FERRIDAY, La. – Maybe it’s something in the water.

Something must explain how Ferriday can field both an undefeated varsity football squad and an undefeated junior high team.

&uot;Discipline,&uot; Ferriday Junior High assisstant coach Derrick White said simply. &uot;Guys working together and a lot of practice.&uot;

&uot;I think it shows a lot of hard work on the part of the coaches and players,&uot; said Ferriday High head coach James MacFarland. &uot;It shows a lot of positive things going on around here, and that’s good for the future.&uot;

With the elder Trojans’ wealth of young talent, there is a very real chance that the varsity team will continue to be dominant until the junior high team arrives.

&uot;I certainly hope so, MacFarland said. &uot;For so long, we’ve lost a lot of players in the transition from junior high to high school. I hope they see the positive things happening here at the high school, and stay in the program and participate.&uot;

With the junior high season already over and junior high basketball already starting practice, White said it is important to try to keep the players involved in the sports programs.

&uot;We’ve got about four or five kids from the football team (playing basketball),&uot; White said, &uot;but I’m trying to get a few more to come out. It’ll give them something to occupy their time and keep them interested.&uot;

But the junior high team’s accomplishments this season are not only good for the players, White said, as the community benifits from their success as well.

&uot;People always have something negative to say about Ferriday,&uot; he said. &uot;This gives us something to say back.&uot;

&uot;I think it says a lot about the parents,&uot; MacFarland added. &uot;It takes an entire community to have a good football program. We need them to continue to support the players like they have.&uot;

White said his team was led in part by running back Charlie Lyles, lineman Marvin Williams and quarterback Scottie Cage, the son of former Ferriday stand-out Renard Cage.

&uot;I just want them to know proud people are of them – parents, administration and community,&uot; White said. &uot;I want them to know that as long as they keep God first, things like this will happen.&uot;