By Dan Smith, Troy Messenger

TROY – The Valley High Rams took a 26-20 win over Charles Henderson High Friday night in Troy’s Veterans Memorial Stadium, apparently securing a playoff berth for Valley, while CHHS has to wait and see who won on Friday, who lost, and how the tie-breakers will be decided if they are to make it to post-season play.

Just a week ago the Trojans thought they were in the Class 5A playoffs with a Region 2 win over Tallassee, but because Carroll of Ozark lost to Beauregard, it threw everything into an uncertain outcome. At the conclusion of Friday’s games, six of the seven top teams in Region 2 were waiting to see if they would get one of the four available playoff spots.

“According to the tie-breakers it could come out either way,” said CHHS Head Coach Brad McCoy. “The last two weeks have been very positive and our backs have been against the wall. Our non-region games were really tough and we took some on the chin, but I’m very proud of our team and still proud of them.”

For Valley Head Coach Buster Daniel, he was especially proud of a group that overcame many injuries this season to earn what appears to be a 5A playoff seed.

“It’s big for our kids, it’s big for our community, it’s big for the whole city of Valley,” said Coach Daniel. “It’s been five years since Valley has made the playoffs, I don’t know the way it all will turn out yet, but I think that got us in, somewhere, hopefully.”

CHHS got on the board on its first possession of the game when quarterback Pooka Jones found Chance Pollard for a 5-yard TD, and Elijah Caldwell added the extra point, for the 7-0 lead.

Valley senior D.J. Dunn took the ensuing kickoff and raced 85 yards down the right sideline for the touchdown, the extra point was no good, and CHHS led 7-6.

The Trojans went up 14-6 with 5:05 to go in the first quarter when Javontrez Allen took it in from two yards out. The Rams cut that lead to 14-12 when the Trojans fumbled midway of the second quarter, and three plays later Willie Baker, scored on a 2-yard carry.

Baker was a workhorse for the Rams, rushing unofficially for 147 yards on 33 carries and two touchdowns. Valley went ahead 19-14 in the third quarter when Baker broke a 22-yard touchdown, and Daniel Etherton added the extra point. Dunn scored his second touchdown of the evening with 1:04 to play in the game on a 1-yard carry for a 26-14 lead.

CHHS went 60 yards in eight plays for a touchdown as time expired, with Jones connecting with Pollard for his second TD of the night, on a 10-yard pass play, and the 26-20 final.

Valley closes the regular season next week at home against Bejamin Russell.