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FERRIDAY, La. — Even though Ferriday High School was leading Lake Arthur High School on the scoreboard last Friday night at Melz Field in the Bi-District Round of the 2024 LHSAA Non-Select Division IV Playoffs, both the Trojans and the Tigers saw their season end on Monday as the result of a brawl between the two teams late in the second quarter that put a halt to the game.

Both No. 8 seed Ferriday and No. 25 seed Lake Arthur were told by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association that their season was over and that numerous players from both teams were suspended for one game — and for the players who are not currently seniors, that means they will miss the 2025 season opener.

The game officially ended with 2:47 left in the second quarter. A melee took place after Trojans senior quarterback Caleb Ellis scrambled for a first down and was then tackled out of bounds by the Tigers. The result was that five players from the Trojans and several players from the Tigers would be suspended. The LHSAA also ruled that the game ended in a forfeit and that neither team would advance to the regional round, even though Ferriday was leading 30-7 at that point.

Those players on Ferriday’s squad who were suspended for their involvement in the brawl were senior athlete CJ Reed Jr.; junior defensive end/tight end Marvin Davis; sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Robert Taylor; sophomore offensive lineman/defensive lineman Rashaad Jefferson; and sophomore offensive lineman/defensive lineman Jacobe Dean.

Trojans assistant coach DeVante Scott said the staff doesn’t know what will be done about Reed or the suspended seniors on Lake Arthur’s team because they won’t be back next season.

“They’re probably going to pay a fine,” Scott said. He noted that Ferriday got the ruling at 4 p.m. Monday, but they still practiced that morning just in case their season would continue. Whey the Trojans found out their punishment, there was a sense of disappointment.

“We had a 10 a.m. practice. Everyone’s spirits were up. After we left practice, we got the call over social media,” Scott said. “The brawl was the reason for the season being over. I’m not sure why they ended it. We didn’t have an injured player playing. He is a manager on the team. We knew he couldn’t play, so we didn’t dress him. He was a freshman.”

Scott said it was a disappointing way for the season to come to an end, but everyone understands what it means now.

“At the end of the day, we have to learn from it. We have to learn from our actions. You have to let this stuff go,” Scott said. “We sent farewell to our seniors (Tuesday). It’s great for Welsh and a lesson learned on our end. I hope they do what they need to do. We can’t really harp on it.”

The ruling also meant that No. 9 seed Welsh High School automatically advanced to the quarterfinals by way of forfeit with a 1-0 win. The Greyhounds (6-5) will take on the winner of another regional round game with the No. 16 seed Montgomery High School Tigers (7-4) at the No. 1 seed Haynesville High School Golden Tornadoes (11-0) this Friday at 7:30 p.m.

As for what’s up next for Ferriday’s football team, Scott said, “We’re getting ready to go into our offseason weight training next week. We’ve got 42 players coming back and 16 coming up from the junior high team. As coaches, we don’t really want to talk about it. What’s done is done. Get back to the grind next week with our returning players.”