Trojans blank Booker T. Washington for second win
Published 12:03 am Saturday, September 23, 2017
TUSKEGEE – The Charles Henderson High Trojans put together a strong effort for the second week in a row on both offense and defense in marching to a 42-0 win over Booker T. Washington Friday night at Eagles Stadium in Tuskegee.
The Trojans, now 2-2 overall and 2-1 in Class 5A, Region 2 play, were paced again by Jared Wilson with three rushing touchdowns and 104 yards on 19 carries, quarterback Noah Lowery was 11 of 17 for 64 yards to keep the chains moving, while the defense was stifling.
“A shutout is always nice,” said CHHS Head Coach Brad McCoy. “The defense played their butts off and they’ve been doing that all year. When the defense plays as well as our defense has it really gives us a better opportunity to win, and takes a lot of stress off the offense. I’m proud of everybody. We’re battling some injuries right now. We had a lot of new faces playing and a lot of new numbers out there. Jackson Giles for example caught two third-down conversion passes. My hat’s off to him, as well as a multitude of other guys. Chance Pollard, coming over from defense, scored a long touchdown early in the game. All these kids are stepping up and playing for each other.”
The Trojans went up 7-0 on their second possession of the game on a 2-yard touchdown carry by Wilson, and placekicker Cameron Bush was true on the extra point at the 4:05 mark of the first period.
CHHS opened the second quarter with another score when Pollard, normally on the defensive side of the ball, streaked down the left sideline 39 yards for a TD, and Bush added the point-after for the 14-0 advantage.
Wilson scored again from one-yard away with 0:48 left in the first half, Bush was good again, and it was 21-0.
The CHHS defense was in the Booker T. backfield most of the game, and facing a punting situation in the third quarter, junior Cameron Martin blocked the punt, scooped it up and ran it 24 yards in for the touchdown. CHHS led 27-0 as the try for two points was unsuccessful with 4:47 to play in the third.
Bush launched a 28-yard field goal to put the Trojans up 30-0, and Wilson scored his third TD with 10:12 to play in the game on another 1-yard carry for a 36-0 lead.
Freshman running back Elijah Caldwell scored the last TD for the Trojans on a 3-yard carry, the try for two was not good, and CHHS led 42-0 with 1:46 to go in the game, which would hold up to be the final.
In addition to the effort of Wilson and Lowery, Pollard picked up 53 yards rushing, and Giles had two key third-down receptions of 9 and 12 yards for two first downs on scoring drives.
CHHS is at home next Friday, hosting Stanhope Elmore for Homecoming.
“Stanhope will be a big game, and it will be homecoming,” said McCoy. “Last year we went over there and had a nice victory, 21-14. That was big on the road. I think they will be better, as they have a new coach. We have not seen them on video yet. It’s a new week. We have got to get well. We’ve got to get ready, and you know what comes with Homecoming – there are a lot of distractions. We’re going to have to talk to our guys and take it day to day, and get ready for them. We’re looking forward to it.”