photo by Steve VanGunda

Ferriday Trojan Ken Washington tries to break away from two Natchez Bulldog defenders during a scrimmage. The Trojans will play Block on Friday in what will be the second game of their season. It will be Block’s season opener.

Block to face Ferriday Trojans Friday

Krysten Oliphant

Published Tuesday, September 9, 2008

FERRIDAY — Block High School should be playing its second game of the season when the Bears travel to Ferriday High on Friday.

Instead, the 7 p.m. game will be their de facto season-opener, thanks to Hurricane Gustav’s cancellation of Block’s game against Vidalia.

“We’re back in the mindset of getting ready to play. We missed a whole week of practice, but I think we’ll be ok,” said Block coach Benny Vault Jr. “They were ready to play, and they were a little disappointed. Hopefully they will channel that into going out and performing against Ferriday.”

Block’s only practice last week occurred Friday due to flooding and a lack of electricity. Eighteen players were absent.

They also practiced Sunday, but 12 players were out for various reasons, some hurricane-related.

But Block High reopened for class on Monday, and Vault said the team is ready for business against the Trojans, who shutout Madison this past Friday, 38-0.

“We have to eliminate turnovers and minimize mistakes, Vault said. “Whoever wins the turnover battle will fare better.

“We need to control the ball and keep it out of their hands. We had a problem with that at the [Vidalia] Jamboree, some minimal mistakes, a few blocks in the back and a couple fumbles. We need to come out with more focus.”

Ferriday coach Freddie Harrison knows Block will be psyched to finally play, and he knows his Trojans cannot overlook the Bears.

Right now, however, his team needs to stop overlooking itself.

“We’ve got a whole bunch of individualism right now, a whole bunch of ‘Me-guys.’ A couple guys think it’s about me, me, me. It’s not about you; it’s about the team.

“It’s a cancer, and all you’ve got to go do is cut it out before it spreads. I don’t tolerate it at all. It’s nipped in the bud now, but if it continues, they write their ticket home.”

Ferriday has had its own logistics problems in the aftermath of the storm. The Trojans held just one practice last week, without shoulder pads, so aside from the game against Madison, the team has been out of pads for seven days.

Today will be the first back in school and in full gear for Ferriday, and Harrison is interested to see how it will go.

But he likes that the daily routine is back in place, which he thinks will help get a win over Block.

“We’re real young on the offensive line, and we just have to persevere through and help each other out and communicate better,” Harrison said. “We have to make sure we keep them off the field offensively. They run a two-tight double-wing, and they’re going to run the football. We have to stop the run because if we don’t it’s going to be a long night for us.”