Iowa City High attempts to reload with new faces

IOWA CITY — The PA announcer for Iowa City High football games will have to do some studying.

Most of the names called will be different from last season.

City High returns an iota of its overall production from last year's 8-3 team that reached the Class 4A quarterfinals. Despite the large first-string turnover, the same expectations come with pulling on that Little Hawk jersey.

'We don't have the experience but we still have some really good guys that can get the job done,' City High senior Marquel Poole said. 'I feel like we'll have a good season.'

Only 12 varsity letterwinners are back, including seniors Bryce Hunger and Zach Jones and junior Jacob Murry. The Little Hawks are gaining confidence in being able to fill positions with competitive players.

'We only return about three guys who started for us on both sides of the ball,' City High Coach Dan Sabers said. 'We have some work to do but I feel pretty good at this point. We have some guys going pretty hard. We're going to be pretty quick and that's always a good thing to have.'

The passing game took the biggest hit with the graduation of Nate Wieland and Jared Taylor. City High lost all of its 1,791 passing yards, even though Zach Jones is back after leading the Little Hawks with 556 yards and 39 catches.

Now, senior Bryce Hunger will take the reins to the offense.

'He's going to be our guy,' Sabers said. 'He had a great summer and a good camp so far. He's been looking very good. I've been pleased with him.'

Sabers said Hunger is as strong as anyone on the team and weighs in at 194 pounds, resulting in a tough, explosive runner. Hunger is expected to be a dual threat for the Little Hawks.

'He's got plenty of arm strength,' Sabers said. 'He's very willing to learn.

'I think he's going to be able to do a good job of seeing things, adjusting and being able to throw.'

Hunger said he is excited for the opportunity to return under center. He played quarterback as a freshman and sophomore, but hasn't thrown a varsity pass. Wieland and Taylor taught him well as a backup last year.

'I'm really excited,' Hunger said. 'I'm not worried about it. I'm confident with what I can do. I have great teammates around me and they will help me out.'

It helps to have a target like Jones. Not only did he lead the team in receiving yards and receptions, he is the top returning scorer. He had six touchdowns, including four TD catches.

'He's really good,' Hunger said. 'I'll put him up against anyone in the state.'

Jones also averaged more than 18 yards per punt return, taking one 89 yards for a TD. He is the top defender as well, finishing sixth on the team with 36 1/2 tackles and three interceptions, including a 68-yard pick-six.

'He's been very good here,' Sabers said. 'I'm very impressed with his work ethic and he's going to be a special player for us. We're going to take full advantage of him.'

Only three returning Little Hawks reached the varsity end zone last year, contributing to 94 of 342 points. Jones accounts for 36 points and kicker Miles Morrow tallied 34, making all three field goals with a long of 27 yards.

Ben Parker recorded points with an interception return for a score.

Chris Johnson rushed 13 times for 115 yards and the other three touchdowns, while Davonte Foster ran for 22 yards on three carries.

Defensively, the Little Hawks are just as unproven. They graduated nine of their 10 top tacklers. Hunger posted 27 1/2 tackles last year, while Johnson (11 tackles) gives City High just three defenders with double-digit stops.

City High doesn't have much size on the defensive front. They will have to devise a game plan that fits their skills.

'We're trying to get more guys involved,' Sabers said. 'We don't have a lot of big guys, so we're going to try to get more quick and aggressive. That will be our signature of who we'll be. Hopefully, we'll be scrappy as heck.'

Sabers will get a good gauge early, opening at Linn-Mar on Aug. 25. The Little Hawks host rival Iowa City West on Sept. 15 in the 'Battle for the Boot' before starting district play the next week.

Preview: West loses all-state playmakers, but QB Evan Flitz still has options

'We have three games,' Sabers said. 'We can find out a lot then.

'We'll go out there and compete. We want to win, but at the same time we want to make sure we're growing, developing and doing what we need to do.'

The Little Hawks have a small chip on their shoulder this season. Their ability to reload as opposed to rebuild will be challenged. They have been competing and pushing each other in practice, attempting to elevate the team and prove the doubters wrong.

'They don't think we're going to be very good,' Poole said. 'We have a lot of heart. We're going to play as well as we can every night. Come out and do our best to try to win games.'

Bettendorf, Clinton and Muscatine join City High as the more successful teams in the district. Each of those teams lost a number of key players to graduation.

The Bulldogs are considered an early favorite, but the entire district is up for grabs with Davenport Central and Davenport North rounding out the field.

'It was a senior-dominated district last year,' Sabers said. 'We were one of the toughest in the state last year. We have work to do to uphold that this year. I think it's pretty wide open.'

City High, at a glance

Coach: Dan Sabers (17th season, 132-47)

Last year: 8-3 (lost in quarterfinal round of playoffs)

Top returning letterwinners: QB Bryce Hunger, WR/DB/Ret Zach Jones, OL/DL Jacob Murry.

Key losses: QB Nate Wieland, RB Bryce Frantz, WR/FS Naeem Smith, WR Gabe Nkumu, OL Joey Schnoebelen, DE Brock Hunger, LB Jordain Buckland, WR/CB Vance Dillon, FS Dillon Africa, DL Charles Johnson.

Key to making the playoffs: The district is wide open. The Little Hawks will need players to step into the lineup and produce. City High will have four good non-district tests to prepare them for a possible run for a playoff berth.

Games to watch: Games against Clinton (Sept. 22) and Muscatine (Oct. 6) will be key to determine one of the district's playoff berths. City High heads to Bettendorf on Oct. 13 for its biggest game of the season, aside from the 'Battle for the Boot' against Iowa City West on Sept. 15.

Schedule

Aug. 25 — at Linn-Mar

Sept. 1 — Pleasant Valley

Sept. 8 — at Ames

Sept. 15 — Iowa City West

Sept. 22 — Clinton

Sept. 29 — Davenport Central

Oct. 6 — at Muscatine

Oct. 13 — at Bettendorf

Oct. 20 — Davenport North

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