Officially Charles Henderson’s 2013 football season began Aug. 30, but the seeds were planted way back in December of 2012

Head coach Mike Dean gathered his returning players in the field house the Monday following the season-ending loss to Dora in the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs. In that meeting, the team set goals for the 2013 season, and committed to put in the work to achieve the ultimate goal.

“We are doing the same thing now, that we did the day I got here,” Dean said. “Our goal is the same, just the day is different. Our goal is to win today, get better every day and let the other stuff take care of itself. If our goal was to go 10-0, then we have failed. The ultimate goal is to be 1-0 every week, until they aren’t any weeks left. Then we will take two weeks off, and come back in January ready to keep it going.”

The Trojans began the season ranked fourth in the Alabama Sports Writers Association poll, and ended the regular season on top of the rankings.

Charles Henderson has dominated their way through most of its schedule, scoring 50 points in half of their games. The Trojans knocked off the top two region teams, Beauregard and Tallassee, in the second and third game of the regular season.

The Trojans dodged their biggest bullet of the season in week five, squeaking by Greenville 27-26. Following the win, Charles Henderson went on an impressive during the season’s final five weeks. Over the last five games of the season, the Trojans outscored their opponents 264-66.

Dean said he and team are happy with what they have accomplished, but are not going to let up now.

“We have had a great season so far, but the Good Lord has blessed us with another week of playing football,” said Dean. “He has given us another day to get better, but he has not given us an automatic win. The only thing he guarantees you is another 24 hours each day. It is up to us to make that 24 hours meaningful

Charles Henderson’s players have put an assault on the record book in 2013. Quarterback Austin Ingram set a new mark for all-time passing yards, athlete John Johnson obliterated the single season touchdown mark and the team bested the mark for single season points.

The Trojans finished the season ranked No. 1 in the ASWA poll, but Dean says that rankings and records mean nothing in the playoffs.

“It is a new year right now,” Dean said. “Those rankings and records and everything don’t do anything from hear out. Only half the teams in the state make the playoffs, so you have to be pretty good. It is a one-day, one-week type of season. The goal is to get better everyday and be 1-0 about 10 o’clock Friday night. Then start it over the next day.”

Charles Henderson hosts the Dora Bulldogs in the first of the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs Friday night at Larry Blakeney Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.