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The Charles Henderson Trojans thought they would be gearing up for a home playoff game this week but after the AHSAA handed down sanctions last week that is not the case.

Charles Henderson was forced to forfeit its five wins due to a violation of the “AHSAA Transfer Rule,” which knocks the Trojans out of the playoffs.

“I love them, and I am sorry,” said CHHS Head Coach Quinn Hambrite after the Pike Road game last Friday. “I am sorry to see the season end this way. They (the seniors) stuck with me for three years. This was my first class. As a head coach, it hurts, knowing that you have these seniors that have worked extremely hard. They made it happen. They made it happen to turn their season around. My heart hurts for them. I can’t say enough about them. I love them.”

While on paper, the CHHS record will say 0-9 in 2024, on the field the Trojans won five games and earned a first round home playoff game despite a rocky start to the season.

“It was an up and down season,” Hambrite continued. “The kids were very resilient throughout the season. They were counted out in the beginning of the season and counted out in the middle of it but they fought through to the end. I’m extremely proud of them for that.”

Charles Henderson fielded a young team in 2024 – especially at key positions – and Hambrite is excited for the future.

“They’re disappointed with the way things ended but I’m excited for the future,” he said. “They’re young and energetic and fiery and I think it’s going to be an exciting few years for those guys.”

Charles Henderson will get to work when the offseason starts on the mental side of the game as much as the physical.

“Honestly we want to get bigger, faster, stronger,” Hambrite said. “I also want us to learn more about the game of football. We really have to understand situations and scenarios that come up in a game and get our football IQ where it needs to be to be successful next year.”