Charles Henderson game not a typical scrimmage for Holland, Pike County

Fred Holland has stood across a sideline from Charles Henderson every year since 1985.

So don’t try to tell him that Friday’s Pike County Classic is just a scrimmage game and that is doesn’t mean much. To him and his players, it means more than you think.

Brundidge is made of blue collar, hard working folks, and they love their Bulldogs. Their love for the Dawgs is matched only by their dislike of, as one citizen said, “that orange school up the road.”

Holland knows the rivalry well.

“This game is huge for everybody,” Holland said. “It means a lot to me, it means a lot to our guys and it means a lot to the folks that live here in Brundidge. It doesn’t count on wins and losses, but make no doubt it, we want to win this game.”

Despite a stormy, wet Tuesday afternoon, Pike County donned full pads and made the trek to “The Hole,” the former home of the Bulldog baseball team, for a full-contact practice.

While other teams were took cover inside during the sloppy afternoon weather, Holland felt it was vital for his team to have a regular practice.

“You never know, it may rain Friday night,” Holland said. “We can get so much more done out here, than we can in the gym or watching film. It isn’t hot out here, so the guys have been pretty sharp. The rain isn’t ideal, but it is just another thing to work through to get to Friday night.”

Charles Henderson will ride high in to Bulldog Stadium Friday night. The Trojans rolled to a runner-up finish in 4A in 2013, and open the 2014 season as the No. 6-ranked team in 5A.

Pike County is no slouch either, as it will also carry a No. 6 state ranking in to the season opener.

Holland firmly feels his team will benefit from meeting the Trojans early on in the season.

“We think our region teams are just as good as any team in the state,” Holland said. “We will see great tems all year, but Charles Henderson will be one of the best. They have some great players, and will give us a good look at what to expect the other nine weeks of the season.

The Pike County Classic is set for a 7 P.m. kickoff at Bulldog Stadium in Brundidge.