FERRIDAY, La. — &uot;This game would go to who wanted it the most,&uot; Ferriday head coach James McFarland said before Friday’s game. Ferriday apparently wanted it pretty bad, as the Trojans defeated 4A Marksville 28-19.

Ferriday drew first blood when Carlton Curvin picked off a Jael Dardar pass with 11:42 left in the first quarter, returning it 41 yards for a touchdown.

The extra point was good, giving the Trojans a 7-0 lead over the Tigers.

The Trojans’ early lead grew when Nathaniel Smith took the pitch from quarterback Tyrrence Taylor and ran it in for a 4-yard touchdown, giving Ferriday a 14-0 lead.

With 4:41 left in the first quarter the Trojans took to the air as Tyrrence Taylor hooked up with speedy Lawrence Washington for a 31-yard strike. The extra point gave the Trojans a 21-0 lead.

Marksville ended the Trojans’ season-long defensive shutout when Dardar hit Don Couvillion on a 12-yard pass with 9:32 left in the second quarter.

Marksville would score two more touchdowns in the second quarter, both on runs by Travis Sampson.

His scores of 13 and six yards brought the Tigers within two, the first half ending with the Trojans on top 21-19.

The third quarter proved to be a defensive battle as both teams held the other scoreless.

The Tigers came close to scoring in the fourth quarter, but a strong Trojans defense led by Stanley Smith and Shermaine Hawkins killed any Marksville hopes by holding the team scoreless for the rest of the game.

The Trojans pulled the plug on Marksville when Taylor found Nathaniel Smith on a screen pass. Smith shook two defenders then ran 50 yards for the final score of the game and the icing on the victory.

Brennan Smith lead the Trojans with 128 yards rushing.