FERRIDAY — Ferriday football coach Freddie Harrison wants his players to know they are in a fight for their playoff lives.

And with only two games remaining in the regular season, it’s time for the Trojans to try and throw the knockout punch.

Ferriday (4-4, 0-2 District 2-2A) plays district front-runner Farmerville Friday night, in a virtual must-win for the Trojans to keep alive their playoff chances.

“We’re playing for our playoff lives right now,” Harrison said. “The players have to realize and understand that. You want to control your own fate and don’t want to let anyone else control it for you.”

Harrison was pleased with the way his team performed last week in a 26-13 win over non-district foe Beau Chene.

The Trojans scored their most points in a game since the season-opening 38-0 win over Madison.

“I’m pleased at the effort they put forth and am glad they’re starting to understand and realize it’s up to them to make plays,” Harrison said. “It’s going to take the young players to make plays, that’s the key.”

As well as Ferriday played last week, they’ll need to play even better if they want to defeat Farmerville.

The Farmers have won seven consecutive games after a season-opening 47-20 loss to Homer.

Farmerville is 3-0 in district play after a wild 51-50 win over a Sterlington team that defeated Ferriday 25-6 two weeks ago.

“Farmerville is a senior ball club and they’re hungry,” Harrison said. “They’ve already clinched at least a share of the district title. Hopefully we can contain their athletes. Their athletes can run and their linemen get after you and block you.”

Farmerville has an explosive offense and has scored an average of 39 points per game.

For that reason, Harrison wants his offense to be able to control the clock and keep the Farmers offense on the sidelines.

“Our goal is to run as much clock off the scoreboard as we can and try to do the best we can with what we have,” Harrison said. “We have to utilize what we do have on the offensive side of the ball.”