Charles Henderson and Pike County have taken a hiatus before and according to Charles Henderson head coach Mike Dean the two teams could be on the verge of doing so again.

“Nothing against Pike County but we want to be playing in the Champions Challenge next year,” Dean said. “If we are, that means we are one of the top teams in the state.”

The Champions Challenge is a preseason event hosted by the Alabama High School Athletic Association that pits the tops teams from each classification, most of which are state champions from the previous season, against one another in Crampton Bowl in Montgomery

Dean said that the Trojans aim to be an elite program and to do so requires them to play larger schools.

“To be a top program you have to beat larger and more elite programs,” he said.

“No disrespect but I want to play 6A schools. We want to be back in 5A in a couple of years and playing and beating the best teams in the state. I know (Pike County Classic) means a lot and some people won’t like want I’m saying but it’s the reality. We want to be at another level. We want to raise the bar.”

Pike County and Charles Henderson have not played in the regular season since 1999. The team then began playing the series during the sanctioned jamboree week. The first known meeting between the schools was in 1946.

Charles Henderson is 26-10 all-time versus the Bulldogs.

This year’s contest will be played in Brundidge tomorrow at 7 p.m.