VIDALIA — Marksville High School used 434 yards of rushing to plunder the Vidalia High School Vikings 53-7 Friday night.

The loss dropped Vidalia to 1-8 on the season, 0-5 in District 3-3A. Marksville, which came into the game ranked No. 3 in LHSAA 3A, rose to 8-1 on the season, 5-0 in District 3-3A.

If there was any bright spot for Vidalia, it’s that the coaching staff was able to sub in so many younger players late in the game, Vikings coach Gary Parnham Jr. said.

“We just played a very good football team tonight,” Parnham said. “They ran an unorthodox offense, and you have to play disciplined to defend it, and we didn’t tonight.”

Marksville scored on its opening drive, going 61 yards down the field in just six plays. Brennan Riche ran the Tigers’ first touchdown in from the 1-yard line.

With 6:02 left in the first, quarterback Jake Dunbar broke several Viking tackles en route to a 55-yard touchdown carry. Marksville went up 21-0 with 1:34 left in the quarter on a 9-yard touchdown catch.

In the second quarter, Dunbar scored his second touchdown of the game with an 11-yard run. The Vikings finally got on the board with 4:39 to go before halftime when Jamale Davis broke loose with a 70-yard touchdown run.

The Tigers scored less than 35 seconds later. Riche drove the ball 64 yards downfield before being tackled at the 1-yard line. He punched it in on the next play to give Marksville a 35-7 lead at the half.

Christain Kelly scored a touchdown for Marksville in the third on a 4-yard carry. McKinley Greenhouse scored from 28 yards out on an interception return.

The Tigers scored their final touchdown of the night on a Kamar Greenhouse 4-yard run.

Vidalia substituted a lot in the second half, and Parnham said the experience the younger players got in the game was invaluable.

“It’s just been that kind of a season for us. If we play up to our potential, they’re not 53-7 better than us,” he said.

“We had a lot of freshmen get playing time tonight. That will get them farther ahead for spring training, which is a key for us. You can’t get experience standing on the sideline.”

Vidalia quarterback Caleb Vines was shaken up several times during the game, but only came out for one set of downs.

“That kid’s tough as nails,” Parnham said. “He’s been beat up all year. He has bruised ribs and now a knee (injury), but he keeps battling.

“He’s been hit all season, but he wants to win badly. He’s very competitive, and is as tough as they come.”

With one game left this season, Parnham said all the Vikings can play for at this point is pride.

“If you have any pride in you, you’ll step up and play. That’s basically all you can say (to the players),” he said.