For the second time in as many weeks, 1A Block will face a 3A opponent. Clearly, Bears head coach Chad Harkins doesn’t mind tough scheduling and he looks forward to the challenge of facing Caldwell Parish tonight.

&uot;Anytime we play a 3A team, we’re going to be challenged,&uot; Harkins said.

Despite a decided disadvantage in numbers Friday against Jena, Block cruised to an easy 34-13 victory behind a high-powered running attack featuring running backs Johnny Lee and Micheal Griffin. Lee and Griffin combined for 311 yards on the ground during last week’s 34-13 pasting of Jena.

&uot;The last couple of years, since we put in the offense three years ago really, we’ve had a good running game,&uot; Harkins said. &uot;That’s 95 percent of our offense. With three backs in the backfield, we just want to get each of them several totes apiece. When we do pass the ball, we want to complete it. If we throw three times and complete two or three of them, that’s what we’re looking for.&uot;

That potent running game has been the key to Block’s success this season. With a high-powered offense and a solid defense, Block has been the class of District 4-1A and looks to be a heavy favorite to win the district title.

Harkins said he’s still working with his team on execution and eliminating mistakes on both sides of the ball.

&uot;We’re OK (at this point in the season),&uot; Harkins said. &uot;We’re just trying to eliminate mistakes. Mistakes cost us one loss already and the longer we keep having mistakes the more likely we’ll get another.&uot;

Caldwell is a team with both great numbers on the sideline and on the scales, with a big roster and some big boys on that roster.

&uot;They’re a lot like Jena with numbers and big kids,&uot; Harkins said. &uot;I know they have the capability of being a really good team. I just hope this isn’t the week they reach that capability.&uot;

Rayville at Vidalia

If Vidalia needed more of a challenge early in the season, it’s about to get it.

With undefeated Rayville High School coming into town today, the Vikings (2-1) might have more than they can handle. A year ago, Vidalia came out on top of a very good Rayville team, a fact neither team is likely to have forgotten.

And if a clash of two good teams needed any more drama, this game also promises to be a family affair. Rayville head coach Bo Barton is the nephew of Vidalia head coach Dee Faircloth.

Vidalia has already had its share of ups and downs on the young season.

An opening-week loss to Block was the low point on the season.

But the Vikings have turned things around with two consecutive wins and are looking to battle it out and head into the district season with some momentum.

The Hornets are tied for the top spot in District 3-2A with Ouachita Christian School. Both teams are 3-0.

With today’s game at Vidalia, Rayville will have started the season with four consecutive road contests. Next week, the Hornets will have their first taste of home field when they host Caldwell High.

But thus far, the extended road trip hasn’t hurt the Hornets, who are 3-0 and have outscored their opponents 98-34.

Peabody at Ferriday

Ferriday is probably just hoping the mistakes that plagued the Trojans a week ago don’t resurface tonight against Peabody.

In last week’s loss to Northeast, the Trojans were shutout for the second time this season. Turnovers killed any chance Ferriday had in the game, as the Trojans lost three fumbles and had two interceptions. Those fumbles prevented the Ferriday offense from scoring a single point and added to their offensive woes.

The silver lining, if there is one, was that the Ferriday offense did move the ball well. Quarterback Scotty Cage threw the ball well, excepting of course the two interceptions. Cage was 8-of-14 through the air for 87 yards. On the ground, the Trojans had 218 yards rushing, with contributions from a number of running backs, primarily Montago Tennesse, who had 72 yards on seven carries.

Despite giving up 41 points to Northeast last week, the Ferriday defense has generally been strong this season and will have to continue to be so if the Trojans are going to turn things around and make a run at the district title.