VIDALIA — One game into the season, Vidalia High School is already going back to square one.

Although the Vikings looked like they could stick with Block High School early in their season opener Friday night, it wasn’t long before the Bears began pulling away.

When the game finally ended, Vidalia was staring at a 40-12 blowout loss, and head coach Gary Parnham Jr. said the Bears showed more toughness than his squad.

“Block’s a good team, but we just didn’t get after it,” Parnham said. “We played scared, and we just can’t play this game like that.

“(There were) a lot of missed blocks, a lot of missed tackles, and like I said, I saw guys that didn’t want to tackle. We’re going back to the drawing board, and we’re going to find some players that want to play.”

Block head coach Benny Vault Jr. said he was pleased with his team, but the Bears had too many mistakes of their own, highlighted by 13 penalties for negative 110 yards.

“I feel pretty good,” Vault said. “We have to eliminate the penalties and the turnovers. Overall, I think we came out really aggressive, and we played pretty well. We played with high intensity, so I’m proud of them.”

Things didn’t start off quite like Vidalia wanted when the Vikings fumbled their opening kickoff on their own 38-yard line. After an 8-yard carry by Vashawn Davis, Ty’Quentin Bell took it the distance from 30 yards out to make it 7-0 Block.

Vidalia showed poise on their first offensive possession, driving the ball down the field and punching it in on a 3-yard carry by Jamale Davis.

But the Vikings failed to score again until the fourth quarter, and Block tallied five straight unanswered touchdowns. Davis scored on a 4-yard carry with five seconds left in the first to give the Bears a 14-6 lead.

With 10:05 left in the second quarter and the Vikings facing fourth down deep within their own territory, Block blocked the punt, sending the ball into Vidalia’s end zone. Mack Collins fell on the ball, giving Block a 21-6 advantage.

A 59-yard run by Davis with 2:14 to go before the half made it 27-6 at intermission.

The Bears scored twice in the third quarter on a 37-yard punt return by Bell and a 20-yard fumble recovery by Cameron Everett after Vidalia botched the snap.

A blocked punt by the Vikings with 11:20 left in the fourth set up first and goal from the Block 1-yard line. Davis got the ball, punching it in for the Vikings’ second touchdown.

After holding the Vikings to just two touchdowns, Vault said his defense did a really good job despite their shaky start on Vidalia’s first possession.

“On that first drive, we had a couple of penalties that assisted them,” Vault said. “Other than that, I’m proud of them. I think they played well. We have a young group here, and we’re just going to get better and better as the year goes on.”

Vikings quarterback Michael Whitley was 5-for-8 in passing with 46 yards and one interception. Block quarterback Trevor Vault had one completion for 12 yards.

Vidalia had a number of penalties of its own, finishing with minus 75 yards on 13 penalties.

“(That indicates) lack of concentration,” Parnham said.

“A lot of our penalties were false starts, and it goes back to what I’m saying — some guys not really wanting to get out there and perform.

“I’m just disappointed right now.”

Vidalia (0-1) will host Delhi Charter next Friday, while Block (1-0) will host Ferriday.