The Charles Henderson Trojans need to win their remaining two region games to be guaranteed a spot in this year’s playoffs. The first test will be tonight when the Trojans travel to play the Rehobeth Rebels.

“We are just trying to take one day ahead of the next,” said head coach Brad McCoy said. “We are trying to get better, and you hope these kids realize that we still have a chance to make the playoffs if we win tonight and next Friday.”

The Trojans (1-3, 2-5) have had an up and down season so far in 2015. In their two regular season wins, the Trojans have averaged 56 points; in the five losses, they have averaged only 15.

“I really think it’s our opponents,” McCoy said. “When you really look at the games where we are not scoring a lot of points, I think the caliber of team that we are playing is a little different.”

Strength of schedule may have an effect on scoring. The Trojans only managed 10 points against the undefeated Greenville Tigers and 14 against the 7A Davidson Warriors.

Youth and inexperience may also play in a role. Sophomore Noah Lowery took over at quarterback for former starter Bryson Gandy, and even though they have three seniors lined up at receivers they have only been in the program for a couple of years.

“We are just a young and inexperienced team,” McCoy said. “I think some of the teams on our schedule are better than we are right now, plain and simple …The quarterback is one of if not the most important positions on the field when it comes to making plays. That will come with time and reps. Even though we have the age on the team, we don’t have the experience.”

McCoy hopes the energy and excitement that team is showing in practice will carry over into the game.

“We need two wins,” McCoy said. “It’s as simple as that. We have to win twice to get into the playoffs. Everything is riding on these two weeks. It’s the playoffs and that should matter. The kids aren’t going to get into just improving and not making the playoffs. If that doesn’t motivate you, then there is nothing that is going to motivate you.”

Rehobeth (2-2, 4-4) comes into the game at the .500 mark. A win guarantees the Rebels a playoff spot. Like the Trojans the Rebels have also struggled with offense this season. Through eight games the Rebels have averaged just 15 points per game. In their four losses the Rebel offense has averaged a measly 7 points.

“They will offer discipline, which is something that we have not done well throughout this whole entire season,” McCoy said. “Rehobeth is a team that is not going to make a whole bunch of mistakes. They’re not going to wow you with their size or athleticism. What they do is put plays together and they don’t shoot themselves in the foot. They’re not complicated, but what they do they are good at.”

The Trojans will pull out all the stops in tonight’s game and try to open up the playbook in hopes of connecting on a big play, something they have lacked so far this season.

“We did that last week and it helped our offense some,” McCoy said. “We are going to do it on defense this week. We are going to simplify what we are doing and just play football. We need to go and make enough plays and not make mistakes. That should give us the opportunity to win the football game.”

Kick off between the Trojans and Rebels will be at 7 p.m. tonight at W.F. Andrews Field in Rehobeth.