TUSCALOOSA — The Charles Henderson went to Tuscaloosa looking to bring home a blue trophy signifying a state championship. However, the Trojans retuned with the red state runner up trophy in hand.

Oneonta knocked off the Trojans 28-10 in the title game, scoring the Redskins fourth-ever state title.

Getting to the title game and coming up short makes the returning players want a title even more.

“We have been here now,” said Charles Henderson quarterback Austin Ingram. “We now know what it takes to win here. Oneonta had been here three straight times and they knew what it took to get it done. We want a football title and have to work even harder to get it.”

While disappointed with the loss, Trojan head coach Mike Dean smiled during his post-game press conference and looked fondly at the future of the Charles Henderson program.

“The sun will come up tomorrow, no doubt,” Dean said. “Now they (the players) will hurt, but as adults, we have been there before. There will be better memories than this. We have been 15, 16, 17, 18, and thought we had all the answers. But things will get better. We will go back to work and look to be in Auburn in about 365 days.”

The Trojans return a good portion of the core this year’s team in 2014. Along with Ingram, linebacker Richard McBryde, running back Mondarius Dixon and defensive back Marquis Simmons will be back for another run at the state championship.

McBryde said he looks forward to the challenge of making back-to-back appearances in the title game, hopefully with a different outcome the second go-around.

“You see teams like Oneonta that have been here three straight times, and it shows,” said McBryde. “We can do that as well. We just have to make a commitment to work even harder than we did this year. It all starts again at 7:45 Monday morning. We will be in Auburn next year.”