FERRIDAY — Most head coaches would be thrilled with a shutout win over a playoff opponent, especially if it is a team from the same district. Not Ferriday High School head coach Stanley Smith.

Even though the Trojans took care of District 2-2A foe General Trass High School 27-0 in the second round of the LHSAA Class 2A State Playoff last Friday night, Smith said afterwards that his team needs to play with more focus and more intensity.

District champion Ferriday, the No. 3 seed and sporting a 9-3 record, will be tested in the Class 2A quarterfinals this Friday when it travels to Greensburg, Louisiana, to take on the 10-2 and No. 6 seed St. Helena College & Career Academy Hawks. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

“We’re going to practice early this week. We’re going to practice at 11 a.m. every day,” Smith said when asked about any changes to the Trojans’ practice schedule because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

As for what he would like to see from his players during practice this week as they prepare for St. Helena, Smith said, “Just a little bit better mindset. A little more focus and more attention to detail. We’ve got to make sure we take care of our responsibilities.”

The Hawks, who finished second in District 8-2A behind No. 2 seed Amite High School, will present more of a challenge than Vinton High School and General Trass did.

“They’re huge up front on both sides of the ball. Their players play both ways on the line. They can run. They’ve got a great motor,” Smith said. “It’s going to be the difference in the game – who wins at the line of scrimmage.”

In the Trojans’ second-round win over the Panthers, Kobe Dillon completed just 50 percent of his passes, 12 of 24, for 132 yards with one touchdown pass.

This after going nine-for-nine in the regular-season finale against Beekman Charter School and 9-for-14 in a first-round playoff win over Vinton.

Byron Milligan threw a 57-yard halfback pass to Jamien Green for a touchdown while Byron and Da’minya Milligan each had touchdown runs.

St. Helena’s offense will be challenged by a Ferriday defense that has shut out its last three opponents. In that span, the Trojans have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 125-0.

Smith said that it will take a team effort for Ferriday to knock off the Hawks and advance to the Class 2A semifinals for the second year in a row.

“Play with emotion. Play with energy. Play with great focus,” Smith said. “We’ve traveled to some tough places this year, so that won’t bother us. Understand what we do at a high level.”