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FERRIDAY, La. — Ferriday High School assistant coach DeVante Scott knew the Trojans would have their hands full with the physicality that Delta Charter School would bring to Melz Field in the first-ever match-up between the Storm and the Trojans on Friday.

And for much of the first half, that’s exactly what happened. What took place in the second half of the “Battle of Ferriday” threw Delta Charter’s defense completely by surprise. Ferriday went to an I-formation offense and ran through the Storm as the Trojans pulled away for a 32-14 victory.

“DCS, they’re a great team. We had to earn that win. They’re a physical team,” Scott said. “I’m pleased with the win, but we’re got to learn to finish drives and finish the game.”

Ferriday jumped out to an 8-0 lead thanks to Caleb Ellis’s 72-yard touchdown pass to Desmen Jefferson with about 4:00 left in the first quarter. Ellis threw to Robert Taylor for the 2-point conversion.

The Storm responded with a 6-yard touchdown run by Tyrin Singleton early in the second half, but the try for two on a run was no good and they still trailed 8-6. That would end up being the score at halftime as both teams played bend-but-don’t-break defense throughout the first half to keep the other team’s offense out of the end zone.
“Everybody hates losing. Playing Ferriday is a tough one,” Delta Charter assistant coach Walt Clingon said. “We’ll hold our heads high. We had a few more breaks occasionally.”

“We did a good job defending our end zone,” Scott said.

After halftime, the Trojans went to a play they hadn’t run all year — the I-formation. And while they scored touchdowns on passes by Ellis to Jerry Griffin Jr. late in the third quarter and to Taylor with about a minute to go in the ball game, they for the most part ran the ball – and quite well, to boot.

“As far as our offense, we looked like were moving the ball, then we stalled. We went to the I-formation. We ran the ball effectively. Our running backs did a good job,” Scott said.

With Ferriday pulling away in the second half, it gave the Trojans’ defense opportunity to do two things – get the Storm out of its own running game and force them to throw the ball more, which is something they are not comfortable with.

“We had to adjust to the run. We took out our DBs and put some more big bodies in. We should’ve done that in the first half,” Scott said.

And because of that, Paityn Collins had an interception late in the first half and Lionel Scott had a huge sack in the third quarter. Special teams was also big as the Trojans blocked a punt which led to their second score of the third quarter. Griffin Jr. also had a 55-yard TD run about midway through that same quarter.

“It was closer than the score indicated. They hadn’t run that play (I-formation) all year. They ran it down our throats and then ran it outside,” Clingon said.

And while Ellis threw three touchdown passes, Scott said his receivers need to be more focused on catching the football. He said that group had four of five dropped passes – passes that went right through their hands.

“Caleb played great. He was throwing the ball and they were dropping them. We can’t have that,” Scott said.

Delta Charter (2-1) has a bye before playing host to Cedar Creek School on Thursday, Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.

Ferriday (3-0) plays host to Delhi Charter School next Friday at 7 p.m. for the Trojans’ LHSAA District 2-2A opener.