VIDALIA &8212; There&8217;s no more margin for error for the Vidalia Vikings in 2006 &8212; district play is starting, and if the Vikings are looking to get to the playoffs, they will have to win out.

Vidalia (2-5) hosts Lake Providence Friday night for homecoming.

Lake Providence comes in at 3-4, with its three wins coming via two wins over teams with a combined 1-13 record and a forfeit.

One of the Vikings&8217; biggest struggles all season has been stopping the pass, and head coach Dee Faircloth felt Lake Providence might be Vidalia&8217;s worst nightmare.

&8220;They like to spread you out and throw the ball,&8221; Faircloth said. &8220;They&8217;ve got a lot of talent, and they&8217;re very athletic. They&8217;ve got some big kids. The key to Lake Providence is putting pressure on their quarterback.&8221;

Unfortunately for the Vikings, who haven&8217;t been very good in coverage most of the year, they&8217;ve also been unable to get in the backfield for a consistent pass rush.

&8220;I&8217;ve had more sacks in ballgames than I&8217;ve had the entire last two years,&8221; Faircloth said. &8220;We got some pressure on Mangham, but we didn&8217;t get any pressure on Farmerville or Ouachita.&8221;

Defensively, Faircloth said, Lake Providence would be a blitz-happy bunch.

&8220;They have big kids, and they like to stunt their linebackers a lot,&8221; he said. &8220;If you can break free of the line you&8217;re in good shape.&8221;

Faircloth said last week&8217;s loss to Ouachita Christian &8212; in which Vidalia forced three turnovers, blocked a field goal and still lost 29-20 &8212; was tough on him and the team.

&8220;You can&8217;t help but be down from a game like that,&8221; he said. &8220;Now I know how the Arizona Cardinals feel (referring to their loss Monday).&8221;

Although the Vikings are certainly in an unenviable position, Faircloth said the good thing is the team knows what it has to do to get in the playoffs.

&8220;We basically control our own destiny,&8221; he said. &8220;Our only shot is to win out, and that&8217;ll be a task, because Ferriday is over there licking their chops.&8221;

There is one thing Faircloth isn&8217;t happy at all about for this week.

&8220;I hate homecoming,&8221; he said. &8220;If I ever take over the world, the first thing we&8217;ll do away with is homecomings. I&8217;ll get on taxes later.&8221;

Vidalia will host Lake Providence at 7 p.m. Friday.

Ferriday at Madison Parish

The Ferriday Trojans (5-1) will try and pick themselves up of the turf after last week&8217;s disappointing loss to Sterlington as they open up district play at Madison Parish.

Madison comes in at 2-5, with wins over Grambling and Tensas High Schools.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday.

Northwood-Lena at Block

The Block Bears (0-7, 0-2 in district play) will host district front-runner Northwood-Lena (6-1, 2-0) Friday night in Jonesville.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.