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By Dan Smith

Charles Henderson High found their stride Friday night with a vastly improved offensive and defensive effort, claiming an important Class 5A, Region 2 win by the score of 18-14 over Greenville High School in Troy’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.

CHHS began the season with a 24-0 loss to Highland Home in Troy a week earlier, but looked like a different team for those in attendance Friday evening, and to CHHS Head Coach Quinn Hambrite.

“They did it themselves, they figured out a way to do it, and that is what I am extremely proud of,” said Coach Hambrite. “It wasn’t the coaches and there was no rah-rah halftime speech. I told them it was up to them and up to their heart. You have to play with maximum effort and play with heart. We have to play with tenacity and be resilient, and we were all of those things tonight. I am extremely proud of them from last week to this week.”

CHHS improves to 1-1 on the young season, while Greenville took its first loss and stands now at 2-1.

Greenville was the first to get on the board when Ka’tyleon Phillips scored on a 13-yard run, and the senior running back took it in on the try for two points and an 8-0 Tiger lead with 9:25 remaining in the second quarter.

The Tigers kicked off to Charles Henderson, and Cortavious Downing raced 68 yards on the kickoff return for the touchdown, cutting the lead to 8-6 as the extra point was blocked, with 9:11 remaining in the first half.

Greenville quarterback Cedrick Morris extended the lead to 14-6 when he found Krishun Combs open for a touchdown pass reception with 4:35 remaining in the first half. The extra point attempt was no good.

CHHS answered with a scoring drive of its own, as quarterback Kellen Stewart threw a 13-yard pass to Kameron Johnson, cutting the lead to 14-12 with 9 seconds showing, which was the score to end the second quarter.

The Trojans came out for the second half and wasted no time, with quarterback Stewart working with receiver Johnson for 62 yards and his second TD reception of the evening, and the 18-12 lead with 11:40 remaining in the quarter.

Greenville threatened twice in the fourth quarter, once getting as close as the CHHS 18, but the Trojan defense stood strong to turn the ball over on downs.

“I told them we are going to make our own identity,” Coach Hambrite said. “We are either going to get physical or get hit in the mouth. The O-Line grew up today, the running backs grew up today. When things went bad, they did not put their heads down.

“Our defensive front is amazing. This is probably the most physical defensive we’ve had since I’ve been here. Hardly anything gets to the linebackers. When you have D-Linemen making most of the tackles, you are doing pretty doggone good.”

Nemo Williams tallied 93 yards rushing for CHHS, while Antonio Frazier earned 31 yards. Kam Johnson caught three passes for 88 yards from Stewart, while Frazier also caught one pass for 20 yards and Williams had one catch for eight yards.

CHHS will host Carroll of Ozark this upcoming Friday night for a 7 p.m. kickoff and Senior Night for the Trojans in Veterans Memorial Stadium.