Sports Columnist

This coming Friday night’s Troy-Brundidge football game should give local fans a good indication of what kind of football teams we can expect to have from Pike County’s two largest schools this season.

Not only can we the fans get a good look at the two football teams, but more importantly, both coaching staffs will learn a lot about their respective teams.

Both coaches, Wayne Grant of Pike County and Hugh Fountain of Charles Henderson, anxiously await Friday’s Jamboree that gives the two schools a jump start over most of the teams on their schedule.

Last year’s game at Bulldogs Stadium in Brundidge, which was won by the Trojans on a late touchdown in the fourth quarter, should serve as motivation for both teams.

Grant’s Bulldogs, who lost some impressive skill personnel to graduation will bring a veteran offensive line to the stadium on Friday night.

Though most of his skill players on offense are young, you can be sure they will grow up in a hurry running behind that kind of offensive line. They say confidence and game experience is all a young player needs to be successful and this is the kind of game that can give it to them.

CHHS has several young players that will fall into that same category.

Though the Trojans will be young at several key positions, they’ve got the numbers. Over sixty players will have orange helmets on compared to around 35 for the Bulldogs.

The Trojans should be very balanced of offense with the emergence of sophomore quarterback Pete Van Horn and junior tailback Jarvis Woods. The Trojans will be young on the offensive line, but the talent is there.

Look for Van Horn to throw to anywhere on the field in the Trojans’ spread offense.

Defensively, CHHS will be fast to the football. In fact, this could be one of Charles Henderson’s quickest defenses ever.

The kicking game, as far as punting and placekicking goes, could be a big plus for the Trojans with Josh Post. Post, only a sophomore, walked on the football field at CHHS after their first game last season and preceded to break the record for most PAT’s in Troy High School history. Post hit 34-of-37 attempts as a freshman.

This year Post will also take over the punting duties vacated by Kevin Stephens, who is now at East Central Mississippi Junior College.

Wayne Grant still amazes me with his coaching ability. He does more with the fewest number of athletes then any coach I’ve ever seen.

It should be a great game!

Yes, it’s bragging rights in Pike County, but win or lose, it does not count on either team’s record.

I expect to see a huge crowd at the game from both cities. It’s Troy vs. Brundidge…what more could you ask for?

Troy State, of course, has 11 more practice days left before stepping onto a plane bound for Nebraska.

I don’t know how you feel about it, but I’m excited as I can be.

This is history! A day that will be remembered for years and years to come. All I can say is: We are Troy State!