Charles Henderson head coach Mike Dean mad it very clear after Friday night’s 34-21 come-from-behind win over Bayside Academy.

The Trojans still have a long way to go, and a lot of things to fix, before region play begins. Dean said that he is happy to get the win, but wants his team to have better weeks.

“You got to enjoy the win, but at the same time, we did not have a good week of practice,” Dean said. “I stressed all week that Phil Lazenby (Bayside Academy head coach) is a great coach. The turning point tonight is that we developed some leadership. They are beginning to pick each other up, and that is huge for us.”

The high-powered Trojan offense, led by senior receiver John Johnson and his four touchdowns, outscored Bayside 21-0 in the fourth quarter to overcome a 21-13 deficit after three quarters.

Mondarius Dixon, who finished with 106 yards on 13 carries, scored on a draw from six yards out on the first play of the fourth quarter to start the big final stanza.

Following a three-and-out by Bayside, Johnson closed a six-play, fifty-eight-yard drive with his third rushing touchdown of the game. The score also gave the Trojans the lead for good.

Later in the quarter, quarterback Austin Ingram found Johnson in the corner of the endzone on a out pattern on fourth-and-nine for the Bayside 14-yard line for the game’s final.

“When I get outside (on the runs), I either look for a cut back lane or a lane to shoot up in,” Johnson said. “When I found it, I just hit it as hard as I could.”

In his post-game speech to his players, Dean said that character wins more ball games than talent, which is something that he feels Charles Henderson possess a lot of.

“Character wins championships,”Dean said. “They have character. You can go to any jail in this county and find talent, but character wins championships. When we can it all meshed together with one heartbeat, this team is going to be dangerous.”

Charles Henderson committed no turnovers, while forcing four, a fumble and three interceptions, from Bayside.

Johnson said that he and the rest of the Trojan offense have faith in their defense, and trust them.

“We left them out there for too long tonight,” Johnson said. “They stepped up and did what they had to do.”

Ingram finished the night 14-24 for 184 and one touchdown.

Charles Henderson opens region play by hosting Beauregard next week at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.