Orange Beach Makos Hold Off Charles Henderson 21-20 in Fog for First AHSAA Playoff Win in Program History
Tucker Wade threw two touchdown passes as the Makos built a 21-0 lead, survived a 103-yard pick-six and ran out the final five minutes in Troy to improve to 9-2.
TROY, Ala. — Orange Beach picked up the first playoff victory in its football history Thursday night, holding on for a 21-20 win over Charles Henderson in a Class 4A first-round game at Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The Makos jumped ahead 21-0 in the first half. Quarterback Tucker Wade threw two touchdown passes before dense fog settled over the stadium and made passing difficult, and Orange Beach added a third touchdown on a 5-yard run.
A 103-yard swing
It appeared the Makos were about to score again, but Charles Henderson returned an interception 103 yards for a touchdown to make the halftime score 21-7.
The Trojans added 13 points after halftime but could get no closer than 21-20. Orange Beach took possession with just under five minutes to play and ran out the clock, picking up four first downs along the way.
A young program’s milestone
Orange Beach played its first football season in 2020 and had been to the playoffs only twice before Thursday, losing in the first round in 2021 and 2022.
The win puts the Makos at 9-2. Charles Henderson finishes 8-3. Both teams received seven points in the final Alabama Sports Writers Association poll this week but were outside the top 10.
Orange Beach will next face the winner of Friday night’s Sipsey Valley at Andalusia game in the second round.
Friday’s schedule for Mobile-area teams
The Makos were the only team from the Mobile County-Baldwin County area to play Thursday. Here are Friday’s first-round games involving local teams. No local teams are competing in the Class 1A, 2A or 3A playoffs.
- Class 4A: Valley at Vigor; Elmore County at Williamson; Citronelle at Marbury
- Class 5A: Theodore at Homewood; Ramsay at Gulf Shores; Pelham at Saraland; Spanish Fort at Helena
- Class 6A: JAG at Foley; Robertsdale at Carver-Montgomery; Enterprise at Baker; Alma Bryant at Opelika. Fairhope and Daphne have first-round byes.
- Private A: St. James at Bayside Academy; Cottage Hill at Trinity; Alabama Christian at Mobile Christian
- Private AA: Houston Academy at UMS-Wright; St. Paul’s at Montgomery Catholic; Glenwood at St. Michael; Faith Academy at McGill-Toolen
