of Tiger fans came to see it.

“I’m proud of everybody who supports us,” Collins said. “I’m proud to see what I expected. I expected the Sicily Island fans to be very supportive, and we’re going to go along way, because they’re going to keep us that way.”

Hancock said though its nice to get the win, Vidalia has to improve before taking on Delhi Friday.

“We have a lot of things we have to work on,” Hancock said. “Delhi would beat us next week if we play like this.”

Weatherly completed 8-of-22 for 165 yards with two touchdowns and an interception in his varsity debut. Mason completed 6-of-13 for 116 yards.