SCISA 4A State Championship: Hammond 28, Laurence Manning 21

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTH CHARLESTON | </strong>For three quarters of the Class 4A SCISA state championship game, Hammond's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157738' first='Mike' last='Tyler']</strong> was more of a spectator than a key component of the Skyhawks offensive attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But when a big play was needed, Tyler showed why coaches from Louisville, Cincinnati and other Power 5 schools have him on their radar. Tyler hauled in a game-winning 32-yard touchdown pass from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1261525' first='Andrew' last='Turner']</strong> with 6:22 remaining to give the Hammond its seventh straight state championship with a 28-21 victory over Laurence Manning Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The catch came on a third-and-17 play after Preston Springs recovered a Swampcats fumble three plays earlier. Tyler finished with four catches for 55 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“This one was very special,” Tyler said. “It was a hard fought game and all respect to them but we came out on top.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It capped a season in which Hammond lost twice on its home field to non-SCISA powers Prince Avenue Prep and Gray Collegiate in the early going but rallied in SCISA play to win for the seventh straight season and 21^st time overall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It (means) everything to this group of seniors and this entire team,” Hammond coach Jon Wheeler said. “This was the year…where early on, we were the underdog. But you have to tip your hat to our boys and the culture of this program.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We were battle-tested and humbled. They didn't run from the adversity. They took it in stride and got better every week.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575317' first='Immanuel' last='Johnson']</strong> capped off a strong junior campaign with 218 yards on 26 carries. His 74-yard scoring run in the second half tied it after Hammond trailed 14-0 in the first half. His 19-yard scoring run with 1:39 remaining in the first half was the only points for the Skyhawks in the first half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hammond (11-2) rushed for nearly 300 yards behind an offensive line led by <strong>Heath Jackson</strong> and <strong>Jeb Berry</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Turner, who was one of four quarterbacks that played for Hammond this season, played most of the night. His six-yard TD run on the first play of the fourth quarter gave the Skyhawks its first lead of the night, 20-14, but it was short-lived.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ian Harris</strong> ripped off a 72-yard touchdown two plays later and the point after was good from Mills Lee that gave Laurence Manning (10-3) a 21-20 lead to set the stage for Tyler and the rest of the Skyhawks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='947684' first='Will' last='McQueen']</strong> and defensive end <strong>Jack Miller</strong> harassed Swampcats QB Tyler June all night. June stayed under pressure most of the night but found enough time to connect with <strong>Josiah Burson</strong> on a 30-yard scoring pass that gave the Swampcats a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. <strong>Jackson Brunson</strong> scored on a 4-yard run after <strong>Zylen Dennis</strong> recovered a muffed punt after a three and out on the first series.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OTHER NOTABLES</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360106' first='Zay' last='Mathis'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360365' first='Jaiden' last='Haltiwanger']</strong>, a pair of juniors, played well in the secondary for Hammond. Laurence Manning had several players going both ways. Burson, Brunson, <strong>Bryson Hodge</strong> and <strong>Drew </strong>Ferriell played nearly every down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->