Hammond's B.J. Bennett and Beach Corontzes tackle Heathwood Hall's Morgan Whalen. Three of the four Columbia- area SCISA I- AAA schools convened at Heathwood Hall for the annual Heathwood Hall Jamboree Friday, August 21, 2009. Cardinal Newman, Hammond, and host Heathwood squared off in quarter- long scrimmages against each other. The Ben Lippen Falcons, the usual fourth team at the Jamboree, travelled to Charleston to face Bishop England. The Falcons won 10- 7.

Quarter one of the Jamboree featured Cardinal Newman versus Heathwood. The Highlanders got the ball first, and after four plays netted them 23 yards, Heathwood faced fourth- and- four.

Senior quarterback Mac Whalen set up to pass but threw errantly, and his pass was picked off by junior Rico Martinez, who returned the ball 18 yards to the Highlander 42. The Cardinals then ran nine plays, eating away over four minutes in time, before turning the ball over on downs at the Highlander 8. Two plays later, Whalen found his twin brother Morgan, who sped away from the Cardinal defense for an 81- yard touchdown reception. The extra point was good, and the Highlanders led 7- 0.

Cardinal Newman QB Tommy Winterstein Photos by Jim Marczesky Three plays into their next drive, the Cardinals lost a fumble, and the Highlanders took advantage, marching 38 yards on eight plays, culminating in a fumble recovery touchdown by a Highlander lineman. Heathwood went on to win 14- 0.

The second quarter pitted Cardinal Newman against Hammond. After both teams punted on their opening possessions, Cardinal sophomore running back Joey DeAngelis accounted for 66 of the 67 yards on the ensuing drive, capping it off with a 43- yard touchdown run.

Cardinal Newman was helped by an inadvertent whistle on a fumbled snap, negating a Skyhawk recov- ery. Pennington Nieri, who had stopped Hammond's momentum on the first drive with an eight- yard sack, made the extra point for a 7- 0 Cardinal lead.

Hammond responded with the precision SCISA has come to expect from an Erik Kimrey- coached team, needing just under three minutes to tie the score, the touchdown coming on a four- yard run by junior Les Cotter. The final for this quarter was a 7- 7 tie.

Hammond QB Dave Nidiffer Hammond then took on Heathwood. The Highlanders held the Skyhawks on the first possession, but then fumbled on their own 47, and Cotter scorched the Heathwood defense on a nifty 40- yard touchdown run to give Hammond a quick 7- 0 lead.

Heathwood was forced to punt, and Hammond took over with 4:30 remaining. The Skyhawks then went 93 yards in 14 plays, capped off by junior Dave Nidiffer's five- yard touchdown pass to sophomore B. J. Bennett to give Hammond the 13- 0 win.

Hammond begins their run at a fourth straight SCISA AAA state title at Pinewood Prep, one of the top contenders for their crown. Cardinal Newman opens its regular season at home against Christ School (NC), and Heathwood Hall plays host to Porter Gaud. All games will be held Friday, August 28.

Cardinal Newman's Billy Solomon tries run down Heathwood Hall's Mac Whalen.