VIDALIA &045;&045; They could have been at home watching the Cowboys and Redskins play out the latest meeting in their storied pro football series.

Instead, a group of youngsters from five area schools gathered Sunday evening at the Vidalia High School softball field to create their own version of pigskin drama.

The boys have been playing the past few weekends as part of their youth group activities at the Abundant Life Church in Natchez.

Youth Pastor Jamie Lawrence, 28, was in the game, too, hurling passes and rushing the opposing squad’s quarterback.

&uot;We’ve been doing this the past couple of weekends.

These kids go to school at Vidalia, Natchez, Huntington and AC,&uot; Lawrence said.

The game was loosely regulated shirts-and-skins with a run-pass option.

And the kids preferred tackle over touch, too.

&uot;It’s fun until I get hit by Michael,&uot; Jared Parker joked between plays.

The inevitable call of the sandlot game arose after one long incompletion.

&uot;I was wide open,&uot; a kid shouted from downfield.

Next week, the group plans to enjoy a less strenuous version of football.

&uot;We’re going to get together and have a Madden (video game) tournament. We also grilled out and built a bonfire one weekend,&uot; Lawrence said.

But for this Sunday at least, these kids were dog tired and satisfied as they left the field and headed for home.

Asked if he knew what was waiting for supper, Zach McCrory grinned.

&uot;I don’t know, but I’m fixing to find out,&uot; he said.