JONESVILLE — Vidalia High School traveled to Jonesville Friday night as Block hosted both team’s first game of the 2010 season. Block, as expected, sat 14 players due to injury and illness, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a Block win 18-6.

It was hard for either team to establish any intensity throughout the game. Each team was hindered by mental errors that cost both teams crucial third down conversions and even cost Vidalia a touchdown. There were 33 penalties in all, with Vidalia committing 20 of them.

Block scored first just before the first quarter ended with a three-yard run by Preston Bowman. The two-point conversion failed, putting Block in front 6-0.

Vidalia quarterback Caleb Vines struggled in the first half, throwing three interceptions.

Vidalia’s defense picked up the slack and managed to score in the second quarter off of an errant pass by Block’s quarterback Antione Bowie that was intended for his running back. That pass was ruled a lateral and senior Dee Fleming realized that the play was still live. Fleming picking the ball up and ran it back for a touchdown to tie the game with just over four minutes remaining in the first half.

With 2:55 left in the first half, Vidalia scored on an 84-yard screen play that was negated by a holding penalty. That penalty cost the Vikings the lead going into the half.

Block put up the first points in the second half on a stellar punt return by Ty’quentin Bell of 45 yards.

Vidalia tried to make a comeback in the second half, but penalties took a toll on the Vikings.

Late in the third quarter, Vidalia had the ball on Block’s 27 yard line. A 17-yard run was negated on a false start that would have put the Vikings on the 10 yard line.

On third down, Reggie Reynolds dropped a pass that would have put Vidalia at the 20. The drive ended on a failed fourth down conversion.

If not for the turnovers the Vikings caused, the game could have gotten out of hand. The Vikings defense recovered seven Block fumbles. These fumbles gave Vidalia multiple opportunities to take control of the game, yet penalties often killed momentum-swinging drives. As the rain picked up in the fourth quarter, so did the BHS fumbles.

Of the seven BHS fumbles that were recovered, two of them put Vidalia in the red zone, yet they could not manage to run the ball against the Bears defense. Both drives stalled and the Vikings turned the ball over on downs.

With just under eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Preston Bowman of Block ran for a 65 yard score, breaking multiple tackles along the way.

Block coach Benny Vault was satisfied with the victory but was not happy about all the fumbles that his team committed.

“That’s horrible. We’re going to have to work on it. It was a sloppy game. That’s what fatigue will do to you,” Vault said.

Vidalia coach Gary Parnham felt his players, despite so many penalties, played better than in their jamboree loss to Ferriday last Saturday.

“We competed better. Offensively, we are not together. We’re going to have to work harder. The penalties are mental. You’ve got to focus.”