Ferriday — Following a second-half letdown in its first game against Natchez High School last Friday, the Ferriday High School football team is looking to get into better playing shape this week in practice.

Something that Ferriday coach Freddie Harrison is stressing to his players is being able to play for four quarters.

“I think we (relaxed) in the third quarter last Friday because we had the lead (going into the second half),” Harrison said. “We just have to be consistent and play with the same intensity the whole game.”

The Trojans’ will face another talent-laden team this week, as they’re set to travel to Block High School on Friday.

“It seems like every week I’m facing a friend,” Harrison said in reference to Block head coach Benny Vault Jr.

“I just know he’s a real good coach and has gotten the program and attitude turned around there. His team will play for four quarters and Benny will do whatever he has to in order to win.”

Even though Block presents a formidable challenge for his team, Harrison is worrying about his own players and what they can improve upon from last week.

“We’re focusing a whole lot more on conditioning and a whole lot more on being mentally focused and trying to execute everything we do,” Harrison said.

“We can’t worry about Block right now before we get ourselves better.”

On offense, Harrison said he wants to find ways to produce more points and get the ball into his play makers’ hands. He singled out receivers DeVontae Scott and Alfred Brown, as well as running backs Bobby Madison and Nieceo Amado, as guys that could potentially make quarterback Rodney Lawson’s job easier.

“We want to let the quarterback make decisions, and let him make plays,” Harrison said.

Lawson said he’s working on taking more command of the offense than he has previously.

“I just have to step up more and try to be more of a leader,” Lawson said. “I just have to take more control of the offense and try to get the job done better.”

Harrison said his defense would have to be prepared for a dynamic offensive attack from Block on Friday.

“We have to be sound and disciplined on defense,” Harrison said. “Anyone can leak out of the back door in the kind of offense Block runs, so we have to make sure to stay fundamentally sound.”

Harrison also had words of praise for his team’s effort last Friday, and said he wants his players to show the same kind of effort in each game. Lawson said effort is always something his coach points out to the team.

“He tells us to never take our opponents lightly,” Harrison said. “If you lose one week, come out the next week looking to get a win. If you always give good effort, that’s a win in his book.”