For two and a half quarters, Ferriday High School stayed right with LHSAA District 2-2A opponent and Class 2A powerhouse Sterlington High School ,and at the 6:47 mark of the third quarter, the Trojans were within one possession of the lead.

Unfortunately, the Trojans could not get over the hump nor could they keep Sterlington out of the end zone as the Panthers pulled away for a 44-20 win Friday night in the district opener for both teams.

“It started out as a tight game.,” Ferriday head coach Cleothis Cummings said. “After halftime, they put together a drive. Then we put together a drive. Then they scored a couple of touchdowns. On defense, we could not slow them down. They ran the ball well tonight. On offense, we couldn’t move the ball.”

Cummings said that Shannon Morales had a good game both at quarterback and defensive end.

“He played solid for us tonight,” Cummings said.

After Ferriday jumped out to an early 6-0 lead, Sterlington answered with two touchdown drives later on the first quarter to grab a 14-6 lead. After a scoreless second quarter, the Panthers scored a field goal for a 17-6 lead before the Trojans found the end zone once again to make it a 17-12 game.

However, Sterlington scored four of the game’s final five touchdowns to put away the Trojans.

Ferriday (3-3, 0-1) will play host to Oak Grove (La.) High School in district action next Friday at 7 p.m.