With the playoffs out of reach, the Charles Henderson Trojans will be playing for pride and a 5-5 record when they take on the Northview Cougars tonight in Dothan.

“With us, what we’re focusing on is this being our last game against Northview and trying to come out and finish on the best possible note,” said head coach Hugh Fountain. CHHS also has a chance to finish the season on a four-game winning streak, something that few teams have an opportunity to do.

“What these guys are trying to do is just leave their final mark on the 2009 football season,” Fountain said. “For this senior class, they’re making their final mark on this team.”

The Trojans have played their best football over the last three games, but Fountain said the team has not dwelled on what could have been if they had played this way at the beginning of the season.

“We can’t back up and get ourselves into the playoffs,” Fountain said. “We can’t back up and change things. It is what it is.”

While the Trojans are desperate to finish .500, they know the Cougars are a tough challenge, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Besides Chitty, the Cougars will also rely heavily on Derrick Thomas, who will play a variety of positions for Northview. Fountain has also been impressed by the tenacity of the Cougar defense on film. “Defensively, they do a good job of running to the ball,” Fountain said. “I like their front seven because they’re so aggressive. The secondary is also very athletic.” Northview has struggled to a 3-6 record so far this season, but Fountain said the Cougars will present more of a challenge than some of the other teams CHHS has beaten so far this season.

“They’re 3-6, but they play in a tough league,” Fountain said.

“Northview and Eufaula are just on a different level athletically than Rehobeth and Carroll are right now. So, we’re facing much more athletic teams here the last couple of weeks.”

The Cougars are also a team with nothing to lose, as they are out of playoff contention as well.

“It’s really just a game for pride for both schools because neither one of us is going to the playoffs,” Fountain said.