FERRIDAY, La -&160;What started out as a defensive struggle turned into an offensive display – make that an awesome display – by Many senior quarterback Isom Scott as the Tigers defeated Ferriday 45-25 here in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs.

Scott rushed for 312 yards on 15 carries and passed for 103 yards to pace the Tigers (12-1), who will travel to West St. John next Friday.

&uot;We didn’t have anybody with the speed he has,&uot; Ferriday coach James McFarland said of Scott. &uot;We didn’t have any idea he had that kind of speed. He was running around like crazy.&uot;

Scott’s biggest run came in the third quarter after Ferriday’s Cedric Jefferson scored on a 45-yard run and Brennan Smith added the kick for a 19-15 Trojan lead midway through the third quarter.

Many took the ball on its 20 after the kickoff sailed into the end zone and Scott went around right end 80 yards to quickly quiet the large Ferriday crowd. Terrace White added the kick for a 22-19 Many lead.

&uot;That was huge,&uot; said Many head coach David Feaster. &uot;They had the momentum and it kind of got the crowd back out of it.&uot;

&uot;That took a lot of steam out of us,&uot; said Ferriday coach James McFarland. &uot;We needed to stop them there.&uot;

An interception by Many’s Blake Isgitt at the Tiger 35-yard line led to a 49-yard run by Scott.

Many put the game away midway through the final period as Frank Warfield scored on a 17-yard run following fumble. Warfield’s two-point conversion run put the Tigers up 37-19.

Jefferson scored on a 6-yard run for Ferriday and Darnell Williams went in from 10 yards for Many to close out the scoring.

But it was the defenses that ruled early.

The first three possessions of the game saw neither team go anywhere.

Many took over on its 13-yard line and on fourth-and one from its own 22 Scott got the first down on a quarterback sneak.

Two plays later, Scott scored the first of four touchdowns on a 41-yard run. White added the kick for a 7-0 lea.

&uot;We feel like fourth down is still our ball,&uot; Feaster said. &uot;That is more a show of confidence in our offense and also in our defense to hold if we don’t make it.&uot;

Ferriday moved down to the Many 7-yard line behind the passing of Aron Thomas, but Many’s defense held on fourth down.

The Trojans got the ball right back as Carlton Curvin recovered a fumble at the Tiger 2. Two plays later Corey Gordon went in for the score. The conversion failed to leave Many with a 7-6 lead.

The Tigers marched back down the field behind the passing and running of Scott, who scored on a 3-yard run. Scott passed to Darnell Williams on the conversion for a 15-6 Tiger lead.

An interception by Jefferson of a middle screen pass gave Ferriday possession at the Many 25.

But Many’s defense held Ferriday on fourth-and-goal at the Tiger 3 and Many went into the lockerroom with a nine-point lead.

&uot;We didn’t capitalize on a lot of opportunities,&uot; McFarland said. &uot;If we could have scored there, it might have changed the direction of the game. They could not have kept doing what they were doing.&uot;

Ferriday scored first in the third quarter as Thomas passed 25 yards to Nathaniel Smith for the score. The conversion failed.

Jefferson’s touchdown to put the Trojans ahead came after Ferriday stopped Many on fourth-and-12 at their own 45.

Ferriday finishes its season at 7-5.

&uot;They hit us harder than anybody has hit us all year long,&uot; Feaster said. &uot;And they have two outstanding backs and a great quarterback. I was real impressed with how they played with so much intensity.&uot;

Ferriday upset Vinton in the first round of the playoffs last week. The Trojans lose only four seniors.

&uot;We should be even better next year,&uot; said McFarland, who is in his first year as head coach. &uot;We’ll have a big junior group. I was upset at first with the loss, but the team played hard tonight and left everything on the field. That’s all I can ask of them.&uot;

&160;