Ferriday’s homecoming celebration almost turned into a disaster as the Trojans squeaked by Wilkinson County 7-6.

“This is a game we should have one,” Wilkinson County head coach John Moore Jr. said. “It was a real nip and tuck game.”

Ferriday was hindered by eight penalties for 148 yards.

“(Penalties) hurt us tonight,” Ferriday head coach Freddie Harrison said. “They were mental mistakes and they almost costs us the game.”

Harrison said the distractions of homecoming week hurt his team’s focus coming into the game.

“We were not mentally prepared tonight,” Harrison said. “You can’t point fingers at anyone on the team. I’m to blame. It’s my job as the coach to get the team prepared. They bailed me out tonight.”

Despite the close score both coaches found a positive in the game.

“This is a wake up call for us. Wilkinson County is the best 1-3 team I’ve ever seen,” Harrison said. “We now know we have to come to work and play hard every day of the week.”

Moore said he hoped his team carried this game over to next week and build off of the confidence it brought.

“We play in a tough district,” Moore said. “Ferriday is a good team and I’m pleased with our effort. We hung in there.”

Neither team can relax with tough district games coming next week.

Ferriday will host Jonesboro-Hodge next Friday night and Wilkinson County plays host to Tylertown who edged Franklin County 14-13 Friday night.