FERRIDAY — Ferriday’s regular season finale at home against Farmerville Friday is significant for a couple of reasons.

First of all, a win over Farmerville (8-2, 4-0) gives the Trojans (7-2, 3-1) a share of the District 2-2A championship.

However, even more important in the eyes of Ferriday coach Freddie Harrison is the power ratings boost a win over the 8-1 Farmers will provide.

Louisiana’s playoff system is determined by power ratings, which are determined by a team’s record and strength of schedule.

The top 32 teams in the power ratings make the playoffs (unless a district champion is outside the top 32, in which case that team would make the playoffs and the No. 32 team would be out). The top 16 teams host the first round playoff game.

“The severity of the game is because of the power ratings,” Harrison said. “It’s going in (the playoffs) as a top 10 seed as opposed to having a seed of 15, 16 or 17. That’s the most important thing to us. Winning gives us the opportunity to share the district title and be in the top 10 in power ratings.”

Ferriday barely slipped into the playoffs last year as the No. 32 seed, and was destroyed in the first round by No. 1 seed John Curtis.

But this year’s team has already accomplished a couple of goals this season, and has the chance to accomplish some more.

“Our first goal this season was to stay focused and put ourselves in position to win a district championship, and we’ve done that,” Harrison said. “Our second goal was to make sure we put ourselves in the top 32, and we’ve done that. Now our goal is to come out there and try to put ourselves in position to win games and go as far as we can in the playoffs.”

In order to do that, the Trojans will have to get past a Farmerville team that likes to ram the ball down their opponents’ throat.

“They are going to grind the football at you,” Harrison said. “They’re going to get in the I formation and go straight. That’s what their mentality is. They’ll come straight at you, and will dare you to stop them. And not a lot of teams have been up to the task of stopping them.”

And for that reason, Harrison said Friday’s game will be a game that is won along the offensive and defensive lines.

“This game is going to be won in the trenches,” Harrison said. “Whoever’s line comes to play Friday night, they will win the football game without a doubt.”