HAMILTON — It’s been a reoccurring theme for the Hamilton High School football team.
“We’re focused on ourselves, and that’s all we need to worry about,” Big Blue coach Arvie Crouch said. “We’re playing at our level. If we continue to execute on defense, and not make mistakes, we will be all right.”
Hamilton has been quite all right in 2024.
Big Blue (8-2) have won seven in a row after losing to Lakota West and Lakota East in Weeks 2 and 3, respectively, and have outscored their last three opponents 130-10.
No. 5 Hamilton rides the momentum wave into its Division I, Region 4 playoff opener against No. 12 Oak Hills on Friday at Virgil Schwarm Stadium.
“I think we know what’s in front of us,” Highlanders coach Justin Roden said. “I told Arvie that I’m impressed with what he has accomplished. To get it to where it was to now — they’re buying into it. His team’s mimic Arvie’s temper and passion. A lot of people are misled by his loud bark, but there is nobody that cares more and invests time into them. He holds them accountable.
“You can be a player’s coach while keeping it on the right path and be a disciplinarian at the same time. That’s exactly what he does.”
Hamilton beat Sycamore 13-10 in the first round last season, which was the program’s first-ever playoff victory in nine appearances. Hamilton beat Oak Hills 34-7 earlier in the season. The Highlanders (4-6) have lost three of their last four.
Big Blue senior running back Gracen Goldsmith leads the Greater Miami Conference with 1,398 yards and 23 touchdowns. C.J. Bryant has 95 tackles, Trey Verdon has nine sacks, and Jailen Morris has four interceptions to lead Hamilton.
“We’ve really been at another level this season,” Crouch said. “I don’t think we’re the same team when we played (Oak Hills), and I don’t think they are either. We’re confident, and we’re getting to the ball and executing plays. I think it’s showing in our games.”
Goldsmith rushed for a season-low 41 yards against Oak Hills in Week 5.
“Goldsmith is going to get his,” Roden said. “We won’t do that again. He is just special. We’ve got to keep it out of his hands.
“The other part is that they’ve got receivers that if you give them space, they’ll hurt you,” Roden added. “They’ve got the best defense in the conference. They’re ferocious — is how I’d describe it.
“We want to hang around. The longer we can hang around, it’ll give ourselves a chance.”
Max Rhodes leads Oak Hills with 101 tackles. On the offensive side of the ball, it’s been a quarterback carousel for the Highlanders.
“There’s a lot of preparation that goes into playing someone else,” Roden said. “We obviously went into this season with some question marks at QB there.”
Roden initially started junior Brady Kornmann, who won the job during the summer. Then midseason, the Highlanders went with senior Max Supe, who Roden described as one of the best athletes in the school.
Sophomore Lincoln Schreiber stepped in the last three games and has been the starter since.
“For us, we are our own worst enemy — jumping offside, turnovers, silly penalties,” Roden said. “We just can’t seem to get out of our own way.
“We’re just a young football team,” Roden added. “We’ve got great kids, which you’re never going to complain about. We want to continue to get better and be great. We’re just light — not the biggest team. Most people are more athletic than us.
“But we’re battling our ass off, and we’re going to play hard.”
The winner will face either Princeton or Fairfield next Friday.
