'We've got to stick together': Cesar Chavez football carrying teammate Christopher Hampton's spirit into season

A week after 15-year-old Christopher Hampton died in Show Low Lake during Laveen Cesar Chavez's football team bonding camp this summer, William Burwell Jr., a linebackers coach who wasn't on the trip, was asked to keep the team together.

The hardest part for everyone was getting back up.

So how did Burwell rally the players who wondered what would happen with official practices about to start?

"I showed up," Burwell said Monday during a Phoenix Union High School District football media day at the district building. "I was away when everything happened. And I know these boys from last year. So when I heard about the tragedy, I just showed up."

After Hampton's body was discovered in Show Low Lake on July 18, investigations were launched and the Phoenix Union HS district placed head coach William Chipley and the assistants at the summer camp on administrative leave, along with Athletic Director Lenny Doerfler and Principal Robert Grant.

Burwell, whom the Chavez players call "Coach Ducy," is coming into his second season in the program, after serving as an assistant last year. He didn't hesitate to show up to lead the players through the difficult time that followed Hampton's death.

During the first team meeting, Burwell let them cry.

"I said, 'Hey, we've got to stick together,' " Burwell said. "We were all grieving. We were all crying. So the biggest thing for me was, 'How can I keep us together?'"

Burwell said it was important to see everybody's faces on the field, to see how the players were feeling, to see how he was feeling. It was hard. But they knew they weren't going to give up on a season that held so much promise this year.

it starts Friday night at home against powerhouse Chandler.

"This season means a lot for us,'' said senior offensive lineman Jason Chang, who got to know Hampton as teammates on the wrestling team. "We're doing it for (Hampton). We're going to go out first game against Chandler, pound the ball, and I'm confident in us to run it down their throats."

Not long after the tragedy, the team's starting quarterback transferred out.

That left Tyree Calderon with the job to lead the offense.

"I knew I had to step it up because the quarterback left," Calderon said. "I wasn't ready for that spot. I knew I had to step it up for my team."

Burwell gave Calderon a confidence boost right at that moment when there was a need to fill the most important position on the field.

"Nobody put that light on him," Burwell said. "I said, 'Hey, this is your team.' He put that extra work in. He's very coachable. I'm with him all day. All day. He shows up. He's always at practice. All these guys up here are my hardest workers."

Burwell brought five players with him to the media day, which featured all nine high school football teams from the district.

Senior tight end/linebacker Keivon Davis said football is an outlet to help him cope with losing Hampton.

"I just love being on the field," he said. "It helps me sleep at night knowing we're going to have a team this year. I like being with my people, especially Coach (Burwell). He came in. It was a hard role with everything that happened. I'm just glad we have everybody stay together and see this thing through."

Burwell said there are things planned for this season to honor Hampton's memory. Hampton was a sophomore defensive back, who also competed on the wrestling team at Chavez.

There will be some things privately in the locker room and with decals on the helmets, Burwell said.

"But he's with us," Burwell said. "We've got a blitz (named) for him. We'll find any way we can so that he's still with us."

Cesar Chavez wants to prove how close it can remain through tragedy to make this a memorable season after going 5-6 in 6A last year, losing in the first round of the playoffs to Queen Creek Casteel, 70-30.

M.J. Woodberry only knew Hampton for five months. But he left an impression. Hampton was Woodberry's backup at the strong safety position.

"We were at practice together all the time, because he was my backup," Woodberry said. "We were just joking, playing in the weight room, playing hard all summer.

"We were just having fun at camp, and then this tragedy happened. At first it was tough, but Coach Ducy called and said, 'Come meet up and we can talk.' Most of the team was there. We talked. I don't know about the rest of the team, but it helped me get over what happened.

"We're going to have a season. We're playing for Chris."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Cesar Chavez football players come together for teammate Chris Hampton