By Reina Kempt & 

Michael Kerekes

The Natchez Democrat

VIDALIA — Vidalia High School’s (2-1) strong start to the season hit a bit of a snag Friday in a 40-0 home loss to Ferriday High School (2-1).

Vidalia head coach Gary Parnham Jr. said he blames the shutout loss on himself for not preparing his team they way he should have.

“I didn’t have them prepared to play,” Parnham said after the game. “Ferriday is a good football team. They have plenty of talent and speed. I just didn’t have them prepared to play the game against that.”

Vidalia had 91 total yards of offense while allowing 365 from the Trojans. Vidalia quarterback Jontarrius Townsend rushed for 31 yards to lead all Viking players.

After looking at his main ball handler’s rushing yardage, Parnham said the Vikings would be focusing on their blocking assignments this week to give Townsend room to breath on the field when they head to Bolton High School this Friday.

Ferriday head coach Cleothis Cummings said his team looked good from the naked eye Friday night, but he knows there are still things that need to change if they want to have a successful season.

“We’re still not doing the little things to make us that much better,” Cummings said. “We’re going to go back, look at the film and change some things.”

Ferriday running back Dontrell Domino noticed some of those little things in action while 16 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown.

“We just have to get our young (offensive) line to get on their blocking assignments,” Domino said.

Domino said they must work on these things to get better for their game against Richwood High School Friday.

“We’ll be working on blocking and protecting the ball with our snaps,” he said. “We had a couple miscues with our snaps.

Ferriday takes on Richwood at home while Vidalia heads to Bolton High School to play at 7 p.m. Friday.

Adams County Christian School

ACCS took a quick 21-0 lead but had to hang on to beat an athletic Cenla Christian Academy squad 23-0 Friday night.

The Rebels benefitted late in the game from a blocked punt by Parker Rymer, which sent the ball in the end zone and forced a Cenla player to fall on top of it for a safety.

While ACCS was able to amass 229 yards on the ground, it managed just 75 through the air, and the Rebels only attempted one pass in the second half, which resulted in an interception. ACCS head coach David King said losing all-purpose athlete Trey Fleming to a collarbone injury in the second quarter was a big blow for his team.

“We’re not a skilled offensive team yet,” King said. “We’re still trying to find our identity. This is not my cup of tea with the Power I running the football, but now we’re not really sure of ourselves making plays on the perimeter, and when Trey went out, we really just had to go to a grind attack and just hold on for the win.”

King said after the game, however, that he was proud of his players for finding a way to win, and Rymer said beating a talented Cenla team was positive momentum for him and his teammates.

“It’s very important for us going forward,” Rymer said. “Every win is important.”

ACCS (4-1) will host Prentiss Christian School at 7 p.m. Friday.