FERRIDAY — Tickets for Friday’s Class 2A state championship game between Ferriday High and Many High were sold out on Wednesday at Ferriday High School. But 46 lucky Ferriday High students will get to attend Friday’s championship game for free.

Gene Allen, a former mayor of Ferriday, said he wanted to give back to the community.

“There might be some kids that would not be able to experience this life time event,” Allen said. “I just wanted to give them this opportunity.”

Along with the tickets, Allen is also paying for food items purchased at the game and for the Durham Bus Service to take the 46 students to the championship game as well.

Two sophomores at Ferriday High, Maya Powell and Shakeria Washington, are among the 46 students to go for free.

“It’s great for him to pay for the tickets,” Powell said. “I know he supports our Trojans nation and he supports students too.”

Washington said she has been to New Orleans but never inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Washington added it was very thoughtful of Allen to think about others going to the game before him.

The championship game between the No. 1 Ferriday High School Trojans and the No. 2 Many High School Tigers begins at 3:30 p.m. Friday in New Orleans. The game will also be televised online on National Federation of State High School Associations at NFHSNetwork.com

“I just want to challenge some of the other people in this community to take a child with them to the game,” Allen said. “Be a mentor in this community and help some of these kids that are underprivileged. I challenge them to take a single child with them that wouldn’t be able to go.”