13-0!
Skyhawks complete a perfect season and claim the 2006 SCISA 3A Championship.
By Rich Edwards

The Hammond Skyhawks, 2006 SCISA 3A State Champions: Head Coach Erik Kimrey; Assistant Coaches Adam Holmes, Jamie Scott, Jeff Barnes, Chris Elliott and Hart Turner; Trainer Mary McAllister; #1, Austin Hood, WR/DB, Jr; #2, Stone Pinckney, OLB/RB, Jr; #3, Josh Walters, WR/DB, Jr; #4, Ben Strickland, TE/OLB, Sr; #5, Jarry Kuilian, RB, Sr; #6, Tyler Bailey, FS/WR, Sr; #7, Robert Simmons, WR/DB, So; #8, Kyle George, RB/DB, So; #9, Taylor Smith, WR/QB, So; #11, Carter Scott, TE/LB, Sr; #12, Walker Inabinet, QB/DB, Jr; #13, Joseph Zemp, K, So; #14, Punky DaSilva, QB, Sr; #15, Cliff Ayers, WR/DB, So; #17, Ben Hallett, WR, So; #21, Rashad Ishmael, WR/DB, Sr; #22, Brad Meredith, WR/DB, So; #23, Steven Harvin, WR/DB, Jr; #24, Mac Felmly, WR/DB, Sr; #31, Brooks Owens, TB, So; #33, Hunter McMaster, LB, So; #40, James Walker, DL, Jr; #42, Taylor Brown, FB/RB, So; #44, Will Patterson, DL/OL, So; #45, Charles Bowers, OLB, So; #50, Christopher Daniels, OL/DL, Sr; #51, Blake Wells, OL/DL, Jr; #52, Dylan Metts, OL/DL, So; #54, Ben Simmons, OL/DL, Sr; #56, Justin Daniels, OL, So; #60, Ruskin Foster, OL/DL, So; #62, William DaSilva, OL, So; #65, James Ash, DL, Sr; #66, Adam Gamble, DL, Jr; #67, James Wade, OL, Jr; 70, Thomas Dunlap, OL, So; #71, Ward Mungo, OL/DL, Jr; #72, James Drafts, OL, So; #75, Will Patterson, DL/OL, So; #77, Sam Simmons, OG/DL, Sr; #81, AD Briggs, WR/TE, So; #88, Alston James, WR, Jr.

Mac Felmly (24) defends an Augusta Christian receiver.

Hammond earns its first state football title in 15 years; the seventh football title in the school's history. This team is definitely one for the ages.

Hammond earned the SCISA Class 3A football title by defeating Augusta Christian 28-17 at SC State, in Orangeburg, SC, November 17, 2006. Senior Jarry Kuilian led the Skyhawks' offense with 99 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

"Our kids worked extremely hard all year long," said Hammond coach Erik Kimrey, whose squad finished 13-0. "I'm very proud of them and extremely excited for them."

Hammond's offensive approach might have surprised Augusta Christian (10-3) since the Skyhawks were SCISA's top passing team. But Kuilian received good blocks from his offensive line and Hammond dominated.

Sam Simmons celebrates Hammond's first title in 15 years.

"We just went out there and played our game," Kuilian said. "We didn't change anything in practice, so we knew what to do."

Kimrey said the Skyhawks did not have a different game plan as usual.

"We generally mix it up, see what the defense is giving us and work with that," Kimrey said. "That's what we did tonight, and it felt like a pretty typical offense. Jarry played hard as he usually does and our offensive line made it possible for him to do that."

The Skyhawks scored first on a 15-yard pass from Punky DaSilva to Mac Felmly early in the second quarter.

Hammond led 14-3 at halftime, but Augusta Christian gained momentum in the second half thanks to two interceptions in the third quarter.

"Punky had some bad breaks with those two interceptions that weren't really his fault, but he's a leader and he moved on," Kimrey said. "He knows we don't give a riff about stats after this."

Hammond quarterback Punky DaSilva

Kyle Meeks, who finished with 74 rushing yards, scored on two short touchdown runs to give Augusta Christian a 17-14 lead and all of the momentum on its side.

Hammond responded with a Kuilian touchdown which capped off a perfectly-navigated 98-yard drive. The first play of the drive was a fade pattern down the home sideline to speed-demon Rashad Ishmael, which brought the ball out to midfield. With a good mixture of running plays and passing plays, the Skyhawks punched it in for a touchdown. "I was really proud of our guys when we had our backs against the wall and we went out there and had a 98-yard drive to put us up," Kimrey said.

"That (drive) was really what won this championship for us," he said.

Two late fumbles killed Augusta Christian's comeback attempt and allowed for another rushing touchdown for Kuilian.

Hammond's 2006 title marks the seventh in the school's history; two in the old SCISAA ('72 and '77), four in the old PAC ('88, '89, '91 and '92), and the 2006 title in the current SCISA. This spectacular team is the first undefeated team since the '72, '77, and '89 teams, and the first Hammond team to remain ranked first throughout the season and the playoffs, and win the state title.

The 2006 Hammond Skyhawk Cheerleaders: Head Coach Mae Todd Williams; Babs Benesh, Jr; Brittany Bennett, Sr; Sarah DeBruhl, Sr; Ali Dench, Jr; Margaret Deans Fawcett, So; Caitlin Floyd, Jr; Paige Gamble, Sr; Chandler Goudelock, Jr; Jennifer Hubbard, Fr; Ferris Kennette, So; Anna Beth Lowery, So; Peyton McElveen, Fr; Caroline Neuffer, Jr; Simms Oliphant, So; Kimberly Pueblo, Jr; Nicki Priester, Jr; Charlotte Walker, So; Caroline Wilson, So.

Hammond fans have lots to smile about. Pictured in the stands at SC State are (l-r) (bottom row) Ali Hymson, Elizabeth Blackmon and Jordone Branch; (middle) Arthur Corontzes, Hal Swanson and David Kinder; (back) Ross Bogan, Grace Brooker, Rachel Hanna, Cotter Jenkins and Lilie Jane Hudson.