By: GREG HIGGINS
eParisExtra.com
Matt Denman – OL/DL Coach for North Lamar
It was a business venture that brought Matt Denman to the Paris area over 10 years ago, but it was his football knowledge that brought him to North Lamar. Denman and his family purchased a business in Reno so they relocated. Denman is originally from west Texas and graduated college from McMurry University in Abilene.
Before moving to Paris, Denman was a head football coach in west Texas. “I was coach at Munday, Seymour, been in the Pan Handle,” says Denman. “Been around a few places.” Now, Denman is working with both the offensive and defensive lines and Coach Tommy Felty is glad he is.
““[He was a] former head coach out in west Texas and just wanted to continue to coach when they moved up this way,” Felty added. “He’s been a real asset working with our offensive line and defensive line.”
Asset might be an understatement. So far the Panthers have averaged 251 yards rushing and a lot of that can be contributed to the play on the offensive line. “Offensive line does a good job,” says Denman. “We’ve been working with these guys quite a while; we have a good bunch of boys. When we get off the ball and get on our man, we do a real good job.”
Of course offensive line isn’t the only position Denman coaches. He also works with the defensive line for the Panthers. The defensive line has come up huge as well in critical junctures of the game. Against Bonham they came up with two key sacks in the fourth quarter when Bonham was in scoring position. Against Canton the defense caused three turnovers giving the ball back to the offense in pretty good field position.
“Defense is playing hard and getting better with each practice,” Denman says. “Just continue to get better every snap, every play.” Denman and the other coaches have been working on tackling and technique all year long, hoping that the defense will continue to grow all season long. He wants the line to make the offense “work for everything they get” and “don’t give up the big play.”
Greg Higgins - Sports Editor Greg has lived in the Paris area for most of his life and is a huge sports fan. He loves talking about sports and writing about it. Greg has been a part of eparisextra since the beginning of 2012. He is also very active in his church. When he's not writing about or watching sports, you can find him working out or hanging out with his wife.
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