Vidalia remains winless in blowout loss

Published 12:49 am Saturday, October 15, 2011

Vidalia’s Michael Whitley is surrounded by MHS defenders during their game Friday night at Vidalia High School. The Vikings lost 68-7. (Eric Shelton \ The Natchez Democrat)

VIDALIA — The losses have been piling up for Vidalia High School this season, but none were as bad as Friday night’s lopsided game against Marksville.

The Vikings gave up 357 yards rushing en route to a 68-7 loss. Sixty-eight points is the most Vidalia has given up all season, and the 61-point differential is also a season worst. The Vikings haven’t given up 68 points in at least seven years.

Head coach Gary Parnham didn’t have much to say after the game, but he said the lack of effort by his players allowed the Tigers to have their way with the Vikings.

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“It’s hard to tell (the players) anything,” Parnham said. “I mean, the effort wasn’t there. We didn’t do anything, so I mean, it’s hard to tell them anything.

“We can’t get out there and play for them. They have to make up their own minds to play, and we just didn’t come play at all.”

Brandon Speer began Marksville’s scoring onslaught with a 1-yard run with 9:14 left in the first. Jake Dunbar added a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:38 left, and Peyton Dunbar scored on a 36-yard punt return with 3:09 to go in the first.

Vidalia’s Torrey Smith gets tackled by MHS’ Kamar Greenhouse during their game at Vidalia Friday night. (Eric Shelton \ The Natchez Democrat)

Marksville scored 14 more points to take a 34-0 lead at the half. Jake Dunbar had a 2-yard touchdown run and Speer caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jake Dunbar.

DaMaryon Lee had a 9-yard touchdown run with 7:56 left in the third quarter. A blocked punt by Marksville inside Vidalia’s red zone set up a 1-yard touchdown carry by Peyton Dunbar with 4:06 left. Colin Dunbar added a 3-yard touchdown run with 26 seconds to go in the third.

Vidalia finally got on the scoreboard with 10:49 to go in the fourth when quarterback Michael Whitley completed back-to-back passes to Sessions Vestal. The first one was for 35 yards, and the touchdown catch was for 19 yards.

Marksville’s final two touchdowns came on a 52-yard carry by Josh Bonton and a 35-yard run by Stephron Dixon.

Vidalia finished with 106 passing yards, with Vestal getting the bulk of the yardage. He finished with 107 yards on three receptions. Whitley was 7-for-12 in passing with 106 yards. Stewart Mallory had two catches for 7 yards, and Torrey Smith caught two passes for minus-8 yards.

Vidalia forced Marksville to punt just one time, while the Vikings punted seven times.

The Vikings finished with minus-7 yards rushing on 30 carries.

With Vidalia now at 0-7 on the season, Parnham said he wasn’t sure how else to try and motivate his players at this point.

“I don’t know. Just keep working hard,” Parnham said.