Charleston coach Jerry Payne might not have wanted to play a scrimmage instead of competing against Robinson in the season opener, but he said he was pleased by his players’ performance in the two-quarter event at Trojan Hill.

Robinson was forced to forfeit the game after the team was hit by more than a dozen COVID cases, thus reducing its roster size.

“We wanted to see what we really had,” Charleston coach Jerry Payne said. “We don’t go hard like that in practice. We’re pretty pleased with the guys. We saw some things we need to work on.  And we saw some good positives, some young guys really stepped up that we were hoping would this year.”

The Trojans next week travel to play Lincoln, a 58-6 winner over Clinton last night.

In other Apollo Conference football action, Taylorville beat Mount Vernon 13-0, Mattoon lost to Troy Triad, 26-13, Mt. Zion trounced Bartonville Limestone, 44-13, and Effingham got crushed by St Teresa 42-7.

Here are some photos from Friday night’s scrimmage.

  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)
  • The Charleston High School Football team held a scrimage on Friday after Robinson was forced to forfeit the scheduled season opener due to COVID-19 cases within the team. (Photo/Dominic Baima)