FERRIDAY — Big and small, kids flooded Melz Field Friday morning full of energy for a camp put on by Ferriday High School alumni.

Ferriday wide receiver Jashon Foster gave chase to a kid one-fourth his size, while former wide receiver Allen Cummings jammed junior high school kids at the line, trying to instill the fundamentals in tomorrow’s stars. An estimated 15 former Ferriday players were present at the third annual Ferriday Alumni Football Camp.

Money earned at the camp has created scholarship opportunities for former players, like Cummings, who will be attending Louisiana College in the fall.

“Getting a scholarship is the best thing ever because it takes the workload off of your parents,” said Cummings, who received a $500 scholarship from the camp. “I’m honored to be one of those recipients of the scholarship.”

Among the alumni and existing Ferriday High players helping assist was Devante Scott, who graduated from Southeastern University and is currently working out for potential Arena Football League and Canadian Football League opportunities. Scott, who averaged 21.3 yards per catch and recorded 1,064 receiving yards with the Lions last season, felt like the big man on campus.

“A lot of them know me from watching me in high school, and a lot of them will say, ‘I get on YouTube and watch your highlights at Southeastern,’” Scott said. “I tell them you can do the same thing I’ve done, and go on to do bigger and better things. With your whole town behind you when you’re doing it, it makes it all even better.”

Entering his senior season with the Trojans, Foster hopes he could replicate a similar success on the outside as Scott did. But first, he, along with several teammates, wanted to give back to a community that has supported them athletically.

“I’m just out here to help the kids get better,” Foster said. “By the time, they get to high school, they’ll know some of these things.”

Children of all ages attended the camp, shuffling from one drill to another. Harris was happy to see the community take interest in the camp.

“They say the parents in this community aren’t active, but if you look around, we have a lot of parents here,” Harris said. “It’s not about just Ferriday, though. This is about the whole Miss-Lou area and bringing everybody together.”