The Charles Henderson Trojans have a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight against Booker T. Washington at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The Trojans (2-3, 3-5) are coming off a 41-18 win on the road against Rehobeth to put them into position to clinch a playoff berth.

“The kids’ morale this week has been high,” said Trojan head coach Brad McCoy. “They understand that this game has a lot of implications. It’s fun when you have a game with so much riding on it. I think last week gives us more motivation to know that we are just one game away.”

McCoy said making the playoffs would only help the building of the program.

“Our expectations are to not only make the playoffs but make a run at a championship every year,” McCoy said. “We feel very fortunate to be in this situation and it will be big and it will be important looking ahead to the future of the program. You have to have something to hang your hat on.”

The Trojans return home to Veterans Memorial Stadium, a place where they have won three times this season.

“We have expressed to our guys to do your job and take care of your business,” McCoy said. “Play the game the way you know how to play it and don’t try to do too much. We need to stay focused on the task at hand. Hopefully the guys at each position will do those things.”

The defense will be focused on not only making big plays but also limiting the amount of big plays they allow.

“Defensively it’s about us defending big plays and us creating big plays,” said Trojans defensive coordinator Chuck Dunn. “We can have three negative plays and it could be 21 points. That has been our Achilles heel in the big games this year. We have done a poor job of creating takeaways. Between that and letting up big plays, that has been the worst thing that we have done.”

The coaches hope the potential big plays on the defensive of the ball will bring some needed momentum to the Trojan offense this week as well.

“Last week we forced a three and out and we blocked a punt,” McCoy said. “That really gave our offense confidence and allowed us to pin our ears back and put the ball in the air. It takes the pressure of those guys where they can play ball and not have to worry, which tends to make them play better.”

Booker T. Washington (1-4, 2-5) comes into the match up struggling despite their athleticism and skill.

“They have size and speed,” McCoy said. “Those boys are physical. I don’t have answer why Booker T. Washington hasn’t been successful. They have made mistakes like the rest of us have. I just think it’s a program that hasn’t found its identity yet.”

The Golden Eagles have lost their last two games 56-16 to Eufaula and 16-6 to Rehobeth.

The Trojans and the Golden Eagles have met 15 times over the years with the Trojans winning 13 of them. Last year The Trojans walked away with an easy 50-6 win over the Eagles.

“We practice every area of the game and put a lot of emphasis on it,” McCoy said. “We expect good things to happen. We try to tell our kids to think that way. You put in the practice and the hard work there is no reason why we shouldn’t get results.”

Kick off between the Golden Eagles and the Trojans is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Troy.