Despite an undesirable forecast, the first Jerry Roberts Memorial Flag Football Tournament to benefit the Vidalia High School athletic building will proceed as scheduled.

Tournament director Graham Roberts said the games will go on as scheduled at the Vidalia softball and football fields, starting tonight at 6. There will also be places available for players and supporters to warm up and dry out indoors.

Roberts said as of Thursday afternoon, 11 teams have registered to compete in the tournament. He said concessions, including hot chocolate and T-shirts will be sold at the two-day event. T-shirts will cost $10.

Proceeds from the tournament will be used to help purchase furnishings for the inside of the new athletic building at Vidalia High School. Roberts said he is hoping to raise between $3,000 and $3,500 for the building his late father helped establish.

“It would be awesome to raise that much money,” Roberts said.

Jerry Roberts was killed in a plane crash on Dec. 10, 2006. Jerry, a Concordia Parish School Board member, was an avid supporter of the new athletic building at VHS.

The board funded construction of the building, but funds are needed for lockers and other supplies.

In addition to the tournament, Roberts said he would like to have the new facility open at the tournament so people could see what their donations are going toward, but added he must get clearance from school officials first.

Roberts said six games will be played today starting at 6 p.m., while Saturday’s games will begin at 9 a.m.