Photos by Mike Maddock Heathwood Hall's Melton Bristow (22), Jamey Mears (40), and Evan Peterson (75) close in on Hammond's Kyle George. On a night when the Heathwood Hall Highlanders celebrated their senior athletes, it was the Hammond seniors that spoiled the evening for the home team helping the Skyhawks beat arch rival Heathwood Hall 51- 28.

Hammond quarterback Cliff Ayers completed 12- of- 22 passes for 194 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. Running back Brad Meredith rushed 25 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Utility man Kyle George rushed 16 times for 119 yards and a touchdown. He also caught three passes for 62 yards and returned an an interception for a touchdown. Receiver/quarterback Taylor Smith rushed three times for 15 yards and two touchdowns and caught four passes for 45 yards and a touchdown. The senior Skyhawks helped Hammond rack up 504 yards of total offense. This was the fourth straight victory, three regular season and one playoff match- up in 2007, for the Skyhawks over the Highlanders.

Hammond's Taylor Smith goes high for the reception. Hammond set the pace early. The Skyhawks received the opening kickoff and drove the ball down the field. A ten play, 57- yard drive was capped off by a 24- yard field goal by Joseph Zemp, giving Hammond an early 3- 0 lead.

After both teams traded punts, George intercepted a Mac Whalen pass and ran it back for a 32- yard touchdown, extending the lead to 10- 0. After another Heathwood punt, the Skyhawks drove down the field despite having the ball deep in their own territory. A 41- yard touchdown pass from Ayers to Aaron Walters gave Hammond a 17- 0 lead. The quarter ended with Hammond having the ball once again, after Taylor Smith picked off a Whalen pass.

It didn't take long for the Skyhawks to take advantage of the turnover. Five plays and 31- yards later, Smith scored his second touchdown with a ten- yard run. The extra point extended the Hammond lead to 24- 0.

On the following kickoff, Davis Ray helped wake up the Highlanders, by returning the ball deep into Skyhawks' territory. A 25- yard pass from Mac Whalen to Morgan Whalen put Heathwood Hall on the board, 24- 7.

Heathwood Hal l's Walker Sojourner scores on a pass reception from Mac Whalen. Hammond tried to answer, turning its possession into another long drive, but Mac Whalen intercepted an Ayers pass in the end zone. However, the Highlanders were unable to take advantage.

Late in the second quarter, Heathwood Hall faced a fourth down at midfield. A fake punt, a pass from Ray to Walker Sojourner, kept the Highlander drive alive. Three plays later, Heathwood Hall scored after Mac Whalen scrambled avoiding multiple sack attempts and threw a ten- yard touchdown pass to Sojourner, cutting the score to 24- 14.

The Skyhawks executed a near perfect drive in the final minute. Driving the ball down the field, Ayers found Smith for a ten- yard touchdown. The two teams went into the locker room with Hammond holding a 31- 14 lead.

Heathwood Hall took the opening possession and drove down the field for the score when Morgan Whalen ran the ball in from two yards out. The extra point made the score 31- 21.

Hammond's Brad Meredith runs for a first down. As they did all night, the Skyhawks responded. Aided by a strong running game, they scored on an eight- yard run by Brad Meredith. The extra point was blocked keeping the lead at 16, 37-21. A three- and- out by Heathwood Hall gave Hammond the ball back at the end of the third quarter.

A drive that began near the end of the third quarter, helped lead to another scoring drive by the Skyhawks in the fourth quarter. Kyle George scored on a 15- yard run, extending the lead to 44- 21.

Hammond took the opportunity to put the game away for good. One more long drive covering 66- yards on eight plays, highlighted by the strong running of Meredith, was capped off with a one- yard plunge by Taylor Smith. The extra point made the score 51- 21.

A late score by Heathwood Hall, when Mac Whalen ran it in from 15- yards out, made the final margin smaller; but Hammond celebrated the 51- 28 victory.