VIDALIA — For the Vidalia Vikings, the challenge of getting back to a .500 district record runs through Buckeye High School, a team that is trying to do the same.

With both teams possessing a 1-2 district record (each have large-margin wins against Bolton), the matchup against Buckeye figures to be a good one for Vidalia.

“I hope we come out fired up,” Vidalia head coach Jeff Hancock said. “They’re big win against Bolton was about the same score as ours. (Buckeye) graduated a lot of their guys from that district championship team a year ago, so they’re young like us. It should be a good one.”

Entering the game, Vikings sophomore running back Julian Wilson is 162 rushing yards away from the 1,000 rushing-yard mark. Should Wilson break loose on a couple of long runs like he has in just about every game this season, he’ll become the first Vidalia running back since Jontarrius Townsend in 2013 to rush for more than 1,000 yards.

For a victory Friday, the Vikings will need a big day from Wilson offensively as well as some key stops on defense. Going against a team that runs an option offense and the swinging gate on extra point, being disciplined on defense will be key. Fitting, as Hancock tries to teach his young players about discipline and staying the course with a poster hanging in the locker room.

“Bo Schembechler’s phrase over that first year at Michigan was, ‘those who stay will be champions,’” Hancock said. “That’s what I’m trying to tell these younger guys.”

The Vikings will play at Buckeye High School at 7 p.m. Friday.