Charles Henderson head coach Mike Dean is always searching.

He is constantly searching for ways to make his team better, searching for something to take advantage of on Friday night or searching for new ways to motivate his undefeated Trojans.

The never-satisfied Dean has earned the nickname “The Mad Scientist” for always being one step ahead of the competition, and this week has been no different.

Prior to last week’s first-round win over Dora, Dean and his staff examined the playoff bracket to see their possible future match ups.

They circled Childersburg as a team they felt could upset Andalusia in the first round, and immediately went to work scouting the Tigers.

Dean’s hunch turned out to be correct, as Childersburg knocked off the Bulldogs 34-33 in overtime last Friday.

Dean saw it coming from a mile away.

“You had a feeling that UMS was going to win, and that Hoover would win in 6A and Spanish Fort would win,” Dean said. “But when you looked at this one, you saw that it could go either way. Childersburg pulled it off, and we are not surprised in any way. It was no shockers to us. They are athletic and a very good football team.”

The Trojans trounced Dora last week 67-7, but in his post-game speech to his team, Dean let it be known that pivotal mistakes were made.

“People see the scoreboard and think ‘Wow, you played perfect,’ but that is far from the case,” Dean said. “We left 35 points on the field in the first half. If we would have converted that, then you are able to rest the starters more and have them ready to go next week. I told them if they make the same mistakes they made last week, it will be a long ride home.”

Through ours of film study, Dean has picked up on variety of Childersburg’s tendencies in certain formations.

He feels the Trojans can take advantage of the tendencies and attack the Tigers at the line of scrimmage.

“We have to put the pressure on them early and not let them in the football game,” Dean said. “ They get in a Tennessee e set, and run power strong and power weak, lead strong and lead week. When they drop in two-by-two spread with no motion, they go 100 percent pass. Once they run motion in that set, they go jet sweep or the tackle trap off of it. They are 100 percent run.

The playoff experience is relatively new for the Tigers. This season is just the second-ever second-round appearance for Childersburg and its first ever post-first round home game.

Charles Henderson has played as many playoff games in the past two seasons, as Childersburg has in the past 18 years.

Dean says the excitement level will be high in the home team.

“This is new to them,” Dean said. “They will be really excited, and ready to play football. Emotions are like a roller coaster. They will come out high and we have to turn it back, until it dips. It is up to us to take care of this early. If we take care of our business and limit mistakes, we can win this ball game.”

Charles Henderson and Childersburg have not met on the gridiron since 1959. The all-time series is tied at 1-1.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from John Cox Stadium in Childersburg.