VIDALIA — When Jeff Hancock accepted the head football coach position at Vidalia High School last year, he was looking at the big picture.

Now, the second-year coach is beginning to see some of his once futuristic visions come to fruition.

“Ideally, most coaches say you have a three-year plan,” Hancock said. “I looked at it like that, but you never know how things are going to go.”

Hancock was tossed a curveball in his first season at the helm, with his team suffering a winless season at 0-10.

“I knew it was going to be building and laying down a foundation last year,” he said. “Obviously, I hoped we would win some games, but you never know until you get into it. But this year, I think we are about where I thought we would be.”

Vidalia is 2-3 this season and even has a district win under its belt, something many thought was a distant dream for the Vikings.

“We knew this year would be different,” senior lineman Lee Ford said. “We are changing Vidalia and the image we have.”

Hancock said a crucial element of getting past what was in players’ heads.

“Last year, the one aspect that took longer than I thought it would was overcoming the psychological aspect,” he said. “That is really fixed by winning and the kids seeing they are good. I would say our confidence has grown, and our guys know they have a shot.”

The players agree.

“When coach motivates you, you understand things are going to be different,” Ford said. “Things aren’t going to be the same as they have for years.”

Youth doomed the Vikings in many situations last season, but now, Hancock said those situations were imperative for the team to be where they are this season.

“We had linemen that were ninth graders that probably shouldn’t have been playing, but the positive is they got a ton of reps,” Hancock said. “So now, it is starting to show the rewards.”

This year’s youth is on the defensive side, where the Vikings are starting eight underclassmen.

“We have tons of ninth graders playing defense and they are improving, but the bottom line is it is still ninth graders going up against juniors and seniors,” Hancock said. “So next year, we are hoping that is going to help us even more.”

Around the locker room, players talk about the rebuild, but also about where they see the team. As for this season, anything short of the playoffs appears to be a failure.

“It would mean a lot,” Ford said of making the playoffs. “It shows that no matter what, we are here, and here to play. We are a changed team.”