Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 13 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
photo by Marcus Frazier
Mangham High School’s Michael Holland stretches for a pass as Viking Gary Stewart pursues Friday evening during Vidalia High School’s homecoming game. The Vikings lost, 46-0.
Vikings embarrassed at homecoming
Published Saturday, September 27, 2008
VIDALIA —Vidalia coach Dee Faircloth hit a new milestone in his 41st year of coaching the Vikings.
But allowing 40 points in the first half of a 46-0 rout by Mangham High is not a record he wants to commemorate.
“That was the worst my teams have ever played, this game right here. We didn’t tackle, we didn’t block,” Faircloth said. “That was embarrassing, to give up 40 points in a half like that. We have never done that since I’ve been here.”
But there’s a first time for everything, as the Vikings demonstrated by earning just 89 total yards against the Dragons.
Caleb Vines completed 2-of-14 passes and threw two interceptions, including one that went back for a score in the second quarter by Shaquille Ausberry.
The Dragons recorded 241 yards on the ground behind Edward Blount (17 carries for 102 yards) and Ausberry, who ran for 112 yards on 11 carries.
“Edward Blount, he’s actually our backup running back,” said Mangham coach Bo Meeks. “Our starter got hurt last week. He came in last week and did a great job. We’re really proud of the way he’s come in and taken up some of the slack. The offensive line is doing a great job of blocking.”
Mangham also recorded 152 yards in the air on 8-of-15 from Josh Wilson and 1-3 from Spencer Nobles.
Faircloth said he was disappointed in his team, especially after its rivalry win in Ferriday the previous week.
“We left it on the field last Friday against Ferriday, and it was like, ‘Oh, gosh, we don’t have to do nothing now,’” he said. “Last week I was so proud of these kids, then we turn around and go 180 (degrees). When we walked off that field at Ferriday, our team stayed there. We were just hollow.”
Vidalia had seven punts to Mangham’s two, and lost two fumbles, while the Dragons never lost the ball.
The pain began quickly as Wilson ran three yards for a score at 8:27, and Kyle King’s kick put up an early 7-0.
Wilson then passed to Jonathan Harris in the end zone halfway through the quarter, but King’s kick was blocked by Mason Ozburn.
Wilson threw a long pass 62 yards to Montel Hardman with three minutes left in the first to make the score 20-0. The Vikings saw another glimmer of light when the Dragons’ two-point conversion failed after Edward Blount ran 16 yards for a score to start of the second quarter.
But they never could garner much offense, recording just eight first downs to Mangham’s 18. They had 70 yards rushing in the first half but lost 17 in the second.
“The guys played strong from the first whistle,” Meeks said. “We talked all week about playing 48 minutes, and they came out and gave that to us. We’re really proud of how our guys played, especially against a Coach Faircloth team that plays disciplined and plays hard.”
Faircloth said as hard as the first half was on his team, attempting to come back in the second was even tougher.
“They did a little better the second half, but we just made so many freaking mistakes,” he said. “Fumbled the ball from the center and throwing interceptions, you just cant do that and play somebody like that. We had no momentum.”
Faircloth now has to look ahead to a Jena team that lost 15-12 to Ferriday on Friday, and he said his team had better be ready for a tough week in practice.
“We’ve got to regroup, get over these injuries and other stuff and get back to work,” he said. “One of my old players (Bernie Cooley) is coaching against me, so I can’t lose that one. We might try to tackle. That’s the No. 1 priority.”
Comments
Posted by acedog (anonymous) on September 27, 2008 at 5:15 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by vidalia71373 (anonymous) on September 27, 2008 at 6:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nobody was saying "make that old man sit down" last week when we beat Ferriday!! Coach Faircloth is great and does a great job with those kids.
Posted by fuzzmonkey (anonymous) on September 27, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I played for Coach Faircloth many many years ago, not much has changed. He's always done well with smaller players, I was one of them, Coach always took great pride in his defense. I'm from an era where we didn't pass much. We controlled the ball offensively with a strong running game and played tough defense. Watch TV this weekend see what wins games. His thing is being prepared and in many cases over prepared. Lord knows we spent many long hours on the practice field. I knew when I walked off the field the last game as senior, I'd never play football again but what I didn't realize was he had helped prepared us for being successful in life. I've never seen anyone in any position work as hard for his team than he does. I'm not limiting to a football team, you can apply this to the work place in everyday life. He has heart and passion for what he does. Many can sit back say he's too old and needs to sit down but I disagree. You never find another one like him. I know coach doesn't like being beaten by Mangham, He hates homecoming but it is one game.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on September 27, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I heard they gave up completely and called the game with 28 min. left to play? I know they couldn't do much in that short a time, but what does that teach the kids?
Posted by dixiebelle (anonymous) on September 27, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
acedog- how dare you talk about Coach Faircloth like that? This story is simply about one team losing to another team. Why a personal attack on him? You obvisiously don't him. He's a great coach & great man. Anyone who's ever met him can vouch for that!
Posted by gator (anonymous) on September 27, 2008 at 4:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Vidalia just had a bad night . What team doesn't every now and then . Dee Faircloth is an exceptional coach with tons of experience . He knows his players and they'll be ready for the rest of the season .
Posted by Shorts (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Acedog has said this stuff before. Even though I didn't see the comment, I know exactly what he said. He's no better than the comments he leaves. It just shows how sad people's lives are when they can't see what Coach Faircloth does outside of the game of football.
Posted by ItsMeAgain (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Everyone know the team sucks
Posted by acedog (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i don't doubt for one minute that faircloth is a good men,and that the kids can learn alot from him.i'm just saying his time has past ,his better days are behind him, its time to get the fishing rod. let someone else take over. make faircloth the athletic director. let that be his only job, if the school just want to keep him around.
Posted by ItsMeAgain (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
yea i agree..........his time have past 20 years ago. Still no state title after all those years.
Posted by ncogg (anonymous) on September 29, 2008 at 11:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i am a VHS alumni, Faircloth has been there for some time now, maybe it is time to find some new blood to coach our kids. Heck i remember when my brother and cousins all played under him in the 80s' when Mr. Suggs was principal. WOW!!!
Posted by Tellmeboutit (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The way it is. Coach is a fine and I do mean fine man. That is the problem with the situation. He is not a good coach today. Look at his teams the last few years and that is a direct reflection of the coach. Not the Man. The coach... Two different things. The Man is a great man and a symbol even the field has his name on it and that is a good thing. A well deserved thing. You could write volumes about all of his work over the last 40 years. At one point the best coach you could ask for. His teams were well prepared, motivated, and well coached. This has not been the case the last several years. However if you want a coach to teach and motivate the young players to believe and Win, then get a new coach. But that will not happen until coach Faircloth wants it to. The only thing that is wrong with this is. What the young men are missing. Look at what the young men at schools like OCS are getting out of football and what Kids at Vidalia are getting. Two different things. how many young men will come through the program that could play at the next level and never get a chance because of this? Know one will take this on and do anything about because what it does to coach Faircloth. That also is understandable. Coaching is his life. It is hard to tell someone that has given his life and done so well over the years that it is time to let go. I'm old and a lot of people tell me i am past my time and do not know what i am talking about. This may be the case here. I dont think so.
Posted by vidaliagal23 (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
faircloth is one of the greatest men and coaches i know...
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)