Skyhawks survive and advance through first round
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL - SCISA CLASS 3A PLAYOFFS
From Staff Reports

Photo by Elizabeth Bailey Johnson Hammond's Austin Hood (1) and Adam Gamble (66) along with Walker Inabinet (12) look like they may have stopped this Porter- Gaud touchdown, but the referees ruled otherwise.

The Hammond Skyhawks earned a trip to the SCISA 3A semi- final to face arch rival Heathwood Hall by defeating the visiting Porter- Gaud Cyclones 14- 7 November 2.

The Skyhawks again relied on the legs of running back Brad Meredith and the strength of their defense to stop the Cyclones.

Meredith rushed 35 times for 175 yards and scored Hammond's only two touchdowns. He also had two receptions for nine yards. Quarterback Cliff Ayers completed 13 of 24 passes for 139 yards and an interception. Taylor Smith had three receptions for 35 yards and Aaron Walters added two for 35 yards as well. Alston James caught two passes for 28 yards and Kyle George had three receptions for 19 yards.

Defensively, the Skyhawks were led by Walker Inabinet and Steven Harvin with 10 tackles each. Harvin's hit with less than eight minutes remaining in the game on Cyclone running back Billy Whitner caused the fumble to seal Hammond's victory. Austin Hood recovered that fumble and added eight tackles. Stone Pinckney had seven tackles and Will Patterson had one sack and one tackle for loss.

Photos by Elizabeth Bailey Johnson Hammond's Brad Meredith runs away from a Porter- Gaud defender. Meredith was again the workhorse for the Skyhawks rushing 35 times for 175 yards and two touchdowns.

The Skyhawks will have to face Heathwood Hall without lineman Ward Mungo who suffered a devastating leg injury during the game with Porter- Gaud. Mungo underwent successful surgery Friday according to Hammond officials.

Right: Alston James had two receptions for 28 yards.