CHHS crushes Livingston, 49-6

TROY – Probably the most surprising thing to watch during Charles Henderson’s 49-6 cakewalk over Livingston (0-2)on Friday night was the placekicking of freshman Josh Post.

CHHS (2-0) had two failed extra point attempts in overtime during last week’s win over Opp, but now it seems like Coach Hugh Fountain has found himself a kicker.

Post, a transfer from Dothan,

was a perfect seven out of seven on PAT’s against Livingston.

"Josh did a good job for us and he got better as the game went on," said Fountain. "We’ve been working with him this week and he kicked well for us tonight."

Not that the Trojans needed any extra points with the way they were shredding the Cougar defense.

Three play’s after forcing a short Livingston punt, senior tailback Terrill Smith took the ball in from 9-yards out to give the Trojans a quick 7-0 lead. Smith carried all three times from the Cougar 32.

The Trojan defense pushed the Livingston offense backwards and forced yet another punt. Back-to-back passes to wide out Will Jones from Kevin Stephens set up CHHS on the one-yard line. From there Felix Soloman took it over to give the Trojans a 14-0 advantage.

Stephens found Jones on another deep pass play and a personal foul penalty pushed the ball to the Livingston two. Stephens called his own number on the option for the score, with 2:25 left in the first quarter.

"We came out of the gate quick, but then we sort of messed around there in the second quarter," said Fountain. "I told the players before the game the mark of a great football team is one that will come out and take control of a game. I told our team to make them (Livingston) decide early if they’re going to play or lay down."

CHHS had the ball to open up the second, but Brian Giles picked off a Stephens pass to carry it for the score. With the failed two-point conversion attempt it was now 21-6.

The Trojans got a good return from freshman Roderick Burden, but a fumble gave the ball back to Livingston at the CHHS 36. The Trojans held, but a number of penalties negated a great punt return by Clint Pugh, plus it set the Cougars up once again deep inside Charles Henderson territory at the 25-yard line.

But the Trojan defense stood its ground. linebacker Lawrence Mosely, who stayed in the Cougar backfield all night, nailed a runner behind the line of scrimmage and then Wesley Pennington dropped a receiver for a six-yard loss.

CHHS moved down the field once again, but penalties stifled the Trojans’ drive and the half ended with the score still 21-6.

In the third quarter, however, Charles Henderson came out and made up for lost opportunities.

"We were glad to get the ball in the second half because it gave our offense a chance to come out and re-establish control of the ballgame," said Fountain.

The Trojans took the ball 59-yards on their opening possession, which was capped off by a Smith 7-yard touchdown run.

Then with Livingston back to punt, Mosely broke through and got a hand on the ball, allowing nose guard Jason Barron to pick it up and ramble the rest of the way for the touchdown.

1:14 was showing on the clock, when Trevon Hemphill went up and and outleaped two Cougar defenders in the endzone to pull down 12-yard touchdown pass from Stephens.

In the fourth Pennington nailed Cougar quarterback James Dont, forcing a fumble which CHHS recovered. Pete VanHorn came in to relieve Stephens and threw an arc down the right sideline to Pugh who hauled it in for 30-yards and the Trojans final score of the night.

"We were glad to be able to get Pete in there and it was nice to see him throw a touchdown," said Fountain. "He’s worked hard and that did something for his confidence."

Next week the Trojans travel to Hillcrest-Evergreen to open regional play. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.