A week after shutting out the Beekman Charter School Tigers on homecoming, the Delhi Charter School Gators extended its winning streak to two Thursday night, surviving a shootout with the Vidalia Vikings at home in Delhi.
In a high-scoring first quarter, neither team's defense could mount a stop as the offenses traded scores en route to a 24-18 Gators lead heading into the second quarter.
The scoring began on the Gators' opening drive of the game, as Keidron Thomas took the ball in on the ground and quarterback Chad Clark ran in for the 2-point conversion to give DCS the early 8-0 lead. The Vikings would answer, however, on its first offensive drive, but a failed 2-point try left the Vikings trailing 8-6.
Vidalia recovered a DCS fumble on the ensuing kickoff return and found the end zone two plays later to take a 12-8 lead, but a long run from DCS back Reid Arledge would set up a QB keeper for a score from Clark. The 2-point conversion on the ground gave the Gators a 16-12 lead, but the Vikings would also score on its next possession to retake the lead, 18-16.
With 53 seconds left in a wide-open first quarter for both offenses, DCS would get back into the end zone off a second score on the ground from Thomas. Clark added another 2-point ground conversion to give DCS a 24-18 advantage.
The Vikings tied things up at 24 with 1:52 to play in the first half after recovering a second DCS fumble and a third fumble recovery by Vidalia led to a touchdown through the air for the Vikings, as they took a 32-24 lead into the halftime break.
Vidalia came out strong in the second half, scoring on its first possession to take a 38-24 lead, but it would be all DCS for the remainder of the contest, as the Gators defense would bend, but not break, while the offense tacked on 32 points off two more scores from Thomas and one apiece from Clark and Dede Young, all coming on the ground.
The Gators' potent rushing attack tallied four second-half scores as DCS knocked off the Vikings 56-38.
The win gives the Gators a 3-5 record on the year and a 2-3 mark in district play. DCS will be at home again, Fri., Oct. 29, to face Ferriday in a district matchup on the Gators' Senior Night.
For the complete story on Thursday's win, along with more stats and pictures from the game, pick up a copy of the Thurs., Oct. 28, edition of the Madison Journal.
