Skyhawks soar to second straight Championship Game
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL - SCISA CLASS 3A PLAYOFFS
By Mike Maddock

Photo by Elizabeth Bailey Johnson Heathwood Hall's Evan Peterson reaches for Brad Meredith.Meredith rushed 37 times for 146 yards and two touchdowns.

The Hammond Skyhawks scored two touchdowns in the third quarter pulling away from the visiting Heathwood Hall Highlanders to take the rematch 34- 17 and advance to the SCISA 3A championship game against Augusta Christian at S.C. State for the second straight year.

The Skyhawks struck first on their opening possession of the game with a Brad Meredith touchdown run from the three yard line at the 7:34 mark of the first quarter. The drive started with Josh Walters' punt return to the Heathwood Hall 43 yard line and two straight 14 yard first down plays, which consisted of quarterback Cliff Ayers' pass to Taylor Smith and a reverse to Kyle George. Meredith also gained two yards on a fourth- and- one play from the Heathwood Hall six yard line.

The Skyhawks got the ball back after they stopped Highlander running back Will Kennemur on a fourth- and- one run from the Hammond 29 yard line. On the very next play, Ayers found Kyle George behind Heathwood Hall's defense for a 71- yard touchdown reception to put Hammond up 14- 0.

Photo by Elizabeth Bailey Johnson Heathwood Hall's Mac Whalen filled in at QB for his injured brother, Brett . He completed 5- of- 8 passes for 41 yards and an interception. He rushed eight times for 42 yards and caught two passes for 23 yards and a touchdown.

The Skyhawks appeared like they may run away with the game after Highlander quarterback Brett Whalen was knocked out of the game temporarily with a mild concussion. Back- up QB Mac Whalen engineered a 20- yard drive to the Hammond 35 yard line, but Steven Harvin intercepted Mac Whalen's pass at the 10 yard line.

The Highlander defense responded forcing a three- and- out by Hammond's offense. Brett Whalen returned and almost single- handedly got the Highlanders back in the game. He ran twice for 21 yards and completed three- of- four passes for 29 yards and a touchdown to brother Mac to make the score 14- 7.

The Skyhawks answered with a 62- yard, 4:49 drive powered mostly by the legs of Meredith. He rushed six times for 32 yards. On second- and- seven from the Heathwood Hall 17- yard line, Ayers again found George in the back right corner of the end zone to give the Skyhawks a 21- 7 advantage with 4:28 remaining in the first half.

The Highlanders bounced back with the arm and legs of Brett Whalen. On a drive that started at the Highlander 33- yard line, Whalen accounted for most of the 67 yards that followed. He passed for nine yards to Davis Ray. Then he rushed four times for 43 yards including an 11- yard touchdown run to draw the Highlanders within seven with 2:11 remaining in the half. The only yardage Whalen didn't have a part in was a 15- yard face mask call on Hammond.

After forcing another three- and- out from Hammond, the Highlanders drove 41 yards to the Skyhawk 18- yard line, but were forced to settle for a Garrett Rawl field goal making the score at halftime 21- 17.

The Skyhawks started the third quarter just like they started the first with a mixture of Ayers' passing and Meredith's running. They drove 65 yards to the Heathwood Hall two yard line. Then Meredith punched the ball in to put Hammond up by 10.

Brett Whalen was forced to leave the game permanently on the Highlanders' first play of their opening second half possession. Mac Whalen stepped in again and drove Heathwood Hall to the Hammond 15 yard line, but Rawl's field goal attempt fell short.

The Skyhawks took over from their own 20 yard line and used a punishing running game from Meredith and timely passing from Ayers to put the game away. Meredith rushed five times for 20 yards. Ayers completed a 39- yard bomb to Aaron Walters. Then on second- and- nine from the Highlander 21 yard line, Ayers found Taylor Smith streaking across the middle of the field for a touchdown to put the Skyhawks up 34- 17.

The Hammond defense then held Heathwood Hall to two straight three- and- outs. Mac Whalen was forced to leave the game due to an injury on the final drive.

The Skyhawks held the ball the final 8:19 of the game taking a knee with a first- and- goal from the Highlander nine yard line.

The win sets up a rematch of last year's championship game with Augusta Christian, which Hammond won 28- 17. Hammond beat Augusta Christian 28- 21 on October 26 to win this year's region championship.

The Highlanders bid farewell to Head Coach John Daye who announced his retirement earlier this year. Daye roamed the Heathwood Hall sidelines 11 years and won two state titles. He retires as the most successful coach in Heathwood Hall history.