The Hammond Skyhawks, 2008 SCISA 3A Champions: #1 Aaron Walters, WR, Jr; #2 Kyle Towles, DB, Jr; #3 Kyle Grant, DE, So; #4 Cliff Ayers, QB, Sr; #5 Gavin Fawcett, WR, Jr; #6 Austin Hoover, DB, Sr; #7 Robert Simmons, WR/DB, Sr; #8 Kyle George, WR/DB, Sr; #9 Taylor Smith, WR/DB/QB, Sr; #12 Gus Inabinet, WR/DB, Jr; #13 Joseph Zemp, K, Sr; #14 Dave Nidiffer, QB, So; #17 Les Cotter, WR/RB, So; #18 Vincent Hudon, DB, Sr; #19 Guy Castles, DB, So; #20 Jordan Hall, WR/DB, Jr; #21 James Hyatt, DB, Jr; #22 Brad Meredith, RB, Sr; #23 Bryce James, DB/LB, Jr; #24 Beach Corontzes, DB, So; #28 Hunter George, DB/WR, So; #30 David Dukes, DB, So; #31 John Mills, DB, So; #33 Hunter McMaster, LB, Sr; #34 Raymond Prince, LB, Sr; #40 David Tucker, WR, So; #41 Ruskin Foster, DL, Sr; #42 Taylor Brown, LB, Sr; #44 Will Patterson, LB/TE, Sr; #45 Charles Bowers, LB, Sr; #50 Justin Daniels, OL, Sr; #51 Weston Verner, LB, So; #52 Dylan Metts, OL/DL, Sr; #54 Kris Simmons, OL, So; #55 Chase Loveless, OL/DL, Sr; #56 Joseph McDougall, OL/DL, So; #60 George Foster, OL/DL, So; #62 William DaSilva, DL , Sr; #65 Malachi Ware, OL, So; #70 Thomas Dunlap, OL, Sr; #77 Hampton Smith, OL, Sr; #80 Jake Ayers, WR, So #81 A.D. Briggs, TE, Sr; #82 Sam Riber,WR, Sr; #84 Drew Dixon,WR, So; #88 Luke Chappell, DE/TE, So; Erik Kimrey, Head Coach; Jamie Scott , Jeff Barnes, Chr is Elliott , George Simpson, and Craig Farnsworth, Assistant Coaches. The Hammond Skyhawks won their third straight SCISA 3A championship with a resounding 41- 7 thumping of the Wilson Hall Barons at S.C. State's Oliver C. Dawson Stadium Friday, November 21.

Hammond's Hunter McMaster closes in on Wilson Hall's Rickey Crum.

In 2006, Hammond fell behind Augusta Christian 17- 14 but rallied in the second half to take a 28- 17 victory and complete a perfect 13- 0 season. In 2007, the Skyhawks scored 10 points in the game's final 3:18 capped off by a Joseph Zemp 29- yard field goal with 1:29 to survive the rematch with Augusta Christian 17- 14. While those games were battles, the 2008 version was a coronation for Hammond and confirmation of the Skyhawk dynasty.

Hammond QB Cliff Ayers runs 20- yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Wilson Hall. The Skyhawks took their opening possession 57 yards powered mostly by three Brad Meredith runs for 36 yards. Meredith scored from ten yards out and with the Zemp extra point, Hammond led 7- 0 with 9:47 remaining in the first quarter.

The Skyhawks went back to work with 2:48 remaining in the first quarter. Again Meredith led the way with 38 yards on five runs, the fifth rush being a one- yard touchdown run with 10:24 remaining in the second quarter. Kyle George added 20 yards on two carries, and Hammond led 14- 0.

On the following play, Hammond head coach Erik Kimrey went for an onside kick but did not get it, and Wilson Hall started a scoring drive from the 50- yard line. The Barons turned to their powerful running game mixing up runs from quarterback Thomas White and running back Rickey Crum. After 14 plays including a fourth- and- five conversion from the Hammond 20 yard line, Crum scooted in from the one- inch line to draw Wilson Hall within 7 at 14- 7.

Hammond's Brad Meredith powers in four one of his three touchdowns. The Barons appeared to be on the verge of making it a contest when Cotton Carruth recovered a Skyhawk fumble at the Wilson Hall 45 yard line, but they returned the favor three plays later when Hammond's Austin Hoover recovered a Baron fumble.

Starting from the Wilson Hall 45 yard line with 1:50 remaining in the half, the Skyhawks turned to the arm of quarterback Cliff Ayers. Ayers connected three times with George to get Hammond to the 19 yard line with 17.5 seconds remaining. Then Ayers found Taylor Smith streaking across the middle of the field for the touchdown pass with just 5.7 seconds before halftime. The Zemp extra point made it 21- 7. That was an apparent back breaker for the Barons because the second half belonged to the Hammond defense.

In five attempts, the Barons' possessions ended in a turnover on downs, two interceptions, a punt, and a fumble. They netted 92 yards, 52 of which came on the final drive after the score was 41- 7.

Hammond cheerleaders enthusiastically provide WLTX with the opening to its Friday Night Blitz high school football highlight show. Meanwhile, the Hammond offense just kept rolling along. The Skyhawks ate up six minutes of the third quarter with a 60- yard, 11- play drive. Again, Meredith took the bulk of the load running seven times for 38 yards eventually scoring from the one- foot line and giving Hammond a 27- 7 lead.

On the next play, Hammond's Smith intercepted a White pass lofted deep in the middle of the field. Ayers waisted no time with the gift and found tight end A.D. Briggs streaking down the left sideline. Briggs rambled 56 yards untouched to put the Skyhawks up 34- 7 with 3:11 remaining in the third quarter.

The Skyhawks collected another interception at the 9:36 mark of the fourth quarter when George stepped in front of a White pass. Kimrey then called Meredith's number seven straight times to power the Skyhawks from their 24 yard line to Wilson Hall's 21 yard line. Several plays later, Hammond was faced with a fourth- and- ten from the Baron 20 yard line. Ayers promptly faked a hand off to Meredith, then scampered to the end zone to put the exclamation point on a decisive championship for the Skyhawks.

Hammond head coach Er ik Kimrey talks to the media after the game. Ayers completed 13- of- 15 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns on the night. He also had 15 yards rushing and a touchdown. Meredith rushed 25 times for 176 yards and three touchdowns. George rushed seven times for 25 yards, had five receptions for 46 yards, and also had two interceptions on defense. Smith had two receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown, as well as an interception on defense. Aaron Walters caught four passes for 27 yards, and Briggs caught the one 56- yard touchdown pass.

The Hammond defense held Crum to just 68 yards on 12 carries. White completed just five- of- 18 passes for 78 yards and three interceptions. The Skyhawk defense also collected two fumbles from the Wilson Hall offense.

Hammond's Taylor Smith catches a touchdown pass just before halftime. Hammond's 2008 title marks the ninth in the school's history; two in the old SCISAA ('72 and '77), four in the old PAC ('88, '89, '91 and '92), and the three most recent in 2006, 2007, and 2008 in the current SCISA.