By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Huntington, just like Evangel, makes its return to District 1-5A this football season after playing in 1-4A for the last 15 years. The Raiders played in 1-5A from 1991-2008, the first 17 seasons of the district. 

It will be the Raiders’ 51st football season and eighth under head coach Stephen Dennis. The eight seasons and 41 wins by Dennis are both the second most in school history. His 41-34 record is a win percentage of .551, the only one over .500 among the 10 other head coaches in the school’s history.

Huntington starts the season at Class 5A power West Monroe. The Rebels have won all eight meetings between the schools with the last matchup coming in 2008, the last time the Raiders competed in 5A.

A home date with Captain Shreve at Independence Stadium starts the return to a 1-5A schedule. The last time these two played was in 2018. This will be the 14th meeting overall with the Gators winning the last six and eight in the series.

A trip to old 1-4A opponent Benton is next. The Raiders and Tigers have played each other 15 times with all but the first and last two games being in 1-4A. Huntington won the last meeting in 2020 to break a nine-game losing skid in the series that Benton leads 11-4.

Another former 1-4A opponent, Haughton, will come to Shreveport the fourth week of the season.  The last of the 13 meetings of these schools was in 2010 and the Bucs lead the series 10-3.

Huntington makes a short drive to face Evangel in a mid-season battle. The Raiders have won two of the last three (2021-23) but the Eagles won the first nine to lead the series 10-2.

Byrd comes to Independence Stadium for the 36th meeting of the two schools. The Raiders claimed a one-point win (44-43) last season to break a six-game series losing streak. The Yellow Jackets own a 24-11 overall advantage in the series.

Huntington next travels across the river to face Parkway. The Raiders defeated the Panthers the last time they met in 2021, 38-31, to knot the series 7-7.

A home game with Calvary, the only other non-district game on the schedule, is set for Week 9. It will be the first-ever game between the two schools.

The last regular-season road trip will take the Raiders to Natchitoches Central. The schools have met on the gridiron 22 times but not since 2008.  The Chiefs hold a slim 13-9 series edge with the Raiders winning the last seven.

A home game with Airline marks the end of the regular season and like its previous opponent, these two schools haven’t played each other since 2008. The Vikings lead the series 11-7.

2024 Huntington football schedule

Sep. 6               at West Monroe

Sep. 13             Captain Shreve (Indy)

Sep. 20             at Benton

Sep. 27             Haughton

Oct. 4               at Evangel

Oct. 11             Byrd (Indy)

Oct. 18             at Parkway

Oct. 25             Calvary

Nov. 1               at Natchitoches Central

Nov. 7               Airline

Contact Lee at leeh051@hotmail.com