Ferriday squeaks by Peabody, 37-35
Published 2:40 am Saturday, October 2, 2010
FERRIDAY — The Ferriday Trojans fought to the last possession against the Peabody Warhorses in their homecoming night.
But in the end, it was a missed two-point conversion that proved the difference in Ferriday’s 37-35 victory.
Both teams scored seemingly at will in the first half.
The Trojans struck first on their opening possession, scoring from 36 yards out on a De’Vante Scott run.
Peabody answered Ferriday’s score with one of their own. A 70-yard run by the blazing Jalen Richard silenced the home crowd, but brought celebration on the visiting side. In the first half, the Trojans had no answer for Richard’s blazing speed and amazing cutbacks. He often bulldozed defenders as well.
Just before the first quarter closed, Ferriday managed another score from 46 yards out.
Peabody managed two more scores in the second quarter and with just over a minute left in the half, they kicked off to Ferriday’s De’Vante Scott. Scott fielded the kick from his own thirty-yard line and stiff-armed the only defender that managed to come close to him, scoring with ease.
Scott’s kick return gave a spark to the Trojans, tying the score at 22 a piece leading into halftime.
After Ferriday’s failed attempt at an onside kick to start the second half, The Warhorses wasted no time in regaining the lead. Using their ground game, it took PHS only three plays to get into the end zone.
Ferriday eventually tied the game late in the third quarter. Alfred Brown of Ferriday intercepted Tanner in what looked to be an 80-yard interception for a go-ahead touchdown, but the score was negated on a hold. After the penalty the Trojans still had the ball deep into the Warhorses territory. However, they managed to fumble the ball to Peabody, killing a momentum swinging drive.
Peabody had an opportunity to take the momentum from Ferriday, but Richard fumbled on the first play of the possession.
Ferriday would capitalize on the mistakes by Peabody in the second half. With six minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Trojans took the lead 35-29. The extra point was attempted, but a miscue with the snap lead to a Scott conversion on the ground, giving the Trojans an eight-point lead.
The two-point conversion eventually lead to be the game winner as Peabody scored with 3:22 left in the game, but failed their conversion on a run by Richard.
Ferriday killed the clock and converted a fourth down at their own 45 to seal the win on homecoming night.
“We didn’t make many adjustments in the second half. We just kept the ball out of their hands. We killed the clock in the third quarter., Ferriday head coach Chad Harkins said. “Our defense stepped up in the second half, but we made some mental mistakes. Take those away and this team is lights out.”