VIDALIA — A week after a blowout loss to Marksville, the Vidalia Vikings will once again try to get back on the winning side of things when the Buckeye Panthers come to town for a District 3-3A game that Vidalia must win in order to stay in the playoff picture.

Vidalia (2-4, 1-1) has had a roller coaster season with a combination of blowout losses and hard fought wins.

This week’s challenge is a 5-1 Buckeye team that has lots of size and is very physical.

“They’re big but not so quick,” Vidalia head coach Dee Faircloth said. “We are going to play the spread this week.”

Vidalia will require a solid effort from senior tailback Kevin Johnson in order to pick up the win against the Panthers.

“We will line Kevin up at receiver some when we are in the spread,” Faircloth said. “He will be used in many ways.”

Vidalia is battling weather problems as yesterday’s practice was held in the gym.

“The weather is hurting us,” Faircloth said. “It’s hard to be quick in the mud.”

The Vikings must win in order to stay in the playoff hunt this year.

“This aint over,” Faircloth said. “We just have to run the table.”

Buckeye defeated the Vikings last year at Buckeye and will try to get ahead of Vidalia early.

“It’s not good if we have to come from behind,” Faircloth said. “We need to come out on top of them early.”

The game is set for 7:00 p.m. at Dee Faircloth Viking Stadium in Vidalia.