Bye week comes at perfect time for CHHS

Published 10:20 am Thursday, October 10, 2024

The Charles Henderson Trojans have had an up and down 2024 football season – filled with injuries – but hit their bye week at an opportune time.

This week’s open week comes after earning a crucial 28-12 win over the Andalusia Bulldogs last week to move to 3-1 in region play.

“I felt like it was a great team win,” CHHS Coach Quinn Hambrite said. “We played pretty good in all three phases. On special teams, we still have to get it together on kickoffs but other than that we really came together and made it happen. I’m proud of those guys for pushing us to 3-1 in the region.”

Charles Henderson currently sits at third place in Class 5A, Region 2 behind Montgomery-Catholic and Eufaula. This week, without even taking the field, CHHS could very well secure a playoff spot depending on how some of the other region games go, which means the Trojans will look towards securing a higher seed as the remaining region schedule continues.

“This right here is the most crucial – and biggest part – of the season,” Hambrite emphasized. “You have to approach this week as a game week and approach every week after this like it’s the playoffs, it’s win or go home for us. We’re fighting for that No. 2 seed and fighting to be able to host a playoff game.

“We’re trying to put it in their heads that we haven’t made it yet, we still have a lot of work to do as a team. The ultimate goal is to host a playoff game and make a run in the playoffs. So, we’re trying to keep them focused on the task at hand, and I think the kids have been doing a good job of staying focused.”

After struggling with injuries during this season, the bye week is also giving the Trojans a chance to continue to heal up.

“We had some of our (injured) guys back last Friday that had been missing and it was really good to have them back. Now, we can get them even more healthy,” said Hambrite. “We’re still treating this week like a game week, preparing like we have a game on Friday, but for those guys to have this bye week, at this time in the season, is crucial because no one is fully healthy.

“At this time in the season, everyone has some nagging injuries or is hurt. This week has been a good week for rehab and icing and not being quite as physical as every other week would be.”

It also gives Charles Henderson a chance to continue to rally around sophomore quarterback Kellen Stewart. CHHS started the season rotating quarterbacks but injuries have thrust the youngster into the starting role.

“Kellen has progressed tremendously during the season, however it’s up to the offensive line and receivers to make his job a lot easier,” Hambrite said. “He has to feel comfortable in the pocket, so the offensive line has to help him be comfortable there. When he throws a good ball, we have to catch it. When things go bad, we have to be able to uplift him. It’s the pieces around him that can keep him driven and help him be a better football player.”

Hambrite says that Stewart is doing all the little things to make himself better, too.

“He’s a natural born leader, there is not a single rep he skips and he stays after practice every single day to throw more,” he said. “He’s doing his part to make the team successful. We just have to continue to rally around him and his leadership.”

After the bye week, Charles Henderson will hit the road for three straight weeks to close out the regular season against Headland on Oct. 18, Eufaula on Oct. 25 and Pike Road on Oct. 31.