HAMILTON — Hamilton High football coach Nate Mahon said the steps have been taken to put the Big Blue X back on the map.
After reaching the playoffs for only the fifth time in school history last season, Mahon expects the fresh competitive vibes to continue in 2020 — and then some.
“We feel good where we’re at right now,” said Mahon, a 2003 Hamilton graduate who enters his second season at the helm. “Under the parameters and the circumstances that we’ve been given, we’re healthy. And that’s all you can ask for right now.
“We’ve got some experience coming back, and at some point, we’re going to have to go play and match the talent that is going up against us,” Mahon added. “We’ve got to eventually come to handle being the aggressor and handle being a winning team.
“We want to talk about success, but before that, we have to prove that we can play with the big dogs — play with them and stay with them.”
Hamilton, which fell to Fairfield in a Division I postseason first-rounder last season, opens things up at home against Princeton on Friday. Big Blue went 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the Greater Miami Conference in 2019.
QUOTABLES
“Coming off the positive momentum and making the playoffs, and with it being only the fifth time making the playoffs in school history, it’s obviously exciting to be a part of,” Mahon said. “We played Fairfield tough for about a half, in a tough environment. A lot of positive momentum from last year is built up into this year.”
“We have a lot of talent, a lot of athletes,” Big Blue junior Keyshawn Stephens said. “We’re looking to move the ball anywhere we want.”
“The thing I like to tell people all the time is that we have a team that is obviously talented, and we also have a team that is bought in,” Mahon said. “To me, that combination is special. That makes me excited.”
“After three months of being inside and not getting workouts at the gym, this is a blessing to be able to be out here playing,” Hamilton senior Daryan Bowling said. “For three months, we were wishing we were able to come out here every day and to be doing what we’re doing. So this is exciting. We’re inching closer and closer to the regular season, and we’re just hopefully we can get all of our games in.”
“We’re getting back in football mode,” Keyshawn Stephens said during preseason workouts, “Getting back on the field, and working out, this is getting us back in football mode.”
CAPTAINS ON CAMPUS
Mahon said the team voted on Big Blue’s four captains — linebacker Jordan Jones (senior), defensive back Dillon Lee (senior), lineman Jacob Harmon (senior) and running back Keyshawn Stephens (junior).
“These guys are the heart and soul of our program right now,” Mahon said. “They want to make sure things are done the right way. We’re in good hands with these four.”
KEY STARTERS
Daryan Bowling — The senior wide receiver grabbed 28 catches for 557 yards and four scores as a junior. He was named to the All-GMC first team.
Keyshawn Stephens — The junior running back received all-conference, first-team accolades last season after rushing for 775 yards and 11 scores last season.
Quincy Simms-Marshall — Returning at the quarterback position, the senior threw for 1,270 yards and 12 touchdown passes a season ago.
Kaleb Johnson — As a sophomore, the running back turned some heads by rushing for nine TDs and a team-best 878 yards. That earned him all-GMC, second-team honors.
IN THE TRENCHES
Mahon said a slew of seniors in Jacob Harmon, Dustin Brock, Chris Lawson and Xavier Rubio will hold down the trenches on the line. Harmon was granted all-conference, first-team honors last season.
ON THE RADAR
Malik Verdon — A transfer from Moeller, the senior playmaker is expected to play wide receiver, quarterback and free safety. Verdon committed to the Miami University football program during the offseason.
KEY GRADUATES
Kevon Burnett, Khaliyal Sowell, Luke Mattia and Jayden Marshall.
2020 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (6-game)
Aug. 28, Princeton
Sept. 4, at Lakota West
Sept. 11, Fairfield
Sept. 18, at Oak Hills
Sept. 25, Mason
Oct. 2, at Colerain
