Hammond football hits stride; cc teams running strong in leadup to state meet

By WORTHY EVANS

Contributing Writer

Columbia - Well into SCISA Region 4A competition, Hammond football is hitting all of its marks. The Skyhawks’ dominance was in full view Friday at homecoming, when the perpetual SCISA 4A state champions handled 2023 state runner-up Laurence Manning 65-14 at Edens Stadium.

Quarterback Andrew Turner led the Skyhawks (6-0, 3-0) with 200 yards passing, two touchdowns through the air and two more on the ground. He needed just 10 completed passes to give Hammond a decided edge.

Five Skyhawk rushers had 181 yards and six touchdowns. Aspen Brooks hit a field goal and defender Preston Springs pounced on a loose ball in the end zone after a high snap on a punt.

“It was exciting to see the execution offensively and defensively,” Skyhawks head coach Jon Wheeler said. “You’ve got to hand it to their offensive coordinator Patrick Anderson, he did a heck of a job with shifts and motions, different formations and they made some good plays, but I feel like our defense handled it well for the most part. I’m very proud of our guys.” 

The Skyhawks essentially knocked out an opponent early in the game, but Wheeler said that the final score concealed the need for the team to grow and gel for the postseason.

“There were a couple of drives where we hurt ourselves defensively, there’s some execution stuff that we can clean up defensively,” Wheeler said. “Offensively, we’ve got to punch it in early, instead of a field goal. But you know, not too many complaints about that. After that, it was boom-boom-boom. I’m very proud of them.”

Hammond outscored opponents 300-92 this season, with four games to go. The Skyhawks face Augusta Christian Friday, travel to Northwood Academy Oct. 18, Ben Lippen Oct. 25, and are at Cardinal Newman Nov. 1.

In cross country, the Hammond girls are running strong behind sophomore Megan Joye and junior Emme Crosland.

Joye and Crosland led the girls team to a fifth-place finish in the Skyhawk Invitational Aug. 17, with Crosland finishing in fourth place with a time of 19 minutes, 31.0 seconds and Joye finishing sixth with a time of 19:34.06. The boys finished the event in 10^th place with sophomore Charlie Webb as top finisher with a 28^th-place time of 18:27.72.

At the Lake Murray Invitational Sept. 21, the girls took 19^th place and the boys finished 22nd. Joye was the top finisher at 18^th with a time of 19:28.19. Webb finished a team-high 66^th with a time of 17:54.29.

The Pelion Invitational Sept. 25^th was a pleasant surprise for both teams. The girls finished third and the boys finished ninth. Joye took second place with a time of 20:07.47, followed by junior Crosland at sixth with a 20:33.36 time. Webb led the boys with a 10^th-place finish at 18:02.05 .

“Last night was a really good night for the girls, and Charlie had a great finish in a really big race,” head coach Noelle Schuch said.”

The girls team finished fifth and the boys finished 11^th in the Highlander Invitational at Heathwood Hall Saturday, a precursor to the SCISA 4A state meet that will be held at the school Oct. 26. Before then the Skyhawks will run in a region meet Oct. 15.