VIDALIA — Vidalia High School head coach Dee Faircloth is hoping history will not repeat itself Friday night when the Vikings play host to the Rayville High School Hornets for homecoming. Kickoff for this LHSAA District 2-2A match-up is set for 7 p.m.

Last year when these two teams faced off, Rayville was 0-4 overall and 0-1 in district play coming off a loss at Ferriday High School. But on its own home field, the Hornets defeated the Vikings 40-13 that started a seven-game winning streak before losing to Homer in the second round of the Class 2A Playoffs.

“That’s one of the two teams that beat us last year. I hope it don’t turn out like it did last year,” Faircloth said.

Now in 2018, the Hornets are 0-4 overall and 0-1 in district play after a tough 30-26 lead at home to the Trojans. Rayville had a 20-8 lead over Ferriday at halftime.

Vidalia, No 4 in the LHSAA Class 2A power ratings, is coming off its best game of the season by far after taking care of Beekman Charter School 51-0 on the road to go to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in district play.

“I thought we finally played a ball game where we executed on offense and defense,” Faircloth said. “We held them to minus-5 yards rushing and 61 yards passing. All our receivers were catching the ball. The running game got 263 yards. So everything was clicking. We hope everything will be clicking this Friday night.”

And that includes senior quarterback Tristan Weatherly, who completed 15 of 17 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns to go with a rushing touchdown.

Even though Rayville has a winless record and is No. 29 in the Class 2A power ratings, Faircloth knows this is a dangerous team that cannot be taken lightly.

“They’ve got an athletic ball club. They’ve got athletes up at Rayville. Ferriday and Rayville always have athletes. They throw the ball just about every play. So we’ll get home about 11:30.”

Faircloth also said that he wants his players to focus on defeating the Hornets and not the distractions that come with homecoming week.

Faircloth said that the defense as well as the offensive line need to step up and have a big game for Vidalia to beat Rayville.

General Trass at Ferriday

FERRIDAY — The Ferriday High School Trojans will have anything but an easy opponent for their homecoming game as they host the undefeated General Trass High School Panthers at 7 p.m. Friday in an LHSAA District 2-2A game.

Ferriday is coming off a 30-26 road win over Rayville High School after trailing at halftime 20-8. But it wasn’t any adjustments in offense or defense that helped the Trojans in their comeback win. It was an adjustment in the players’ attitude.

“The team came together and grew up. We’re still trying to find our identity,” Trojans head coach Stanley Smith said. “The kids just manned up and played JYD football. The only adjustments made were that the kids made up their minds that they wanted to win.”

The Trojans improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in district play and they are No. 6 in the Class 2A power ratings. They will face a General Trass team that is 4-0 overall and is No. 2 in the 2A power ratings but is not ranked and for that matter not receiving any votes in this week’s LSWA Class 2A poll. This is also the district opener for the Panthers.

Smith said the x-factors in the outcome of the game are defense and special teams.

Delta Charter at Sicily Island

SICILY ISLAND — Two teams that had playoff aspirations before the 2018 season began will face each other Friday at 7 p.m. when the Sicily Island High School Tigers play host to the Delta Charter School Storm in a pivotal LHSAA District 2-1A game.

Sicily Island is 2-2 overall and 0-1 in district play after a bizarre 34-14 loss at Ouachita Christian School. Delta Charter is 1-3 overall and 0-1 in district play after losing at home to Oak Grove High School 68-31.

“Very proud of our kids, the way we fought,” Storm head coach Blake Wheeler said. “I thought we executed well on offense. Even though we came up short, I was proud of the effort.”

Even though Sicily Island has a better overall record than Delta Charter does, the Tigers are No. 24 in the LHSAA Class 1A power ratings while the Storm is at No. 20.

Block at Lakeside

JONESVILLE — The Block High School Bears will be looking for their first win of the season when they step outside of LHSAA District 3-1A and travel to Sibley, La. to take on the Class 2A Lakeside High School Warriors at 7 p.m. Friday.

Block dropped to 0-4 overall and 0-1 in district play and is No. 25 in the Class 1A power ratings after falling to rival St. Mary’s High School on the road 56-0. This week’s game at Lakeside the second of three straight road games.

Getting win number one in 2018 will not be easy for the Bears as they take on a Lakeside team that is No. 9 in the Class 2A power ratings and is 3-1 overall after losing at Rosepine High School 45-12 last week.

When the two teams took on each other last year in Jonesville, Lakeside came away with a 41-12 victory.