hard-fought win: Trojans outlast Greenville for first win

Published 3:00 am Saturday, September 10, 2016

 

Photo/mike hensley Jabronski williams runs the ball for the Trojans on Friday night against Greenville.  Williams and the Trojans defeated Greenville 37-26 picking up their first win of the season.

Photo/mike hensley
Jabronski williams runs the ball for the Trojans on Friday night against Greenville. Williams and the Trojans defeated Greenville 37-26 picking up their first win of the season.

By Dan Smith:

Charles Henderson High came from behind with 23 points in the fourth quarter en route to a 37-26 win over Greenville High Friday night in a Class 5A, Region 2 contest in Veterans Memorial Stadium.

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The Trojans trailed the Tigers 19-14 when the final period began, but scored three touchdowns and kicked a field goal to improve to 1-2 on the season and 1-1 in region play, while Greenville slipped to 0-2 on the year.

“I hope what we are saying to these kids is starting to sink in, about the idea of perseverance and not giving up and not giving in, no matter how bad it looks,” said CHHS Head Football Coach Brad McCoy. “This was a pretty good step (in the region race) against a Greenville team that we have not beaten in a couple of years. Just getting back in the winning column after a couple of weeks of not doing it sure tastes so much better, and these kids have a reason to smile and I am just extremely proud of them.”

CHHS had several big play makers including Jabronski Williams with an unofficial total of 198 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while Bryson Gandy scored three touchdowns.

The Trojans went ahead midway of the first quarter when they punted to the Tigers, the return was fumbled, and Gandy scooped it up and raced 58-yards for the score. Cameron Bush added the extra point for the 7-0 lead.

Greenville tied the game at 7-7 hen Dedric Owens scored a 1-yard TD, and Joseph Price added the extra point.

CHHS quarterback D.Q. Toney connected with Gandy for a 36-yard scoring play with 5:46 left in the first half to go up 14-7, but Greenville answered when Bishop Riley intercepted a pass and took it to the Trojan 32, and two plays later Sir-Jalen Scott raced 53 yards for a TD as time expired in the first half, and a 14-13 CHHS halftime lead.

Tigers’ senior quarterback Brandon Simmons connected with Malik Bunch in the third quarter for a 14-yard strike to go ahead 19-14, and Bush for CHHS launched a 36-yard field goal to cut that margin to 19-17 with 11:55 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Williams picked up a Greenville fumble on the next possession and took it to the Tiger 35, and on offense two plays later he scampered 27 yards for the TD and a 23-19 CHHS advantage.

Greenville marched 72 yards on their next possession, with Owens going in from 10 yards out and a the extra point by Price put the Tigers up 26-23.

The Trojans put Gandy in at quarterback in the Wildcat on the next series, with the senior breaking runs of 33 yards, 16 yards and scoring a 5-yard TD and a 30-26 lead with 5:26 to play.

Williams scored the final TD on a fourth-and-three, 14-yard carry with 0:55 remaining and the 37-26 lead.

CHHS will host Booker T. Washington next Friday while Greenville will host Rehobeth.