An overtime win last Friday and two key Top 10 losses have made the Ferriday Trojans the No. 5 2A team in the state, according to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

&uot;It’s what I’ve said before,&uot; Ferriday coach James McFarland said. &uot;It’s good for the community and good for the players, but now you know that’s on every opponent’s bulletin board for the rest of the season.

&uot;We don’t need to give our opponents any other reasons to beat us,&uot; he said. &uot;Now beating us makes you somebody.&uot;

Farmerville nearly became somebody last week when Kenneth Haulcy’s 53-yard touchdown strike to Tomorrio Bilberry tied the game and sent it to overtime.

Nathaniel Smith scored a 5-yard run and Brennan Smith kicked the extra point that gave undefeated Ferriday its seventh win of the year.

Losses Friday by last week’s No. 5 and No. 6 teams on the poll — West St. John and Coushatta — moved Ferriday up from No. 7 to the top five.

&uot;I knew we had a good football team,&uot; McFarland said. &uot;But I didn’t know how good it would be.&uot;

McFarland said several returning key players and an impressive summer work ethic have been the chief reasons for Ferriday’s success.

&uot;I knew we were stronger and faster,&uot; he said. &uot;I knew we would beat some people.&uot;

Ferriday has three regular-season games left — district rival Block, No. 19-ranked McCall and the Vidalia Vikings.

&uot;I don’t even have to say anything about Vidalia,&uot; McFarland said of the well-known rivalry between the neighboring communities.

&uot;A win is a win,&uot; said senior linebacker Stan Smith. &uot;It would mean something to beat Vidalia, but all it comes down to is a win.&uot;

McFarland agreed. &uot;It was kind of the opposite last year,&uot; he said referring to Ferriday’s trip to the then-powerful Vidalia. &uot;We didn’t want to spoil their season, we just wanted to win.

&uot;I think Vidalia just wants to stay alive for the playoffs, not come in beat Ferriday,&uot; he said. &uot;That’s the way it was for us.&uot;

But Smith doesn’t think Vidalia or any team left on the schedule has much of a chance against his Trojans.

&uot;If we continue to play how we’ve played so far, I think it’s very realistic that we’ll be 10-0,&uot; he said.