Several surprises have materialized with an 0-4 start for the Vidalia Vikings.

Among those have been the team’s ability to learn new offenses, unconventionally according to Vidalia head coach Jeff Hancock. Hancock couldn’t believe his team could pick up a read-based offense quicker than they mastered the double-wing.

“When I took this job, I installed the double-wing because that’s usually the easiest to learn, and I thought it would make us competitive right away,” Hancock said. “But it’s amazing. We’ve picked up the zone read quicker. I had never heard of that, but hey, we’re going to be rolling with it.”

Another curveball thrown Hancock’s way is the departure of Cole Cangemi, who started at quarterback in every game of the season thus far for the Vikings. Cangemi quit the squad, and Landon Seyfarth will step into the starting quarterback role for the Vikings, as Seyfarth quarterbacked the offense in the ace formation.

“We’re sorry to see him go,” Hancock said. “He was a heck of a competitor, and we wish him well. We will be running out of the ace formation a lot, and we’ve put in a couple more formations.”

Up next for the Vikings is St. Frederick Catholic High School, who is 3-1 on the season and coming off of their first loss of the season to Caldwell.

Hancock said with all due respect the Vikings have played more athletic teams like Ferriday, but St. Frederick’s recipe for success is its well-disciplined approach.

“They’re an extremely well coached ball club that don’t make a lot of mistakes,” Hancock said.

Following a 90-yard rushing performance by Julian Wilson and a 74-yard rushing display by Antione Taylor, Hancock said Viking fans can expect both running backs to carry the rock consistently against St. Frederick.

“Any coach that doesn’t give the ball to the hot hand probably needs to be fired,” Hancock said.

The Vikings and the Warriors will kickoff at 7 p.m. tonight.