By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
Huntington head football coach Steve Dennis recently spoke with me on how things were going for Huntington and himself. Dennis and the Raiders take on Neville of Monroe tonight at Independence Stadium.
Coach, how’s the season going so far in two weeks?
Coach Dennis: We are 1-1 on the season. We played really well against Mansfield and gave great effort against Byrd. Was a good close game; happy again with the effort of our kids. We have a tough Neville game in Week 3 tonight with a tough elite schedule with no down weeks, meaning they’re all tough ones; but that’s what makes you a better team in the long run.
What have you learned about your team in 2022?
Coach Dennis: They are a tough group of kids. They are buying into the culture we are trying to build. Mentally good football teams’ programs have that. I see that as very rewarding for our team, getting better every week.
How’s the coaching staff doing at Huntington?
Coach Dennis: I am very pleased with our staff as a group; we have some great coaches. Coaches like offensive coordinator Jeremy Wilburn, who will be a head coach one day. Added coach Gary Cooper from Mansfield, wide receiver coach Nick Smith played for Ouachita Christian and Louisiana College, offensive line coach Jeff Bordelon played for Menard, just a great young coach … added coach Caleb Guidry, who at one time was a head coach for Benton and is a wealth of knowledge for our program. Our new defensive coordinator Desmond Andrus is a Huntington alum and will be a head coach one day also. Love the whole staff.
What’s your thoughts on overcoming injuries during a season?
Coach Dennis: Knock on wood twice, we are really healthy right now. Hopefully, not a mountain we have to climb anytime soon.
How far do you think this team can go in 2022?
Coach Dennis: We are trying to really go 1-0 every week. That’s our mentality as a staff and as a team. That’s what we believe.
What’s your opinion on the talent in Shreveport/Bossier in 2022?
Coach Dennis: Very talented group. Very underrated area in the state for recruiting. Across the board for all levels of colleges, we have good players in this area every year.
How is recruiting going so far for your players?
Coach Dennis: Our quarterback Kamron Evans has offers from ULM and Northwestern State and this week got one from Texas Southern. Wide receiver Kenton Brossett got cleared to play after transferring; I’m really happy about that, and he has offers from Grambling and Northwestern State. Wide receiver Tre Carter has an offer from Arkansas Monticello, and offensive lineman Jabari Scott (6-3, 340) has an offer from Southern Arkansas and Arkansas Monticello.
What is your food of choice for pregame meal?
Coach Dennis: Whatever the Booster Club gives us. I really like the Baked Chicken and Spaghetti. Wow! … it’s so good.
Nobody ever seems to talk about special teams much with high schools. What are your thoughts with your special teams?
Coach Dennis: The way we look at it is this way: we understand our strengths and weaknesses as a team. Right now, we have to go for two every time we score: it’s just where we are. We are not strong there right now on special teams, but we are trying to minimize our weaknesses as best as we can.
Where did you go to high school and college?
Coach Dennis: I went to Parkway High School, played for Jim Gatlin, and played college football as an undersized noseguard at Louisiana College in Pineville. I had four coaches in college: Marty Secord, Norman Joseph, David Armstrong, and Dennis Dunn. I also coached with Dunn for two years as a defensive tackles coach.
What coach made the biggest impact on your coaching career?
Coach Dennis: Jim Gatlin. He is a second dad to me. A lot of who I am as a man and coach is because of him.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
