photo by Hannah Reel

Ferriday’s Rodney Lawson looks to throw a pass during the game against Wossman last Friday night. The Trojans will take on another Class 4A opponent in Peabody this Friday on the road. Ferriday’s record is 3-1, with its only loss being to Natchez High.

Ferriday not scared to play larger opponents

By Jeff Edwards (Contact) | The Natchez Democrat

Published Tuesday, September 29, 2009

FERRIDAY — The Ferriday Trojans sure aren’t scared of playing anybody.

One week after coming from behind in the fourth quarter to defeat LHSAA Class 4A opponent Wossman 16-10, the Class 2A Trojans will once again take on a Class 4A opponent, this time on the road.

Ferriday (3-1) will travel to play Peabody on Friday, and coach Freddie Harrison said the Trojans need to beware of the Warhorses’ running attack.

They like to run the football right at you,” Harrison said. “They try to establish the run first. They also are real good on special teams and have real good speed.”

Peabody is 1-3 on the season, having won its first game before losing three straight.

The Warhorses dropped a close 28-26 decision to Crowley last Friday night.

This will be Ferriday’s fifth game of the season, and four of those came against teams in larger classifications.

The Trojans defeated Class 3A Vidalia 34-24 and Class 4A Wossman 16-10 and were defeated by MHSAA Class 6A school Natchez 12-6.

But Harrison doesn’t mind playing larger teams at all.

“The reason we do it is to make sure we set ourselves in a good position in power points (which is partly based on strength of schedule and goes toward seeding teams in the playoffs),” Harrison said. “Also, we do it because it helps us down the road in district play. Playing tougher competition early makes you get ready and prepared to play in a tough district like ours.”

And Ferriday’s district is a good one. All five teams made the playoffs last season and Harrison says it is one of the best in the state.

While Ferriday has won its last two games against larger opponents, it hasn’t been easy.

The Trojans trailed Vidalia 18-8 at halftime before coming back in the second half to win and trailed Wossman 10-0 in the fourth quarter before two late touchdowns brought them back to victory.

Harrison says last week’s comeback win gave his team lots of confidence as they go forward in the season.

“It makes you believe in what we’re doing because the guys could have easily given up and stopped playing,” Harrison said. “They realize if we come together and work hard, and do what we have to do, we’ll be successful, and that’s what the guys did.”

But while Ferriday has proven it can turn it on in the second half when behind, Harrison would like the team to play that well from the opening kick-off.

This week I just want us to come out and play the first half just as hard as the second half,” Harrison said. “If we do that, I don’t know what kind of explosion will happen.”