Photo by Jeff Blake/ColumbiaWeddingPhotos.com Hammond’s B.J. Bennett vaults into the end zone for a touchdown in the first round playoff game against Pinewood Prep. The Hammond Skyhawks advanced to the second round of the SCISA playoffs after knocking off Pinewood Prep 35–13. The Skyhawks jumped out to an early 21–0 lead due in part to great special team’s play, a strong running game, and a great passing game.

Hammond jumped on top from the very beginning of the game. Aaron Walters took the opening kickoff from the five yard line and broke free. He appeared to be going in for the score when he was tripped up and fell at the Pinewood 12 yard line. An 8–yard run from Hunter George set Hammond up with a first and goal at the four yard line. B.J. Bennett finished the drive off with a 4–yard plunge to put the Skyhawks up 7–0.

Later in the quarter, following a Pinewood punt, the Skyhawks put together a much longer scoring drive. With the ball at their own 14 yard line, they began to march down the field. Long runs from Bennett of 9 and 18 yards sandwiched a 32–yard pass from Dave Nidiffer to Walters. The drive finished off with another 32–yard pass from Nidiffer to Walters for a touchdown, extending the Skyhawks lead to 14–0.

Photo by Jeff Blake/ ColumbiaWeddingPhotos.com Hammond’s Aaron Walters makes a leaping catch against Pinewood Prep. Hammond extended its lead even further later in the quarter. After going 3 and out, Pinewood was forced to punt. George received the ball at the Hammond 15 yard line and raced 85 yards to the end zone for giving Hammond a 21–0 lead.

In the second quarter, the Skyhawks put more points on the board starting from their own 37 yard line after another Pinewood punt. Long runs from Bennett and Nidiffer put the Skyhawks in Panther territory at the 33 yard line. Then Bennett took control, rushing four more times for 43 yards including an 11–yard touchdown run to give Hammond a 28–0 lead.

Later in the quarter, Pinewood got on the scoreboard. After the Panthers recovered a Bennett fumble at the Hammond 47 yard line, they immediately attacked the Hammond defense. A 30–yard pass from Bobby Casey to Michael Pendley set the Panthers up inside the Hammond 25 yard line. Two plays later, Pinewood cashed in with a 22–yard pass from Casey to Bruce Haynes to cut the Hammond lead to 28–7 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Pinewood cut into the Hammond lead even more. After Hammond failed to convert on a fourth down attempt, the Panthers took over at their own 16 yard line. Moses Richardson rushed two plays for 48 yards, to get the ball into Hammond territory. However, it was a 6–yard pass from Casey to Josh Glenn that provided the score. The Panthers missed the extra point to make the score 28–13 Hammond.

The Skyhawks put the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter. After George intercepted a Pinewood pass and returned it to the Hammond 29 yard line, the Skyhawks went to work. Bennett carried the load for Hammond rushing 11 times for 85 yards. The Skyhawks overcame numerous holding penalties to give Bennett the opportunity to cash in on a 3–yard touchdown run to seal the victory for Hammond at 35–13.