Passing, Penalties, and Puke
Wilson Hall 14 Hammond 35
By Mike Maddock

Photos by Elizabeth Bailey Johnson Hammond's Hunter McMaster (l) and Robert Simmons join forces to bring down Wilson Hall's Dow Harrelson.

The Hammond Skyhawks not only had to watch out for Barons Friday, September 12, they had to watch where they stepped. Several players, including Hammond quarterback Cliff Ayers, were ill making walking the Skyhawk sideline a little tricky.

Despite the illnesses and the additional sickening feeling when Wilson Hall's Cotton Carouth intercepted Ayers' second pass of the game and returned it for a touchdown, the Skyhawks battled back and pulled away in the third quarter to avenge their only loss since the end of the 2005 season and beat the Wilson Hall Barons 35- 14. It was the third straight 35- point performance for Hammond.

The game was marred down by 12 penalties. Wilson Hall collected nine flags for 55 yards and Hammond got three for 20 yards. The Skyhawks also pitched up a couple of intercetions and a fumble.

Midway through the first quarter, Hammond's offense got going. Ayers found Taylor Smith on a third- - and- three play, which Smith broke for 26 yards and a touchdown. A possession later, Ayers threw a short pass to the sideline to Aaron Walters, then Walters outran everyone 37 yards for the score giving Hammond a 14- 7 lead.

Hammond's Taylor Smith runs in for a touchdown.

After an Ayers' interception at the Hammond 15 yard line midway through the third quarter, Wilson Hall drove to the Skyhawk five yard line, but a sack and a penalty gave the Barons a second- - and- goal back at the 15 yard line. Wilson Hall quarterback Thomas White then fumbled a shotgun snap but picked it up and raced to the end zone to tie the score at 14- 14.

The Skyhawks needed just two plays to repsond. In at running back for the injured Brad Meredith, receiver Kyle George took a handoff, cut across midfield and raced 61 yards down the left sideline to give Hammond a lead they would not relinquish.

After a Will Patterson sack ended another Baron possession with 2:46 remaining in the third quarter, the Skyhawks responded with a 12 play, 83- yard punishing drive that essentially put the game out of reach. The drive consisted mainly of runs from Les Cotter and George and culminated in a one- yard touchdown run from George with 9:06 remaining in the game.

Hammond added another score with 3:44 left in the game, when Smith, in at quarterback, scooted ten yards untouched through a tired Wilson Hall defense.