Demopolis (6-4) head coach Tom Causey knows won-lost records are deceptive. He can point to Sweet Water’s 7-3 mark and realize the Bulldogs are just as dangerous as they were in any of their Class 1A state championship years. He can also point to Charles Henderson’s 5-5 mark with the confidence that the Trojans are not a team that can be taken lightly.

“They’ve got five losses and, if you look at their scores, every single one of them has been a close loss to a good football team,” Causey said of Demopolis’ first round playoff opponent. Charles Henerson dropped is season opener by a touchdown to a good 4A team in Beuregard. Since, the Trojans have lost by one point to Region 2 champion Valley, by three to Region 3 champion Greenville, by eight points to 9-1 Eufaula and by seven to Class 6A Enterprise.

Charles Henderson gets its business done with a run-first offense that is led by a Demopolis native at quarterback in Joe Bradley and an effective running back in Courtney Downing.

“They are a pro style offense. They are going to start everything in the I (formation) and run it at you,” Causey said. “They are going to play action and try to throw it deep. They’ve got two tailbacks that are good and a quarterback that can win it for them.” On the defensive side of the ball, Henderson will come to Demopolis stacked with athletes that are regarded for running to the football.

“They’ve got big skill guys who are physical,” Causey said. “They are going to run to the football and they do a good job of playing defense.”

While Charles Henderson is better than its record advertises, Demopolis is also difficult to judge by its won-lost mark.

The Tigers have dropped games to Louisville, Miss., Thomasville, Greenville and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, a quartet that stands at a combined 39-2 heading into Friday’s play.

Causey has not been shy about making sure his team knows that the losses have no bearing on what the Tigers can accomplish in the month of November.

“What happened Thursday night does not matter,” he said of the Tigers’ most recent loss to Hillcrest. “Each day is our last from this point on.”

The Tigers will host Charles Henderson Friday night at 7 p.m. Tickets to the game are $7 and are currently on sale. Those interested in purchasing a ticket early can do so by contacting Kathy Oates at Demopolis High School.