By CHERIE WARD

The Natchez Democrat

VIDALIA — The Vidalia High School Vikings advance to the second round of the LHSAA Class 2A Playoffs after shutting out the Oakdale High School Warriors 26-0 in a first-round match-up Friday night.

The Vikings will host the Independence High School Tigers at the Dee Faircloth Viking Stadium next Friday at 7 p.m.

Vikings head coach Dee Faircloth said the team played well, but still had work to do before next week’s game.

“The defense played well, the offense played well, but we had some penalties, dropped some passes and that’s what upsets me,” Faircloth said. “We’ve got to work on that for next week.”

Faircloth, who has coached at Vidalia High School for nearly 40 years, said the Warriors have always been a huge rival for the Vikings.

“It’s muddy, it’s cold, but these boys showed up,” Faircloth said. “I could not be prouder of them.”

Senior Jamar Lyons said the team had trained hard for the last week and was determined to win.

“We came out and got the job done,” Lyons said. “For us seniors it was our last ride to show coach we could beat them and we made it and it was all worth it — mud and all.”

At about halftime the Warriors were not going to show up. Their defense and offense both lacked any stamina to score and at that point the Warriors appeared to have given up.

The Vikings, however, scored touchdowns in all four quarters and only one flag was thrown the entire game. The flag was against the Vikings in the third quarter with 5:23 left, but that did not keep the team from scoring.

Following the third touchdown, L.J. Jones revved up the Vikings and the fans by chanting “Ole Vidalia.”

Jones said it was the perfect way to continue the rivalry between the two teams and pump them up for next year.