Ferriday — Today marks the first round of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association playoffs, and teams across the state will have their backs against the wall knowing that one slip could mean the end of their season.

But that do-or-die attitude will be nothing new for the Ferriday High School football team.

The Trojans needed a win in their final regular season contest last week against Lakeside to qualify for the postseason, and head coach Richard Oliver said his team fared well when facing elimination by getting a 41-0 win over the Warriors.

“It was a big win for us,” Oliver said. “We took the attitude like it was a playoff game, because if we lost we would have been out, so we knew we had to win. We didn’t make too many mistakes, and the kids played good and were kind of relaxed.”

Tonight Ferriday will travel to Baton Rouge to face elimination again, this time against undefeated University Laboratory School.

Oliver said his team is trying to prepare for its first playoff game in the same way it prepared all season.

“We always prepare the same way each week,” he said. “Just because we are in the playoffs, doesn’t mean we are going to change the way we focus.

“We are trying to prepare for everything they do. They run the same type of offense we do, and they are pretty good at 10-0 and district champions in their area.”

Oliver said being able to control the ball on offense to keep the ball out of the hands of the University Lab offense would be key tonight.

“On offense we have to be able to run the ball,” he said.

Oliver said despite staying on the same routine this week, the Trojans know the importance of tonight’s game.

“For a playoff game everything is kind of elevated,” he said. “If you lose the season is over with, so you have to win to extend the season. Winning is the only option, so we’ve emphasized the importance of playing well.”

Ferriday (5-5) will travel to University Lab (10-0) with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.

Pointe Couppe Central at Block

The Block football team spent most of its pre-district schedule taking its lumps from several teams from higher classifications.

Head coach Bennie Vault said the schedule was designed to get his team ready for postseason play. Now, after going undefeated in District 4-1A, the Bears will get their first opportunity to test Vault’s scheduling theory when they host Pointe Couppe Central tonight.

“I always stress scheduling those tough games for this time of year,” Vault said. “By this time of year all the real teams are still playing, and this is what it’s all about. We scheduled to get ready for a championship run.”

The Bears earned a district championship and a first-round home game with their performance in district, and Vault said it is nice to be able to play the first game at home.

“Anything you can make the top 16 and are able to play at home in front of your fans is good,” he said.

Vault said Pointe Couppe uses an offense that the Bears got experience defending early in the season.

“They line up in the spread offense and throw the ball a lot,” he said. “We saw the spread from a couple of good teams like Donaldsonville, Rayville and Ferriday, so it’s not anything new for us.”

Vault said his team focused on different coverages and different ways to put pressure on the Pointe Couppe quarterback in practice this week. He said it would be important for his defense to stay disciplined.

“Anything can happen when you throw it around,” he said.

Overall, Vault said he is pleased with the mentality of his players heading into the postseason.

“I feel real good about my team now,” he said. “I think we are peaking, and we had our best week of practice.

“We just can’t turn the ball over and have to cut down on penalties and mental mistakes.”

Block (6-4) will host Pointe Couppe (7-4) tonight at 7.