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SH starts its season a week late and hungrier than ever

JEWELL – South Hamilton was hungry to start the football regular season one week ago before Mother Nature stepped in and said “I don’t think so.”

And now the Hawks are downright starving.

After having its season opener against Roland-Story wiped off the books due to massive flooding that hit the area last Friday, South Hamilton will instead debut this evening against another old rival in West Marshall.

Kickoff from Taylor Field is set for 7 p.m.

It’s been a rather peculiar – and that’s an understatement – start to the tenure of Hawks’ rookie head coach Corey Klemp. He expected to be roaming the sideline in Story City last Friday night. Reality found him scooping water in buckets out of homes while the rest of the state was enjoying the Friday night lights.

“The kids were obviously bummed,” Klemp said. “Not only were they upset that the game was cancelled, but the majority of them went home to water-logged bedrooms and basements. Some of them just went to the (school) parking lot and had water in their cars.

“It was a weird start for me, that’s for sure. We were so high to play and here we come back Monday and we’re starting the process back over.”

The desire to start with a step in the right direction hasn’t changed. Despite returning just four individuals that started a season ago, South Hamilton will take the field with confidence against a West Marshall group that has lost 11 straight games.

The Trojans (0-1), who haven’t won since a 36-19 playoff victory over Clarinda on Oct. 30, 2013, kicked off their season by getting thumped by CMB, 48-14. During the 11-game slide, West Marshall has been outscored by 317 points, 419-102.

South Hamilton had a hand in the slump by a 40-0 count last September. But don’t expect the Hawks to overlook their foe.

“They’re similar to how they were last year in the things they do,” Klemp said. “But our biggest thing going into this game isn’t as much about them as it is about us. We’ve got our game plan and we know what we’re going to do. If we execute then we’ll be fine.”

The Hawks’ secondary could get a workout against a West Marshall offense that threw the ball 31 times in Week 1. Quarterback Parker Hulbert completed 17 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns, but he was sacked numerous times.

The Trojans ran the ball just 11 times against CMB.

“They got behind early and were forced into that situation,” Klemp said. “Going into the Roland-Story game, our biggest thing was we didn’t want them to beat us through the air. So we’re well-versed there.”

South Hamilton will have its own set of questions on the offensive side of the ball with new starters at all of the skill positions. Quarterback Blake Barquist attempted just eight passes a season ago, wingbacks Colton Coy and Jake Hand had just two carries between them, and fullback Logan Klemp spent the entire 2014 campaign at tight end.

Logan Klemp may be new to the backfield, but his coach and dad say he’s not a complete novice when it comes to running the ball.

“We rode him like a mule in junior high, so he’s used to that,” Corey Klemp joked. “Colton has really stepped up and has really come on as an athlete this fall, and Jake has done a great job, too.

“I’m sure there will be a bit of nerves, but I think we’ll get it figured out.”

This will be South Hamilton’s only test before it open up Class 1A District 7 play at home against sixth-ranked Madrid next Friday.

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