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Story Archives: Vidalia holds off Ferriday


Vidalia holds off Ferriday
by Joey Martin - posted Thursday, September 25th, 2008 @ 8:12 amE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
Dee Faircloth can count on one hand the number of times he has walked away from Melz Field a winner.

Now that hand is full after the Vikings defeated the Trojans 24-20 in Ferriday, giving Faircloth his fifth win in Ferriday territory. Vidalia has won in Ferriday only two other times in the two teams' series, which Ferriday still leads 24-15-1. It was only the seventh time Vidalia has won in Ferriday.

"It's a big win any time you can beat your rival," Faircloth said. "Plus we got some confidence back after the way we played against Ouachita Christian. It was a physical game. Both teams were exhausted and gave it their all."

"We just had too many breakdowns," said Ferriday coach Freddie Harrison. "But that comes with growing pains."

After forcing Ferriday to go three and out on its first possession, the Vikings took over on the Ferriday 41.

A 12-yard run by Tri McCoy was followed by two runs by Kevin Johnson to the Trojan 9-yard line. Three plays later, Lemack Bates went in from two yards with 9:08 remaining. The conversion run failed.

The play clock appeared to hit :00 just before the Vikings got the play off on the touchdown, which led to a heated exchange between the head referee and Harrison, who was penalized on the play.

"That's the way it is sometimes," Harrison said. "You just have to go with it."

The penalty was marked off on the point-after.

"No one said a word to me," Faircloth said. "If I would have known they were marking it off on the extra point I would have tried to power it in from inside instead of going outside."

Ferriday wasted no time answering the score at Nieco Amado caught the ensuing kickoff at his 20-yard line and blazed 80 yards for the score. The conversion kick failed leaving the score at 6-6.

Vidalia marched 78 yards in six plays on its next possession with Bates, Johnson and McCoy chewing up the yardage. Facing second-and-goal from the Trojan 21-yard line, Johnson started left, reversed his field and raced around the right side for the score.

Johnson finished with 68 yards on 17 carries.

The conversion run failed leaving Vidalia up 12-6 with 3:40 remaining in the first quarter.

Davante Scott returned the ensuing kickoff from his 20-yard line to the Vidalia 48.

"Our special teams looked real good," Harrison said. "We've got some young guys there who are really stepping up."

Ferriday moved to the Vidalia 24-yard line, but a sack by Marvin Payne put the Trojans back on the Vidalia 32, where they punted into the end zone to end the first quarter.

On the first play of the second quarter, Vidalia quarterback Caleb Vines passed to Gary Stewart near midfield by the Vidalia sideline, and Stewart pulled the ball in and outran the Trojan defense to the end zone to give Vidalia an 18-6 advantage as the conversion run failed.

A 32-yard pass from Rodney Lawson to Adrian Garrison gave Ferriday possession at the Vidalia 27-yard line. Two plays later, Quan Riley sacked Lawson back at his 35-yard line. A high snap from center on the punt gave Vidalia possession at the Viking 43.

The Vikings were forced to punt and Ferriday took over on its 25.

A 30-yard pass from Lawson to Ken Washington moved it to the Vidalia 45. Lawson hooked up with Garrison at the Vidalia nine.

Facing fourth-and-goal from the Vidalia 1-yard line, Lawson apparently snuck it in for the score, but an illegal perceiger penalty negated the touchdown. A fourth-down pass was incomplete, turning it over to the Vikings.

Ferriday's defense held and the Trojans got the ball back on the Vidalia 39.

Two runs by Scott brought the ball to the Vidalia 6-yard line and two plays later, Madison scored on a 7-yard run. The conversion failed leaving Vidalia with an 18-12 lead with 41 seconds remaining.

Johnson took the ensuing kickoff at his 20-yard line and returned it 80 yards for the score. The Vikings were penalized for players running on to the field after the score, even though they were members of the point-after team. The conversion pass from the Ferriday 18-yard line failed.

Garrison returned ensuing kickoff to the Vidalia 33.

With eight seconds remaining, Lawson hit Pryor for the touchdown. Madison ran in the conversion to pull the Trojans within 24-20 at halftime.

Madison finished with 109 yards on 18 carries.

Vidalia went three and out to start the second half and Ferriday moved to the Viking 28-yard line, but a fumble recovered by Joe Williams gave the ball back to the Vikings.

Vidalia was again stopped, and a 35-yard punt return inside Vidalia territory was negated by a block below the waist during the return.

Vidalia moved the ball to the Ferriday 26-yard line, but a 14-yard tackle behind the line by Pryor put the Vikings back to the 40 to end the third quarter.

A low snap on the punt forced Johnson to dodge a defender before punting inside the Ferriday 15-yard line where Scott returned the kick to midfield.

"We missed too many tackles on kicks," Faircloth said. "We looked like Tennessee trying to tackle Florida's Brandon James."

Ferriday moved to the Viking 41 before Stewart picked off a Trojan pass at the 15.

Vidalia was forced to punt and the Trojans took over on their own 31 with 8:22 remaining.

A 10-yard run by Madison and face mask penalty moved the ball to the Vidalia 47 with 7:27 remaining.

A fumbled snap and short pass led to third-and-two when Madison was tackled behind the line by John Brixey. Facing fourth-and-three, Lawson was stopped short of the first down and Vidalia took over with 4:38 remaining.

Vidalia was forced to punt and Ferriday took over on its 31 with 2:39 remaining.

Madison ripped off a 25-yard run to the Vidalia 44.

Lawson hit Garrison on a 17-yard gain to the Viking 27 with 1:54 remaining.

Madison was tripped up in the backfield the next two plays by Brixey and on third down with 54 seconds remaining, Lawson's pass attempt was incomplete.

Facing fourth-and-12 with 40 seconds remaining, Lawson's long pass was intercepted by Stewart inside the 5-yard line and the Vikings ran two plays to end the game.

Lawson finished completing 8-of-17 passes for 168 yards and two interceptions, while Vines was 3-of-6 for 115 yards.s

"Both teams made adjustments in the second half and field position was a key," Harrison said. "We didn't take advantage of the few opportunities we had."

"It was a good win," Faircloth said. "The kids played hard and didn't fold."

Vidalia hosts Mangham for Homecoming Friday, while Ferriday travels to Jena.
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