VIDALIA — After starting sluggish in both of its games to start the season, the Ferriday Trojans made it a priority to start fast in a rivalry game against the Vidalia Vikings Friday night.

Ferriday head coach Dwight Woods dialed up a play that he thought might go for six, and he told starting running back Malik Hampton to be ready to bust it.

“I told him, ‘You may score on the first one, make sure you hit it and go,’” Woods said.

As Hampton received the handoff in the first play of a 48-0 victory, his eyes widened when the hole opened as Woods foretold him. Hampton accelerated, raced past Viking defenders on the outside and made a juke toward the inside to go 71 yards on the opening play from scrimmage, giving his Trojans a 6-0 lead.

“When you see a big hole like that, you have so much adrenaline,” Hampton said. “Your first instinct is to go.”

There was no letting off the gas from there. After a quick Vidalia three-and-out, Ferriday marched the ball down the field, capping off the drive with a 19-yard pass from Ronald Williams to Ja’Shon Foster, the first of four touchdown receptions for Foster.

“When we first stepped out on the field, I knew we were going to put it away,” Foster said.

Vidalia head coach Jeff Hancock elected to put Jordan Mays in at quarterback on the fourth series of the game, taking freshman Tristan Weatherly out, who struggled throughout the night, completing 9-of-18 for 100 yards and four interceptions.

“We had some issues blocking the guys up front, and Jordan is faster than Tristan,” Hancock said. “That’s why we put him in there.”

While Ferriday’s defense was pitching a shutout, the Trojans offense scored on all five of its first possessions.

Ferriday extended its lead to 22-0 after Williams found Tyrec Slain for a 13-yard touchdown reception.

Williams threw another touchdown pass before the first quarter ended, this time to Foster on a 45-yarder.

On the first play of the second quarter, T.J. Swanson gave Ferriday a 34-0 lead on a 10-yard rush. After slow starts against Block High School and Carroll High School, Woods was proud to see his team come out and play aggressive at the start.

“This is the way we’re supposed to come out and play,” Woods said.

Ferriday went into halftime with a 48-0 lead after Williams found Foster two more times. Woods said Williams is getting better each and every week, learning his reads and the movements Woods wants him to implore. Of course, it helps having a tall receiver like Foster to throw to.

“He is Superman, and it’s wonderful to have him,” Woods said. “He made plays tonight, and everybody is getting a chance to see what he can do. A lot of schools are looking at him, and we’re working on getting him recruited.”

In the loss, Vidalia totaled 107 yards, while Ferriday amassed 474.

“They were who we thought they were,” Hancock said. “We stunk it up tonight. We’re young, and we made a lot of mistakes.”

Hampton finished the day with seven rushes for 188 yards and a score.

Vidalia’s Julian Wilson was contained and held to 14 rushing yards.

“We respect Vidalia, and we respect what Hancock is doing,” Woods said. “They’ve been getting better every week. We see it on the film, but this was just a tough week for them.”

Ferriday improves to 3-0, while Vidalia goes to 1-2.