Going into Friday night’s contest at Franklin County High School, Vidalia High head football coach Dee Faircloth said his team needs to get better to have any chance of beating the Bulldogs.

&uot;Practice has been fair, but it could be a lot better,&uot; Faircloth said. &uot;We didn’t have a good practice yesterday (Tuesday), so I hope we have a good one today (Wednesday).&uot;

Faircloth also said that his team needs to have an identity, and soon.

&uot;We’re still struggling. We’ve got to find some players. We need somebody to step up,&uot; he said. &uot;We’ve got five tough games to start the season and Franklin County is the first one.&uot;

Franklin County is a team coach Faircloth said will present a lot of problems for his young Vikings team.

&uot;Franklin County has improved over the last few years. They’re playing like the Franklin County Bulldogs of old that took it to you,&uot; Faircloth said.

&uot;They have good team speed and good size. They have always been well-coached,&uot; Faircloth said. &uot;And their defense is tough.

&uot;Wes Hickingbottom, their wingback, is a good runner. (Shirmon) McNair is their halfback and he’s good. Their quarterback (Walt Davis) is tough,&uot; he said.

&uot;They have a kicker (Cole Zumbro) who can play for the (New Orleans) Saints,&uot; he added.

Faircloth said his team will have its hands full against a Franklin County team that is coming off a tough road loss to Loyd Star.

&uot;They should’ve beat Loyd Star,&uot; he said. &uot;Loyd Star won that game in the last 20 seconds, so Franklin County will be coming into this game a wounded lion.&uot;