Vidalia High senior tailback Dariel Mays was voted Most Outstanding Offensive Player in Class 2A by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Mays ranked among the state’s rushing leaders all year long. He led Class 2A with 2,125 yards on 254 carries and scored 34 touchdowns.

The Vikings finished 10-2, losing to Christian Life in the Class 2A regionals.

Vidalia defeated East Beauregard 47-14 in the first round before falling to Christian Life 31-20.

The Vikings went unbeaten in District 3-2A.

&uot;It’s been an incredible year,&uot; Mays said.

Mays set the school record for most yards in a single season, breaking the 2,212 yard record previously owned by Keith Woodside in 1981.

He finished third as Vidalia’s all-time leading ball carrier, gaining 3,866 yards on the ground.

Woodside had 4,152, while Eddie Ray Jackson had 3,995.

&uot;I think breaking Keith’s record was a big highlight, along with the two 300-yard games, scoring six touchdowns (against Ouachita Christian) and beating Ferriday,&uot; Mays said.

The 5-foot-9, 150-pounder said he has been contacted by several colleges. He is taking his ACT in February.

Vidalia offensive lineman Mathew Probst and Viking linebacker Leren Curry were named as honorable mentions.

Port Barre linebacker Maurice Sonnier was voted the Outstanding Defensive Player.

Iota’s Rick Wriborg was voted Coach of the Year. Sonnier had 87 solo tackles, 10 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, forced seven fumbles and had six sacks to power the PBHS defense.

Wriborg led Iota to a 9-1 regular season record and the school’s first title-game berth. Newman’s Frank Gendusa and David Feaster of Many were among the other coaches nominated.

Casey Remondet of Riverside Academy (104 carries, 1,049 yards, 14 TDs) and Darnell Williams of Many (117-1,167, 22 TDs) are the other 2A running backs.

West St. John’s Carl Gauthier, who completed 114 of 194 passes for 1,830 yards and 20 TDs, is the quarterback.

The panel selected three wide receivers — Raymond Mason of Christian Life (58 catches, 1,016 yards, 14 TDs), Ronnie Williams of Springfield (42-801, 14 TDs) and Will Walter of Newman (39-539, nine TDs).