Highlanders crush Cardinals, make playoffs
By George Kaupp

Photo by Jim Marczesky Heathwood Hall's Ryan Lee closes in on Cardinal Newman quarterback Jones Brown.

Coach John Daye knew the game Friday October 26 would be his last home game as the coach of Heathwood Hall. He didn't want it to be his last game, period. A loss to Cardinal Newman, plus certain tie- breakers, would have put the Cardinals into the playoffs and left the Highlanders on the outside. The Highlander seniors, however, wouldn't have any of that. Brett Whalen completed 14 of 25 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another. Will Kennemur ran for a touchdown in his final home game as Heathwood Hall lambasted Cardinal Newman 42- 0.

Rain threatened to postpone the game, but the skies cleared up and the field soaked up enough water to allow the teams to play. It did, however, cancel Senior Night activities, which will be held during basketball season. The play was sloppy; Heathwood had four fumbles (losing two), Cardinal Newman committed three turnovers, and both teams had multiple dropped passes. But the Highlanders (7- 3, 2- 2) were able to execute better than the Cardinals.

Photo by Jim Marczesky Heathwood Hall retiring Head Coach John Daye admires the jersey with the #88 to be retired in his honor.

The Cardinals (3- 7, 0- 4) received the opening kickoff and converted a third- down play with a halfback option pass, proving that they were ready to do anything to defeat the Highlanders. But the drive was halted, and following a punt, Heathwood took over on their 31. Five plays later, Kennemur rumbled in from the two to give Heathwood the 7- 0 lead.

Following a punt, Heathwood had the ball again, and in two plays were at the Cardinal 14. But Michael Bolchoz knocked the ball out of Kennemur's hands, and it was recovered in the end zone by Davis Lemon for a touchback. And when Cardinal Newman was forced to punt again, Mac Whalen muffed the kick, and the ball was recovered by the Cardinals' Johnie Hodge at the Heathwood 46. But two plays later, Lemon fumbled and the ball was recovered by the Highlanders. Six plays later, Brett Whalen hit his brother Mac for an 8- yard touchdown, and the rout was on.

After three punts gave the Highlanders possession at the Cardinal 29, Brett Whalen took only three snaps to punch it in, rambling the last 20 yards himself to give the Highlanders a 21- 0 lead. The Cardinals came back on the next possession, marching 45 yards in 10 plays before Jones Brown threw an interception in the end zone, leaving the halftime score 21- 0.

At halftime, Coach Daye and his wife were honored by the Highlander faithful in recognition for his 12 years of service to the school. The Highlanders retired jersey number 88 in his honor and presented his wife with a beautiful bouquet of roses.

After halftime, the Highlanders came out and sewed up the game. Taking the second half kickoff, Heathwood went 83 yards in less than two minutes, the last yard coming on a Robert Randolph run. After the Cardinals turned the ball over on downs, the Highlanders went 58 yards in less than one minute, with the Whalen brothers combining on a 31-yard touchdown strike. Mac Whalen finished the scoring with a little over two minutes left in the game, scampering 60 yards for a touchdown.

Heathwood Hall travels to Orangeburg Prep November 2 for its first- round playoff game. Heathwood defeated the Indians 52- 35 earlier this season in Columbia.