By Dan Smith

Following a dramatic 48-42 overtime victory over Beauregard of Opelika in the first round of the Class 5A AHSAA playoffs, the Trojans of Charles Henderson High hit the road to visit B.C. Rain Friday evening in Mobile.

CHHS will challenge a 5-6 B.C. Rain team that was the fourth seed in their part of the bracket, but defeated number-one seed Demopolis High School 28-27 last week in Demopolis.

Head Coach Brad McCoy believes B.C. Rain is talented and dangerous in many regards.

“I think what is the most scary thing about them, you look back to the beginning of the season and at one time they stood 1-6, and they have since won four straight,” said Coach McCoy. “They hung with Demopolis all the way to the end, and found a way to pull it out on one of the last plays of the game. It seems like they are playing their best football right now.

“Coach Tellis Stone has been there two years, and has them playing hard. They are in a tough region with St. Paul, Vigor, Jackson and B.C. Rain ended up being fourth, but they are playing some stiff competition.”

Last Friday against Demopolis, B.C. Rain scored 21-points in the fourth quarter to win 28-27. Quarterback Carl Williams ran for 117 yards, three touchdowns and threw a 72-yard TD strike to Corey Brown in the final minute.

McCoy feels the Trojans will have to play virtually mistake-free football, and he hopes the Trojan faithful will be there as they have been this season to add support.

“Again we have got to eliminate mistakes such as penalties, missed tackles, and making mistakes you can not make,” said McCoy. “We have also got to win the turnover battle. Our defensive backs have got to have a heck of a night, because they will throw it down the field.

“I also am very proud of the support we have received this season from our fans. I know it is going to be tough for a lot of people to make the trip to Mobile, but we would appreciate anybody that can make that trip, we are going to need all hands on deck.”

The Trojans also opened the season in a tough spot with a 1-2 record, but won six straight and now stand at 8-3.

CHHS has had many talented young men contribute in many ways.

Senior quarterback Austin Ingram passed for five touchdowns against Beauregard, and has 2,102 yards passing on the season. Ingram passed for 2,148 as a sophomore and 2,480 as a junior. Ingram is the only quarterback at CHHS since records have been kept that has passed for over 2,000 yards in a season, and he has accomplished that feat three times.

Jalante Smith is the leading receiver with 776 yards this season, breaking the single-season record held by John Johnson of 741.

Mondaris Dixon is the leading rusher with 940 yards, and his 977 yards receiving in two years puts him in fourth place for career receiving yardage at CHHS.

Kickkff is Friday night, 7 p.m. in Mobile’s Ladd-Pebbles Stadium.