ENTERPRISE – A furious fourth-quarter rally came up short as the Trojans of Charles Henderson High battled to the end against Class 7A Enterprise 35-28 Friday night in the season opener for the Trojans.

The Wildcats led CHHS 35-7 early in the fourth quarter before the Trojans scored three touchdowns on their final three possessions of the game, with Enterprise running out the clock on their final possession.

CHHS head coach Brad McCoy was extremely proud of his players and staff after his Class 5A team gave the Wildcats all they wanted.

“We wanted to show our guys that we can play with the biggest programs in the state,” said McCoy. “It is still 11 on 11, it is still football. You can never, ever throw in the white towel. If there is time left on the clock, we have a chance to win. That is what we tried to impress upon them at halftime. I think our boys fought back the right way.”

Enterprise, improving to 2-0, took an early 7-0 lead when quarterback Joseph Thornton threw a 16-yard TD pass, but the Trojans came back to tie the game at 7-7 when on Enterprise’s next possession, Thornton fumbled when he was sacked, and CHHS defensive end Rob Roberson scooped up the loose ball and rambled 64 yards for a touchdown.

The Wildcats built a 21-7 halftime lead as running back Maurice Hicks scored on a 1-yard carry, and Thornton hit Hicks for a 21-yard TD pass play.

Thornton connected with Jared Smith for a 41 yard TD and Hicks later ran it in to open the fourth quarter from 1 yard out, and Enterprise led 35-7.

The Trojans did not quit, with junior backup quarterback Pooka Jones coming in to give the Trojans a new look, and he caught the offense on fire.

Jones completed his first two passes for gains of 19 and then a 50-yard touchdown strike to D.Q. Toney, who moved from quarterback to receiver, cutting the led to 35-13.

Jones was shaken up on the next drive, and Toney moved back to quarterback and the next play found Sean McKinney open for a 39-yard touchdown. Toney then hit Jacorian Boykins in the end zone for a two-point conversion, and it was 35-21.

The Trojans cut the lead to 35-28 on their next possession when Jones completed passes of 15 yards and 14, and Toney ran it in from 1-yard out for the score. Caleb Guice kicked the PAT to cut the lead to 35-28 with 1:45 to play, but the Trojans could not get the ball back as Enterprise ran the final minutes off the clock.

Jones completed 7 of 10 passes for 140 yards, while Toney passed for 126 yards.

Thornton threw for three TD’s and 160 yards, while Hicks ran for 90 yards and two TD’s.

The Trojans, now 0-1, are at Rehobeth next Friday night to open region play.