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By Dan Smith

PIKE ROAD, AL. – The Patriots of Pike Road handed Charles Henderson High a 50-35 defeat to wrap up the regular season Friday, but the greatest loss was the ruling handed down by the Alabama High School Athletic Association prior to kickoff, deeming the Trojans must forfeit all five region wins due to an ineligible player, thus ending their season.

“I love them, and I am sorry,” said CHHS Head Coach Quinn Hambrite. “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.”

Following the AHSAA ruling, CHHS ends their year at 0-9 overall and 0-6 in Class 5A, Region 2 play. Wins against Andalusia, Eufaula, Greenville, Headland and Carroll were all forfeited. The final region standings will see Montgomery Catholic, Andalusia, Eufaula and Greenville advance to the playoffs next week.

In a statement released by the AHSAA Friday evening, “CHHS has also been fined and placed on probation for a period of one year for playing an ineligible player in violation of the AHSAA Transfer Rule.”

Pike Road took an early 7-0 lead on a 25-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jordan Holmes to Levi Kelly, with Connor Hall providing the extra point.

The Trojans tied the score at 7-7 on a 56-yard touchdown run by Nemo Williams, with Hendrick Sanchez kicking the point-after.

Holmes broke an 18-yard run for a touchdown, and Rufus Boone added a 21-yard TD carry, the try for two was good, and Pike Road led 22-7 with 8:42 remaining in the first half.

CHHS cut into the lead with Kellen Stewart tossing a 16-yard pass to Williams who carried it to the 2, and on the next play Williams ran it in for the TD and a 22-14 score with 1:21 left in the half.

The Patriots got a field goal from Hall with only 18 seconds left in the half, and a 29-14 advantage.

The Trojans were the first to score in the second half when Williams broke a 9-yard TD on fourth-and-two at the Pike Road 9, Sanchez kicked, and it was 29-21.

Omari Smith pulled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Holmes, and one possession later Patrick Carter scampered in from 12 yards out for a 43-21 Pike Road lead with 1:37 in the third.

Stewart tossed a TD pass to Cam Johnson of 15 yards, making the score 43-27 as the try for two failed, and Pike Road scored its final time on an 81-yard run by Ja’Michael Jones for a 50-27 score.

CHHS got on the board one more time on a fourth-and-goal at the five touchdown pass to Johnson again, the try for two was successful with a pass to Noah Greene, and the score was 50-35, which held up to be the final.

Pike Road, winners of the Class 6A, Region 2, will advance to the first round of the state playoffs next Friday.