FERRIDAY — After a slow start to their season, the Huntington Hounds seem to be hitting their stride, and it’s come just in time as the Hounds are getting into the meat of MPSA District 6-A play.

The Hounds (2-2, 1-0) travel to take on CENLA this week in their second district game of the season.

“This is an important game,” Huntington coach Chad Harkins said. “But all district games are important. These games will decide whether we make the playoffs or not so it’s definitely a big game in that sense.”

Huntington defeated Christian Home Education Fellowship 36-6 last Friday, but Harkins knows CENLA will be a tougher test.

“They’ve got a fullback who’s about 240 pounds and is a big ole load,” Harkins said. “We’ve got to make sure we tackle him. He’ll be tough to stop. That will be a key for us.”

Harkins said the Hounds have been working on the little things in practice this week in preparation for the game.

“We’re trying to work on the fundamental type stuff,” he said. “We are trying to get a little more diverse offensively.”

While diversity would be nice, Harkins said the Hounds aren’t going to get away from what they do best, which is run the ball.

“We’re a running team and we’re going to run it,” Harkins said. “We’d like to throw it a little more and we think we can, but if we don’t have to, we’re not going to do it.”

And Huntington won’t need to throw it that much with running backs Jeremy Randall and Kevin Brown carrying the load.

“Our offense is something that (Randall) is feeling his way through and getting used to,” Harkins said. “He is finding his way pretty well. And we moved Kevin Brown to the other wing back and he’s doing a good job running off tackle. He’s a good-sized kid and he’s running it well.”