Skyhawks' second half surge sinks Cardinals
By George Kaupp

Cardinal Newman's Alex Kubas goes high to intercept a Hammond pass intended for Aaron Walters. Walters finished with four receptions for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Kubas's interception led to the Cardinals' field goal.

The Hammond Skyhawks were struggling to find a rhythm in their game against Cardinal Newman Friday night, September 28. The first half was marred by turnovers and sloppy play. The Cardinals had momentum and were primed to pull the upset- then the second half began.

Cliff Ayers threw for 165 yards and three touchdowns, and Josh Walters intercepted two passes, bringing one back for a touchdown, as Hammond pulled away in the second half to defeat Cardinal Newman 35- 3.
Hammond 35
Cardinal Newman 3

Hammond seemed to take control on their first drive, needing only six plays to go 85 yards for a touchdown with Ayers hitting Alston James for a 29- yard score. The Skyhawks held Cardinal Newman to two more three- and- out drives, and then Walters picked off Cardinal quarterback Jones Brown deep in Skyhawk territory, seemingly seizing the momentum. Then Ayers threw a pick of his own, and Alex Kubas returned it 35 yards to midfield.

Hammond's Kyle George rushed 13 times for 86 yards against Cardinal Newman. Photos by Jim Marczesky

Cardinal Newman took advantage of this miscue with their best drive of the night, an 11- play march that culminated in Timmy Cunningham's 25- yard field goal.

Hammond tried to regain the momentum, but Ayers was picked off again, this time by Luke Allen, who returned the ball 28 yards to the Cardinal 39. But the Cardinals were forced to punt, and after the Skyhawks failed to capitalize on a muffed punt, the teams went into halftime with Hammond leading 7- 3.

Whatever was said at halftime by the Skyhawk coaching staff must have awakened the team for Hammond took the ball 56 yards on the opening drive of the second half for a touchdown, capped by Aaron Walters's 18- yard reception from Ayers. After Cardinal Newman punted, the Skyhawks needed only three plays to score again with Brad Meredith rushing in from the four.

Cardinal Newman's Johnie Hodge sacks Hammond quarterback Cliff Ayers. Ayers finished with 156 yards passing, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

The Cardinals then had their spirits broken when Josh Walters stepped in front of a Brown pass and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown.

In a span of four minutes, the score had gone from 7- 3 to 28- 3, and Hammond never looked back. The Skyhawks completed the scoring when Ayers hit Aaron Walters again for a 6- yard score early in the fourth quarter.

The Cardinal defense fought bravely most of the night with juniors Michael Bolchoz and James Williams leading the way with 15 and 10 tackles, respectively. Cardinal Newman also forced three turnovers, causing a fumble to go along with the aforementioned interceptions. But the Cardinals had eight drives of three or fewer plays, meaning the defense was on the field for a long time, and Hammond finally wore them down.

Hammond (5- 1) travels to Porter- Gaud this Friday, October 5 while Cardinal Newman (1- 4) ventures to Richard Winn.

Photos by Jim Marczesky Hammond's Stone Pinckney (r) chases Cardinal Newman quarterback Jones Brown. Pinckney had 16 tackles; two for loss and one sack. Brown wore the #5 jersey to honor teammate Palmer Stokes who is out for the season with an injury.