VIDALIA, La. &045; Just generally speaking, the Vidalia Vikings might have finally caught a break.

The Vikings will face Vermilion Catholic to open the Class 2A playoffs at 7 p.m. Friday at home, and for once the Vikings did not draw one of the state’s premier teams.

That’s not to say the Vikings are taking VC lightly. It’s just nice to open with someone not ranked in the Top 10.

&uot;On paper, this will be the lowest draw we’ve had ever &045; during my career, anyway,&uot; Vidalia head coach Robert Sanders said. &uot;Last year we lost to Jonesboro-Hodge, and they went to the semis. The year before that we lost to Many, and the year before that was Coushatta. Many beat all three teams in our district that year.&uot;

And to be honest, about the extent of the Vikings’ knowledge of Vermilion Catholic is the Eagles is the aforementioned along with a tidbits about their size and strength. The Eagles finished as runners-up in District 5 behind Jeanerette.

The Vikings may match up well inside with their post players Louis McNulty and David Wilson, but they may get tested outside.

&uot;I was able to find out a little about them,&uot; Sanders said. &uot;They’re not very tall, and I think their tallest player is 6-2. Their best player is 6-0, and they like to play a slow-paced game. We have to make them play ours.&uot;

The Vikings go into the contest on an up note of sorts despite losing the tie-breaker game to McCall Friday. The Vikings had little trouble with Delhi, 87-56, in a playoff warmup game Tuesday, but Delhi was without three of its starters.

&uot;We played kind of sloppy the first half but bounced back in the second half and won big,&uot; Sanders said. &uot;Hopefully we’ll be in the right frame of mind Friday. They know if they lose it’ll be all over.&uot;

The winner of Friday’s game will get the winner of the Springfield-Redeemer Seton game. If the Vikings along with a Springfield win, they will travel to face the Bulldogs.