Huntington High will be hoping for a injury-free season as the Hounds move into a new era.

Huntington is still looking to replace head coach Jay Murphree and assistant coach Greg Weatherly, both of whom left seeking other jobs.

Huntington finished 3-7 overall last year and 2-4 in District 6A. The Hounds lost leading rusher Collin Taunton in the fifth game of the year.

Taunton was hurt in a thrilling 30-25 win over Trinity.

The new coach will have the luxury of returning running back Luke Davis, a senior who rushed for 472 yards last year.

Junior Barrett Arthur was a stalwart on defense.

The toughest task will be replacing quarterback Tom Terry Milliken, who rushed for 475 yards and passed for 347 more despite missing a game with appendicitis.

Newly hired athletic director Paul Glynn is working on a weight program which he hopes will help the Hound football team.

&uot;Basically we’re just trying to get the junior high kids started on strength and conditioning,&uot; Glynn said. &uot;I’ve done a lot of research and I think a lot of younger kids go too heavy. Tenth through twelfth grades need to be real aggressive with the weights.&uot;

Glynn said he is also putting emphasis on agility and quickness.

&uot;Strength doesn’t do a lot of good without quickness or agility,&uot; he said. &uot;We’re trying to find that balance.&uot;

Huntington held spring workouts under Murphree.

&uot;It’s tough to get all of the guys together in the summer because of all the activities,&uot; Glynn said.

First in a series on area football teams. Wednesday: Vidalia

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