Natchez Democrat on LP/Ferriday Game

photo by Hannah Reel

Ferriday’s DeVonante Scott intercepts a pass intended for Lake Providence’s Raphael Turner during the game Friday night. Ferriday lost 27-24.

Mistakes leave Ferriday with loss

By From staff reports | The Natchez Democrat

Published Saturday, October 24, 2009

FERRIDAY — Lake Providence scored a touchdown with two seconds left in the game to give the Panthers a 27-24 upset win over the Ferriday Trojans in a District 2-2A game Friday night.

“(We had) mental mistakes, penalties, penalties, penalties and just lack of execution,” Ferriday head coach Freddie Harrison said. “We didn’t execute offensively or defensively. They jumped on us 15-0 before we knew what hit us.”

Lake Providence improved to 3-5 overall and 2-1 in district play while Ferriday had its six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in district play.

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2009 Season Stats

The Concordia Sentinel on the LP/Ferriday Game

Ferriday welcomes Lake Providence

by Joey Martin - posted Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 @ 8:17 am

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Lake Providence High School head coach Sonny Nason knows you have to be ready to play each week in District 2-2A.

"Without a doubt this is the toughest district in 2A in the state," Nason said. "Once Mangham got in here, it made it even tougher top to bottom."

The Panthers lost a heartbreaker to Jonesboro-Hodge 11-8 two weeks ago before defeating Sterlington 36-16 on Saturday.

Lake Providence plays at Ferriday Friday.

"This will be the first opponent we've played that will be faster than us," said Nason, whose team lost to Carroll, Oak Grove, Franklin Parish and St. Frederick before defeating Madison.

Lake Providence took advantage of three Sterlington fumbles and picked off three Panther passes in the win.

"Last week was the first time we played somebody who turned the ball over more than we did," Nason said. "That's been our Achille's heel all year. Against St. Fred we averaged 9.8 yards a carry, but fumbled three times to stop drives."

Nason said Ferriday overwhelms its opponents with its defense.

"They have 11 people flying to the fooball and they don't miss a tackle," he said. "They are always were they are supposed to be. Three things I look for in each game are toughness, execution and speed. Ferriday already outmans us with speed and last year they were much more physical. This year I am anxious to see how we respond."

Ferriday is rated No. 9 in the Class 2A power ratings, while the Panthers are No. 45.

Ferriday beat Lake Providence 28-0 last year.

"They had a young team last year, but most of their players are back and they are battle-tested," said Ferriday coach Freddie Harrison. "They feel like they are getting the short end of the stick in the district as far as credit and they are probably right. They have something to prove. The key is going to be the team that makes the fewest mistakes and plays the hardest."

It's Been A While

I have been very busy over the last few weeks and a lot has changed since the last post to this blog. The Panthers are 2-5 overall on the season. The 2 wins were against Madison in week 5 and Sterlington in Week 6. As far a district goes, the Panthers are 1-1 with a loss to Jonesboro-Hodge in the district opener at home and last week's win against Sterlington.

Ok, for the Madison game. The Panthers rolled into Tallulah for the 2nd Annual "Battle of the Big Cats. The Panthers won the first one at Homecoming last in a very exciting game. This year was also Homecoming: for Madison that is. The Panthers had a very easy time against the Jaguars racking up 44 points against their 12.

After a fairly easy win the Panther were back at home for 2 straight home games against district opponents. Week 6 featured Jonesboro-Hodge. Last year the Panthers stunned J-Hodge at home to go 1-0 in district for the first time in a long time. However, this year was a different story.

The Panthers jumped on the the Tigers of J-Hodge on the opening kick-off. Senior running back and kick returner David Alston took one to the house from 93 yards out. But that was that was the last time in this game the Panthers would reach pay-dirt.

J-Hodge finally got on the board in the second half matching the the Panther 8 point lead. In the final minutes of the 4th quarter Hodge kicked short field goal to take an 11-8 lead which they held on to deal the Big Blue its first district loss.

Week 7 finds the Panthers in another cat fight with district opponent Sterlington; as the Panthers. Last year Sterlington got out of town with an overtime win against Lake Providence after an amazing last minute comeback in regulation. That comeback spoiled Lake Providence's bid for a 2-0 district start for the 2008 season .

Sterlington came into Lake Providence on Saturday due to heavy rains during the week looking to grab the goods and go. The Panthers of Sterlington were 3-3 over-all and 0-1 in district after after Week 6 loss to Farmerville. This was the third straight game they had dropped and were looking to get back on the winning track.

The prolific passing attack of Sterlington struck first late in the first quarter on 28 yard pass from Logan Dopson to the Patrick Sutton. After a successful 2pt conversion Sterlington was up 8-0. Lake Providence answered on the kick-off after the Sterlington touchdown by taking the ball 74 yards for a score. Senior Greg Bell took it to the house, bringing his touchdown total to 4 on the year. Greg has scored 2 touchdowns on defense, one on offense and now, one on special teams. After a failed 2pt try we had 8-6 game.

With 5:31 left to play in the first half of play, Lake Providence's Senior running back David Alston scored from a yard out to put LP up by 4. Once again the 2pt try was unsuccessful.

Sterlington answered at the 4:54 mark with another hookup between Dopson and Sutton for 39 yards this time. Sterlington lined up to go for one, but after a penalty on LP they elected to go for 2 and made it. That brought the score to 16-12 Sterlington.

Just before the half at the 1:18 mark Lamar Carraway found Raphael Turner in the back of the endzone for 6. This was Turner's first touchdown of the year. LP leads Sterlington at the half: 18-16.

After half time the Panthers of Lake Providence began to pour it on as they scored 18 unanswered points. Twelve of those points in the 3rd quarter with a touchdown on offense; a 7 yard run by David Alston, the team's leading scorer, and a defensive touchdown by Jarqual Robertson on a 92 yard interception return.

Lamar Carraway added a fourth quarter touchdown from 7 yards away to bring the final score to 36-16, Lake Providence. Lamar was 13-22 for 146 yards and 2 TDs. He also rushed for 23 yards on 9 carries. Alston had 14 carries for 66 yards and 2 TDS.

The stingy Blue Steel Defense shut Sterlington down in the second half. Free saftey Fonjayrean Steward and outside linebackers Tyiris Adams and Jarqual Robertson each got an interception. Jaylan Whiteside and Extrail Brown pitched in with 4 sacks between them for 48 loss yards.

The win against Sterlington was a great win for the team. Everyone did a good job on the field.

Our next game will be Friday in Ferriday. Our Panthers need all of the support they can get. So plan to travel with the team this week for another district contest and another run for the playoffs.

We hope to see a sea of Blue. GO PANTHERS!!!!!!!!!!