Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

City High

Head coach: Dan Sabers (20th season, 139-67)

Assistant coaches: Dennis Knoop, Tim Casey, Joe Wilcox, Greg Brown, Ja’Korey Walker, James Taylor, Chayse Schultz

Last season: 2-7

Returning starters: Raph Hamilton, Sr., QB; Kolby Kucera, Sr., TE/OLB; Joe Bacon, Sr., FB/LB; Jacob Means, Sr., WR/DB; Avery Goodrich, Jr., OT/DT; Ethan Goodrich, Jr., OT/DT; Ostyn Friday, Jr., OT/DT; Nolan Waters, Jr., OT/DT; Darren Richardson, Jr., RB/DE; Gable Mitchell, Jr., WR/DB.

Playoff history: 27 appearances (1986, 1988-1990, 1992-2001, 2003-2013, 2015-2016). City High won 4A state titles in 1993, 1994, 1996 and 2009.

Circle the date: September 4 at West High. City High has lost three straight to its cross-town rival but closed the gap considerably last season after back-to-back blowout losses in 2017 and 2018. The Little Hawks will attempt to snap its three-game losing streak at West High, the site of its last win in the series a 20-7 victory in 2016.

Headliner: Senior quarterback Raph Hamilton is a three-year starter and the unquestioned leader of the City High offense. A versatile athlete at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Hamilton passed for 766 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 343 yards and four scores last season. Those numbers should improve for Hamilton this season with more weapons at his disposal at the skill positions.

Unsung hero: Another three-year varsity starter as a receiver and defensive back, senior Jacob Means has been a solid contributor for the Little Hawks the past two seasons without the notoriety of many teammates. That should change this season as Means appears poised for a strong senior season after making 23.5 tackles and picking off a pass and catching eight passes for 176 yards as a junior.

Keep an eye on: Junior Darren Richardson opened some eyes last season during an abbreviated sophomore season in which he averaged better than 10 yards per carry. Richard rushed for 218 yards on 21 carries in his varsity debut last season but the opportunities and production should soar for the 5-foot-11, 197-pound Richardson as he operates behind what expects to be an improved City High line.

Biggest question: How big of a jump can the Little Hawks make? The conversation around City High seems to be less of will they improve from its third straight 2-7 record a year ago and more of how much better can this team be? The positives are evident. Participation numbers across the program are up, nine starters return including a three-year starter at quarterback in Hamilton, the teams top tackler and receiver in Gable Mitchell and three starters from a young offensive line.

Quotable: “I think in every phase we will be much better,” City High coach Dan Sabers said. “In special teams we really struggled last year and we are kicking the ball better, we are returning it better and we are covering it better and that’s going to make a huge difference for us. Defensively we struggled as well last year I think we are going to be improved there and we have more numbers so our practices are so much more productive. We’ll probably try to get a JV game or two and it’s been a while since we’ve had a JV game.”

2020 Schedule

August 28: Davenport Central

Sept. 4: @West High

Sept. 10: @ Cedar Rapids Washington

Sept. 18: Cedar Rapids Prairie

Sept. 25: Cedar Falls

Oct. 2: @Linn-Mar

Oct. 9: Liberty High

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