Vidalia — Vidalia High School head football coach Gary Parnham wants his team to act a little more like Vikings this week when they face Delhi Charter School.

Parnham said his team lacked aggression in its season opening loss to Block High School last week.

“We learned we have got to be a lot more physical than we actually were (last week),” he said. “We have to play the game a lot more physical. There were a couple of drives where we played well, but we didn’t put it together for a whole game. We have to put together a complete football game.”

Parnham said his team would focus on the physical aspects of the game this week as they prepare for Delhi Charter.

“(We will practice) just coming off the football, and basically playing real smash-mouth football.”

Parnham said his team would face good competition Friday when it attempts to record its first win of the season.

“They are a pretty good football team,” he said. “We know they lost to Loyola Prep last week, but Loyola Prep is a good team, and (Delhi) had an 18-7 lead on them until about 10 minutes left in the game.”

Parnham said Delhi Charter is just another tough team on Vidalia’s schedule this season.

“They like to run the football, but they can throw it, and they have a good quarterback who runs the offense well,” he said. “They don’t seem to be a real big team, but they are very athletic. We have our hands full again, and our schedule doesn’t get any easier. It’s another week we have to come out and play physical.”

Parnham said the loss in the season opener did not dampen his team’s confidence.

“Everything was upbeat (Monday) in film session and team meetings,” he said. “The kids seem to understand the challenge ahead of them, and they push forward and work hard and they want to be successful. We just have to keep pressing and pushing and we’ll get there. If they taste a little success it will do a lot of good, and hopefully we can get that this week.”

Vidalia allowed Block to rush for 303 yards last week, and Parnham said he expects Delhi Charter to try to keep the ball on the ground as well.

“They run, but it is a lot different from Block,” he said. “Block uses so many blockers, and (Delhi) is an I-formation-type that will run it right at you. We’ll have to change a little bit of our philosophy, but the main thing is to play physical football. If we can do that and fill gaps we have a chance to win the football game.”

Parnham said tackling on defense, and his offensive line getting a good push when they have the ball will also be factors in the game.

A win Friday would help get Vidalia on the right track, Parnham said.

“It would be a big boost to this team,” he said. “It definitely would give us a lot of confidence coming into a big week with Ferriday. A win right now would be just what the doctor ordered.”

Vidalia will try to fill that prescription at 7 p.m. Friday when it hosts the Gators.