VIDALIA — The Vidalia High School Vikings will be on the road in the second round of the LHSAA Class 2A State Playoffs as they travel to central Tangipahoa Parish to take on the Independence High School Tigers.

Kickoff between No. 8 seed Vidalia and No. 24 seed Independence is set for 7 p.m. The 8-3 Vikings shut out No. 25 seed Oakdale High School 26-0 while the 4-7 Tigers upset No. 9 seed Pine High School on the road 36-32 in each of their first-round match-ups.

Vikings head coach Dee Faircloth initially thought that his team would be hosting the Tigers. But because Independence had not hosted a first-round game and Vidalia had, the Tigers are playing host to the Vikings Friday night.

“At 8 a.m. in the morning on Saturday, we were the home team and at 11 p.m., we were the visiting team,” Faircloth said. “We accepted it and moved on. If we win this game, we play at home next Friday probably against the No. 1 seed, Many.”

Faircloth said the cold weather that gripped the Miss-Lou area on Tuesday and Wednesday has had an affect on the team during practice.

“We practiced that way, but it was two of the coldest days ever. It was tough,” Faircloth said. “The players made it through. They dressed as warm as they could. The bad thing was the wind. It was biting. It’s going to be a little warmer (tonight). We look for the game time temperature to be about 50.”

Independence, which finished in the middle of the pack in District 8-2A, will bring some challenges to Vidalia that the Vikings have not seen this season.

“They have a real outstanding running quarterback (senior De’angelo Gaines. He’s about 6-2, 6-3. They have a running back that is tough, No. 1 (junior Tyrick Harness). They present a challenge to us,” Faircloth said. “Defensively, they run a five-man front. They’ll send a linebacker in there. It’s going to be a challenge.”

As for what it will take for Vidalia to come out victorious and advance to the Class 2A quarterfinals, Faircloth said, “We’re just going to have to play our type of ball game. Defense was lights out last week. Offense, we get about 500 yards a game. Just keep being consistent. Eliminate some of our penalties. That’ll solve everything.