BIRMINGHAM – Ramsay High raced to a 27-0 halftime lead and never let Charles Henderson High get in the game, as the Rams defeated the Trojans 36-7 Friday evening in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

Ramsay, ranked No. 5 in the state in Class 5A and listed as No. 10 in the AL.com Top 25 Power Teams for Alabama, is two years removed from winning the Class 6A state championship in 2016, and looked like a solid contender with their win Friday.

CHHS, ending the year at 3-7, took the opening kickoff but fumbled on the first offensive play from scrimmage, Ramsay recovered, and four plays later Jordan Embry took it in from 3 yards out for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

The Rams scored again on their next possession on a 41-yard pass play from Jaih Andrews to Embry, and Ramsay led 14-0 with 5:43 remaining in the first quarter.

With 4:37 to play in the first half Ramsay took a 21-0 lead when Andrews found Todd Battle open for a 34-yard touchdown pass play, and the Rams scored a defensive touchdown when Jacobi Kent intercepted a pass and ran it 60 yards for a touchdown, and a 27-0 halftime lead.

Placekicker Stanley Kindall extended the lead to 30-0 with a 33-yard field goal with 8:35 to play in the third quarter.

Jalen Belcher returned another interception for a touchdown for Ramsay to put the Rams up 36-0 with 6:16 to play in the game, taking it 47 yards for the score.

CHHS got on the board in the final minutes on the game when sophomore backup quarterback Cameron Foley found senior Chance Pollard in the left corner of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown pass play. Elijah Caldwell added the extra point to make the score 36-7 with 4:10 to play in the game, which held up to be the final score.

The final game roster of Charles Henderson High saw 18 seniors listed, including Javontrez Allen, Grant Baker, Jacorian Boykins, Desmond Byrd, Cole Coppage, Jackson Giles, Jay Hill, Brock Huner, Josh Johnson, Zack Jones, Camden Koenning, Camron Martin, Chris Maxwell, Chance Pollard, Corey Porter, Will Reeves, Rob Roberson and D.Q. Toney.