Highlander Jamboree kicks off start of season
By George Kaupp

Photo by Jim Marczesky Cardinal Newman quarterback Jones Brown tries to escape the grasp of Hammond's Josh Walters. Jones was 2- for- 5 for 37 yards, and also had 18 rushing yards.

The Hammond Skyhawks and the Heathwood Hall Highlanders staked their claims to the SCISA Region IAAA crown on Saturday, August 18 at the Highlander Jamboree.

Pushed back by thunderstorms from Friday night, the Jamboree pitted the four Columbia- area SCISA schools; Hammond, Heathwood Hall, Ben Lippen, and Cardinal Newman against each other in two 2- quarter scrimmages.

Hammond faced off against Cardinal Newman in the first scrimmage, while Heathwood and Ben Lippen did battle in the second.

Scrimmage One

Hammond 14

Cardinal Newman 0

In scrimmage one, Hammond moved the ball consistently against the Cardinals' defense, only to be shut out for the first quarter. Quarterback Cliff Ayers hit on his first nine passes of the game, only to see the Skyhawks kept out of the end zone on two drives.

Cardinal linebacker Will Rainwater's hit on Kyle George forced a fumble recovered by Anthony Ramicone on the first drive. The second drive featured a goal- line stand by the Cardinals that led to a missed 27- yard field goal by the Skyhawks' Joseph Zemp.

Photo by Jim Marczesky Ben Lippen's Rick Davis tries to stop Heathwood Hall's Mac Whalen.

Cardinal Newman had no answer for the Skyhawk defense. The Cardinals ran only four plays in the first quarter. The last of those plays, a nifty 24- yard pass from Jones Brown to tight end Rush Tompkins, ended the quarter on a high note for the Cardinals.

The first play of the second quarter deflated Cardinal Newman, though, when Davis Lemon was stripped of the ball after a seven- yard gain and Hammond recovered. After an exchange of punts, the Skyhawks went 63 yards in five plays, punctuated by a 17- yard touchdown scamper by George.

After another pair of three- and- outs, the Cardinals seemed to have their ground game going when James Williams was stopped in the backfield and the ball was pilfered by linebacker Hunter McMaster, who ran untouched 33 yards for the final score of the scrimmage.

Photo by Jim Marczesky Heathwood Hall's Walker Sojourner (r) blocks for quarterback Brett Whalen. Whalen was 7- for- 14 for 96 yards and two scores.

Ayers finished 12- of- 17 for 119 yards. George had eight carries for 51 yards and a touchdown. For the Cardinals, Brown was 2- for- 5 for 37 yards, and also had 18 rushing yards. Michael Bolchoz led the Cardinal defense with eight tackles.

Scrimmage Two Heathwood Hall 21

Ben Lippen 7

In the second scrimmage, the Highlanders allowed an early touchdown to Ben Lippen, but then scored 21 unanswered points to defeat the Falcons.

After forcing Heathwood to turn over the ball on downs, the Falcons got on the board first with a 32- yard touchdown run by Robert Keen. The run was set up by a 23- yard completion from Kyle Williamson to Colby Edwards.

Heathwood then marched down the field in eight plays, culminating in a 12- yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brett Whalen to his younger brother Mac. Senior running back Will Kennemur did the bulk of the dirty work on the drive, carrying three times for 27 yards.

Photo by Jim Marczesky Ben Lippen's Robert Keen had a 32- yard touchdown run.

After a three- and- out, Brett Whalen led the Highlanders on another scoring drive, this one nine plays covering 72 yards. Whalen hit his other brother Morgan for the touchdown this time, an 11- yard pass that made the score 14- 7 after one quarter.

The Falcons fumbled on their next possession, giving the Highlanders a short field, of which they took advantage. Kennemur took the hand off on the fifth play of the drive and rumbled five yards for the touchdown.

Ben Lippen then put together a nice drive of 15 plays, but did themselves in with a huge illegal procedure penalty that negated a 39- yard touchdown pass from Williamson to Mitchell Deter. A sack by Hunter Lipscomb and a fumbled snap put the Falcons into a fourth- and- 20 situation, which they could not convert. Heathwood took over and ran out the clock.

Brett Whalen was 7- for- 14 for 96 yards and two scores. Kennemur finished with 65 yards on eight carries. For the Falcons, Keen had 52 yards on eight carries, and senior Richard Van De Water had 29 yards on six carries.

Photo by Jim Marczesky Michael Bolchoz led the Cardinal defense with eight tackles.

There were no significant injuries in either scrimmage, which all the coaches are sure to be thankful for.

Photo by Jim Marczesky Hammond captains Alston James, Josh Walters, Blake Wells, and Austin Hood.