Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – Raph Hamilton could see that something had to change.

After four consecutive losses to end the season resulted in a third consecutive 2-7 record for City High its two-year starting quarterback knew what he had to do.

Just as he had in the past Hamilton got back to work shortly after the season ended.

This time Hamilton had a new focus – bringing everyone together.

“A big thing that we worked on this offseason was just building team comradery,” Hamilton said. “This year it really feels like it’s a player-led team and I think that goes a lot farther when players are taking initiative and they are kind of leading the way and holding each other accountable.”

Hamilton has seen his share of adversity since taking over the quarterbacking duties as a sophomore.

The Little Hawks are 4-14 the past two seasons and have ended on five and four game losing skids.

Another snag popped up this spring when the global coronavirus stopped school, cancelled spring sports and put a halt to all team activities.

It didn’t stop Hamilton from his focus on tightening the team bond as the senior was a leader in organizing and getting teammates to commit to online workouts.

“We did team workouts through Zoom and we had great turnout with that,” Hamilton said. “What I tried to do was get guys there and we established a code of conduct to hold guys to a high standard. We wanted guys on time to practice, having a good attitude at practice, not talking back and if someone does that then it’s a whole team consequence.”

Before City High has played an official down the teambuilding work is already paying off.

There is a different feel, a different aura around the program that hasn’t been present in past seasons.

“There is a different feel,” long-time City High coach Dan Sabers said. “And more than just a little bit.”
It is easy to see the reasons for optimism.

City High has its highest participation number at the varsity level in recent years and inside those numbers is talent.

The Little Hawks return 10 starters from last season, led by Hamilton it’s senior leader.

“He’s a quiet, silent leader,” Sabers said of Hamilton. “He does a lot behind the scenes. There are kids that are doing better and being more reliable and a lot of that is because is Raph is talking to them, picking them up doing, whatever he needs to to help them.”

That is exactly what Hamilton had in mind when he thought about what needed to change before his senior season.

Before he worried about being a better quarterback he wanted to be a better leader and a better teammate.

According to Sabers he’s done all of those things.

“He’s off the charts as far as being a great kid there is no question about that,” Sabers said. “As a football player he just gets better and better.”

The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Hamilton has all the tools on the football field.

Over the last two seasons Hamilton has accounted for more than 2,000 yards of total offense throwing for better than 1,600 yards and rushing for nearly 500 more.

“With the guys I have around me my teammates are making it really easy to make the right checks and having three running backs, a great line blocking, it makes my job pretty easy,” Hamilton said. “All the experience really helps a lot.”

Last season Hamilton passed for 766 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 343 yards and four more scores.

In his third fall camp Hamilton has a better command of the offense than ever before.

“Everything has slowed down,” Hamilton said. “The game has slowed down but my thought process of seeing things is faster. I’m able to see everything and make the right checks and then make good decisions.”

In addition to his two years of varsity experience Hamilton has another luxury this season with the deepest set of skill position players of his career around him as well as an experienced offensive line.

Juniors Ostyn Friday (6-2, 258) and twin juniors Avery (6-6, 266) and Ethan Goodrich (6-5, 255) all return in what should be an improved City High offensive line.

Gable Mitchell and Jacob Means return at receiver after ranking first and third on the team respectively in receiving yards last year while junior Darren Richardson is back at tailback.

“A lot of those guys started as sophomores and I think that experience is really going to help them but they have really taken their game to another level,” Hamilton said. “I think we are starting to see now with all the experience we have and all the weapons we have just how good we can be.”

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