While the talk around the barber shops, breakfast spots and VFW halls in Troy and Brundidge is centered around the rivalry between Charles Henderson and Pike County, one of the teams is not getting caught up in it.

Charles Henderson is treating the game for what it really is, a practice scrimmage prior to the season getting started.

Trojans head coach Mike Dean said that his team is more concerned with fixing their mistakes, than game planing for the Bulldogs.

“We are worrying about us,” Dean said. “Friday will be just another day, and just another week. Our main concern this week is getting through Friday healthy and being ready to go next Friday night against Bayside.”

Dean, heading in to his second season as head coach at Charles Henderson, said he has heard all week about the “rivalry, and what it means,” but wants his to players to keep the big picture in mind.

“Our main goal right now is to start the season 2-0 overall, and 1-0 in region,” said Dean. “If we don’t do that, then what does a win over Pike County really mean. Don’t get me wrong, we are going to come out ready to play, because we are competitors and want to win. There is just no reason to fire all your guns in a game that doesn’t count.”

Dean said that Charles Henderson will stick with its base offense and defense on Friday night, and will look to fine tune efforts heading in to the week-one showdown with Bayside Academy in Troy.

The Pike County Classic was a regular-season game for many years, before becoming a pre-season scrimmage in the year 2000 season.

“If it means so much, then lets make it a real game,” Dean said. “Lets play week one, week five or week 10 and lets make it for real then.”

The Pike County Classic is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy.