The first season of Hamilton football under Zach Harbison didn’t look sensational by any means.
A 2-7 season is not what the Hawkeyes were hoping for.
But looking deeper at those losses, it was a season that could very easily have been a playoff one for Hamilton.
The Hawkeyes lost not one, but two games with missed two-point conversions – both losses by a single point to perennial playoff teams.
The second one to Grand Rapids Christian (the first was to Middleville) was particularly painful in overtime.
If that wasn’t enough, the Hawkeyes lost two more games by one possession and two games by two possessions.
So the Hawkeyes were in every game except a 42-7 loss to Spring Lake, and a couple things go differently, they could have been 6-3 and made the playoffs.
That is a huge success and the players know the what a different vibe it is every week in the fourth quarter when you are still in the game.
Here are three keys for the Hawkeyes this season:
Keep up the gutsy calls
Harbison called for both of those conversion attempts to win the game.
He called them because he has confidence in his players. Even though they didn’t work out, there is a bond built there when a coach puts the trust in players.
Harbison wanted to show that trust to his new team and, while the points didn’t go up on the board, the trust remained, and that is huge moving into this season.
Who is going to lead on the field?
Hudsen Hulst was the quarterback and key defensive back for the Hawkeyes.
He was able to do a lot of things because of his experience and poise.
Now that he has graduated, someone else will have to take the snaps and be that leader for the Hawkeyes.
Last year was a little bit of an unsure year from the players’ standpoint, getting a new coach.
But now that that trust has been build, a leader on the field can make a huge difference.
Ground control
The Hawkeyes have enjoyed some elite running backs over the years.
Brooks Hawkins was the latest in that line and was an all-conference and all-region player.
He had quick enough feet to move around defenders, but as a linebacker, he also could just plow through them.
When the Hawkeyes gave the ball to Hawkins, good things were going to happen.
Who will be that player for the Hawkeyes this fall?
Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: High school football previews: 3 keys for Hamilton Hawkeyes this season
Reporting by Dan D’Addona, Holland Sentinel / The Holland Sentinel
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By Dan D'Addona, Holland Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
