Dennis makes history in final season

Published 9:49 pm Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Charles Henderson High School's Corey Dennis (13) runs the ball during the Trojans' 41-40 triple overtime win over Enterprise High School. (Messenger Staff Photo/Thomas Graning)

In the long history of the Charles Henderson Trojans football program, there have been many standout players.

Over the years, the school has seen its players succeed on almost every level of football, accomplishing many feats along the way.

But now, there is a new record in the books, the likes of which has been never been reached.

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In the victory over Enterprise, not only did senior quarterback Corey Dennis give his team the go ahead touchdown, but he also entered terrain that no other Trojan had been in before – a 1,000-1,000 season,

When it was all said and done, the signal caller finished this final season in orange and blue throwing for 1,170 yards and rushing for 1,444 yards

“It was a pretty awesome to be the first player to reach that accomplishment,” Dennis said.

“It was something that I never really ever thought of before the season. There have been a lot of great quarterbacks to play for Charles Henderson, and all I wanted to do was help make my team as good as it could be.”

Going into the season breaking records was the farthest thing from Dennis’ mind, however. “I wanted the team to have a good year, that’s what I was more concerned about rather than myself,” he said.

“I know that kind of sounds lame, but I figured if the team had a good year, I would have a good year. (The other seniors and I) set goals at the beginning of the season, and I wanted to accomplish more of those goals than any specific ones for me.”

In the end, Dennis was able to do both, as he led his team to the postseason thanks to a 6-4 regular season record and finished with another record, most rushing touchdowns in a season with 19, eclipsed the old mark of 18 which was set in 2000.

As far as which Dennis prefers more, he said the rushing aspect of his position has always been something that has come easy to him.

“I think I have always been a good rusher. It is something that I have been able to do pretty well.

“I am always trying to become a better passer though, that is something that I have been working on for a while. I have always dreamed about being a quarterback in college and if I want to get to that point, I am going to have to work on my passing game a little bit more.”

But besides all the yards accumulated this past season, there was something Dennis wanted more – the respect of his teammates.

“I wanted to be the kind of player that the other guys looked up to,” he said.

“This was my senior season, and I wanted to be and tried to be a good leader for my team. I hope that the guys thought I did an OK job this season.”

For Dennis’ head coach, Hugh Fountain, the quarterback did everything he was asked of and more for the Trojans.

“Corey did exactly what we expected of him,” Fountain said.

“We knew that running the football was going to be a big part of his game, and something that would give us success. But he was able to do so many other things well for us this season and that was something that we knew we would get with Corey.”

On average, Dennis carried the ball 17 times per game this season, as apposed to throwing around 15 times a game.

Out his 164 passes, Dennis completed 91, which was good enough for a 55 percent completion marker.

“There have been a lot of great quarterbacks at Charles Henderson over the years,” Fountain said.

“While I can’t say whether he was the best there has ever been here, his stats tell a lot about what he did here. But what meant the most to me, and I think the thing he will be most remembered for, is the passion he played the game with.

“He loves this game and that is evident in the way he played every time he was on the field,” the coach added.