By Matt Mauney | Associate Editor
If you look at the stat sheet now, it’s hard to believe that just four years ago, Durant senior fullback Jamarlon Hamilton didn’t know his right from his left.
“We had to put ‘R’ and ‘L’ on his shoes, so he would know which direction to run,” said offensive coordinator Mike Bradley.
Hamilton was convinced to play football by some friends and came to the Cougars as a freshman defensive lineman. After seeing potential and raw talent, Hamilton’s coaches decided to move him to fullback. They described him as a “pudgy, out-of-shape and raw” version of the player he is today.
“When he started on JV, he was kind of goofy, and we were always worried if he was going to run the right way,” said running backs coach Matt Stwan.
“He’s come a long way, and it’s amazing to watch the film now and see how fundamentally sound he is.”
Stwan knows a thing or two about the running back position. He currently holds the school record for most rushing yards in one season. He ran for 1,855 yards his senior year during the 2004 season and came back to coach the position at his alma mater in 2008.
“He was a great back and knows what we’re all about and does a great job with them,” said head coach Mike Gottman about Stwan.
Currently, Hamilton has 1,089 yards this season on 139 carries, a 7.84 yard-per-carry average, to go along with 17 touchdowns. He has rushed for more than 100 yards in seven of the eight games he’s played in this season and is well on his way of eclipsing his 1,117 yards as a junior. Durant is 9-0 on the year and will host the regional quarterfinals after Friday’s regular season finale against King.
“He’s been our workhorse, and when we need him to get us a first down, score when we’re close to the end zone or eat up clock, he gets it done for us,” Gottman said.
Barring a deep playoff run, Hamilton likely will fall short of breaking Stwan’s record, but that won’t take anything away from what the 5-foot-10, 235-pound fullback has accomplished this season.
Aside from being a talented runner with solid fundamentals, another key quality Hamilton possesses is his heart.
“I don’t think there’s anybody on the field that has as much heart as him,” Stwan said.
That heart transcends more than just football. Hamilton has overcame many personal challenges in his life. Hamilton lost his mom several years ago before losing his uncle, who he was staying with after his mom passed.
“I learned that life was too short and that you have to make the best of the moment that you’re in,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton also overcame adversity in November of 2010, when the then-15-year-old was severely injured in a car accident at State Road 60 and Horton Road. Hamilton was driving without a license and failed to yield the right of way while crossing S.R. 60 when he and a 16-year-old passenger was struck by an oncoming vehicle. Hamilton and the passenger, Javonte Shaw, were flown to Tampa General Hospital.
“It was a hard thing to go through, but you have to move on, because that’s how life is,” he said. “It’s an obstacle, and once you get over those obstacles, it makes you a better person, because you learn from it,” he said.
Hamilton said football was his outlet for those troubled times. The sport made him a better person on and off the field.
“Being able to come to my Durant football family every day helped me cope with those things,” he explained. “I feel so blessed that I have that. Football became my new best friend.”
Hamilton’s “friend” has been good to him, but as of Tuesday, Hamilton has no college offers.
That’s something that Stwan hopes will change soon.
“He wants to play in college and is a great player and just a great person,” Stwan said. “He’ll be a great addition wherever he goes.”
Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.
AT A GLANCE
King (2-7) at Durant (9-0)
Outlook: This will be a non-district match-up, but Durant has plenty to play for despite having its district title clinched. Durant will be looking to go undefeated in the regular season for the first time in school history, along with getting a win over the Lions, a team that defeated Durant 28-20 in the season finale last year. King has struggled this season, with its only wins over Leto and Strawberry Crest. The Lions are on a three-game skid and have been outscored 106-23 in those three games. Durant is averaging more than 200 yards rushing per game.
OTHER AREA ACTION
East Bay at Strawberry Crest
Last week: Jefferson’s Shaquille Speights scored four touchdowns last week to hold off Strawberry Crest 35-31. Speights scored his final touchdown with just five seconds remaining, as Jefferson overcame the Chargers (3-6), who took a late 31-28 lead. Tristan Hyde passed for two touchdowns, and Chris Perez ran for two scores in the loss. East Bay (4-5) narrowly escaped a 7-6 win against struggling Brandon High last week. Chris Carpentier hit Brandon Byrd for a 63-yard touchdown in the second quarter to put the Indians up 7-0. They then held on, despite two field goals from Brandon.
Last meeting: Strawberry Crest fell to East Bay in last year’s season finale 20-17.
Tampa Bay Tech at Plant City
Last week: Plant City (4-5) fell to Newsome last week 40-7, in FishHawk Ranch. Will Worth carried the load for Newsome in the win. The quarterback carried the ball 23 times for 121 yards and rushed for two scores, along with throwing for another touchdown. The Wolves clinched the runner-up spot in Class 7A District 8 behind champion Durant. Plant City quarterback Nick Rodriguez connected with Joe Davis for 22 yards for the Raiders only score of the night. Tampa Bay Tech (6-3) is coming off a close 35-32 loss to Gaither last week. Sophomore Deon Cain passed for 214 yards and two touchdowns in the loss, along with rushing for 58 yards. Deon Thompson led the Titans with 135 rushing yards.
Last meeting: TBT beat Plant CIty 31-28 in the 2011 regular-season finale before advancing to the regional semifinals. . You can change this preference below.” >http://bardinhotel.ru/krediti-malomu-biznesu-kirov.php