Thursday, October 04, 2001

The Natchez Democrat

Coach Dee Faircloth’s Vidalia squad has avoided major injuries

this season. But he’s afraid of what might happen if one of Rayville’s

offensive linemen bull over one of his Viking defensive linemen

Friday in the first District 3-2A game for both teams. Rayville’s

line averages 290 pounds; Vidalia’s averages 170 pounds.

&uot;If they fall on one of our boys, it’ll be a tragedy,&uot;

cracked Faircloth about the mismatch.

But being overmatched has been the story of Vidalia’s season.

The Vikings have only seven players weighing in at more than 200

pounds. Yet, Faircloth’s club has beat the odds, posting a 4-1

mark, with the four wins having come over the last four games.

&uot;I call them my overachievers,&uot; he said. &uot;They’re

playing above their heads.&uot;

Vidalia has picked things up in the past weeks. The Vikings

topped a good Block team, 14-8, two weeks ago and defeated Buckeye

last week, 18-6. Quarterback Trey White has found good targets

in receivers Jessie Lyles and Josh Bush, and the defense has maintained

some consistency after allowing 48 to Franklin County in the first

game of the year and 32 to Avoyelles in the third game.

Rayville’s record is 2-3, but its lost to Oak Grove, which

beat Ferriday and is No. 1 in 1A, and Farmerville, a perennial

state contender. Rayville employs a shotgun, no huddle spread

offense and will run and throw out of it.

&uot;This is a big step for us this week,&uot; Faircloth

noted.

&uot;It kind of looks like fifth period P.E.,&uot; Faircloth

said. &uot;They’re everywhere.&uot;

Faircloth said the Vikings will drop a few more players into

pass coverage, but they’ll still have to worry about an effective

running game.

&160;

&uot;The defense has really picked it up over the last two

weeks, and that’s the key,&uot; Faircloth said. &uot;Jessie

and Josh have done a good job of catching ball for us. We hadn’t

been moving the ball on the ground that well against block and

Buckeye.&uot;