HAMILTON — The Hamilton High School football team is 0-3 to start the season, but it is a hopeful 0-3.
Following a 33-0 home loss to Monroe County neighbor Hatley on Friday night, Hamilton coach Josh Baty delivered a fiery post-game speech, not filled with fire and brimstone, rather a passionate call to correct the mistakes that have kept the Lions out of the win column.
“I think they played well,” Baty said.
Class 1A Hamilton has lost to Class 3A South Pontotoc, Class 2A East Union, and Class 3A Hatley. The last two have been by shutout. Those three teams have started the season 8-1. Hamilton’s offensive output against Hatley (340 yards) proves Baty’s optimism, but 14 penalties for 122 yards hindered a solid offensive performance.
“It wasn’t even smart penalties,” Baty said. “It’s not like my receiver gets beat and knocks the receiver down just to save a touchdown. That’s a smart penalty.”
The Lions penalties were more like a block-in-the-back away from a kick return that could have pulled Hamilton within 13-8 in the first half. It was an interception at the Hatley goal line that Jaylon Jernigan took 100 yards for a second-quarter touchdown.
After a strategic march toward the end zone in the first quarter, a sack lost enough yardage to force a turnover on downs instead of giving the Lions a chance to take the lead.
Hamilton couldn’t capitalize on six trips to the red zone. The team’s youth — TJ Warren, Austin Myers, and fullback Branson Shields are the only seniors — is part of the reason the Lions are rebuilding.
“I think I’m one of the leaders on the team, me, TJ, Austin,” Shields said. “Laderrick (Despenza) is also a leader. We’re ready to get out there and play our hearts out again.”
Hamilton will have a couple of weeks before its next opportunity because it has a bye next week is a bye. The time off from game action will give the Lions a chance to get healthy. Injuries kept sophomore left tackle/middle linebacker Despenza, outside linebacker Butler, sophomore running back Noah Daniels, starting safety Warren, and freshman starting outside linebacker Thomas Jackson from playing against Hatley. All but Butler are expected back in time for the District 1 opener against Coffeeville on Sept. 16. Butler is facing knee surgery, but he should return before the end of the month.
“If we play with the intensity we played with tonight, we’ll be OK in division,” Baty said.
Hamilton also will face Biggersville, Falkner, Smithville, Thrasher, Vardaman, and West Lowndes in district play. The top four teams advance to the playoffs, so health will be important. On Friday, the Lions dressed out 26 of the 32 players on the roster. Many of those players see action on both sides of the ball. With only 10 juniors — and not all of them play — a large part of the playing group is sophomores.
“They need to learn how to play football now. They’re learning,” Baty said. “They have so much intensity. They are really good football players, but they’ve got to tone that intensity down.”
Baty said some of the Lions’ enthusiasm has contributed to some of the needless penalties.
“Rebuilding is mental struggle for everybody, not just for me, for my coaches and for my players,” Baty said. “My players play hard and they want to win, but they’re learning, and once they get this football game down, then we’re going to be a dang good football team.
“Rebuilding is hard. It’s hard, but it’s possible with this team because they love this game, and they’re going to keep on playing hard and practicing hard and eventually that’s going to work out for us.”
Shields, who rushed for 103 yards, agreed.
“We all have the heart to play,” Shields said. “As long as we give it our all, we’re going to keep grinding and grinding and grinding it out.”
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