The Hammond Skyhawks scored 23 first quarter points en route to a 57-0 win over the Cardinal Newman Cardinals in a SCISA 4A clash Thursday, October 30.
“We executed on offense,” Hammond head coach Jon Wheeler said. “We have to eliminate penalties, hurting ourselves. We hit Kanye Reed on a touchdown pass, but we weren’t lined up correctly. It starts with me. I have to coach them better and get them ready to rock and roll to where we aren’t hurting ourselves. That’s my responsibility.”
Hammond rushed for 101 yards and six touchdowns. Levi Myers led the way, running for 63 yards and three touchdowns on six carries. Bubba Alexander rushed for 25 yards and two touchdowns on two carries.
“Coach (Rick) Reetz and his staff, they do a great job,” Wheeler said. “They’ve gotten better and better. We’ve been consistently able to run the ball, and we are getting better at throwing the football. He does a great job with his quarterbacks. Cade Amell is a natural. He’s just going to get better. He’s young. He’s a freshman. Ben Kiser was out tonight. He’s been known for being a runner. He’s had some good throws too. That’s going to help the run game even more. Bubba and Levi, they do a great job. Coach (Thomas) Floyd up front does a good job of coaching them up, making holes for those guys to run through.”
The Skyhawks mixed up the run and pass on their first possession from the Cardinal Newman 28. A 10-yard pass from Amell to Jack Thomas moved the ball to the red zone. The two hooked up again to get inside the ten. Myers capped the drive off with a 1-yard touchdown run. Jackson Ross made the extra point and Hammond a 7-0 led with 8:10 left in the first quarter.
It was more of the same on the Skyhawks’ second drive which began at the Cardinal Newman 26. Amell found Reed for a 20-yard gain. A penalty backed Hammond to the 13. That just gave way to the Skyhawks’ rushing attack. Amell scampered for eight yards, and then Alexander barrelled into the end zone from five yards out. Ross tacked on another extra point to extend the Hammond lead to 14-0 with 5:02 left in the quarter.
The Skyhawks added a safety two minutes later when the Cardinals’ punt rolled out of the end zone to push the Hammond lead to 16-0.
The ensuing Hammond drive began at the Cardinal Newman 46. Myers raced down the right sideline for 31 yards to get Hammond into the red zone. He would later end the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Ross added his third extra point as Hammond led 23-0 with 1:17 left in the quarter.
The score held until the opening minute of the second quarter. Following a Ross interception, Hammond took over at the Cardinal Newman 19, and Alexander took a handoff and ran down the right side to the end zone. Ross made another extra point and the Skyhawks led 30-0 with 11:47 left in the second quarter.
Owen Smith nabbed Hammond’s second interception on the following Cardinals’ drive and set up the Skyhawks at the Cardinal Newman 17, Myers then did the honors this time, collecting his third rushing touchdown of the night. Ross’s extra point went through and Hammond led 37-0 with 7:55 left in the second quarter.
The Skyhawks closed out the half with Ross blocking a punt and Jordan Boston returning it 46 yards to the end zone for a touchdown and a 43-0 halftime lead.
Reed opened the second half with a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to put the Skyhawks ahead 50-0 in the third.
The Skyhawks capped off their scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run from Jarus Shaw to set the final score.
Cardinal Newman ends the season 1-9 overall and 1-6 in SCISA 4A.
Hammond finishes the regular season 9-1 overall and 6-1 in SCISA 4A. The Skyhawks get a first round bye in the SCISA playoffs and will host the winner of Ben Lippen/Heathwood Hall on Friday, October 14.
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