FERRIDAY, La. – The Ferriday Trojans have worked hard all summer. Most of the handful of 2A players have spent the better part of the summer working out and practicing conditioning drills.

That hard work and sweat will begin to pay off Friday night, though, when the Trojans enter a scrimmage game against other teams in West Monroe.

Defensive coordinator Rodney Lloyd said on Monday the team will probably travel to Monroe Friday night and play Carroll High School, and other schools, in a scrimmage that will test what the Trojans’ have worked on all summer long.

&uot;We had a game scheduled with Jonesville, but they called and didn’t want to play,&uot; Lloyd said. &uot;Some friends at Carroll had called earlier this summer and asked us to play, so I guess we’ll take them up on it.&uot;

Lloyd said the Trojans spent most of the summer putting in the team’s offensive and defensive schemes, and the players have responded well.

&uot;We’re going to two-a-days Tuesday and Wednesday, to make up for today’s rain-out,&uot; he said. &uot;We’ve got to make up for the practices, but we’re going to keep the team healthy.&uot;

Several returning Trojan starters said they’d spent the summer lifting weights, working on speed and conditioning and recovering from injuries.

Junior tailback Brennan Smith, who coughed up the football a number of times last season, said holding onto the ball has consumed his summer drills.

&uot;I’ve had to work on that a lot,&uot; said the 1,000-yard returning rusher. &uot;I had a lot of fumbles last year, and I’ve had to work hard on holding on to the ball.

Junior wideout Arinn Long said the summer workouts have been tough, but will make him better in the long run. &uot;We’ve worked out every day,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s been hard.&uot;