Hammond Wins 9-7 on Jackson Ross Field Goal

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COLUMBIA | </strong>College scouts have frequented Hammond to check out <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603691' first='Jackson' last='Ross']</strong> at linebacker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame, coupled with ferocious field coverage and non-stop motor has made the junior linebacker a high target among Power 4 schools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vanderbilt, in town to face the University of South Carolina, had coaches in attendance for Friday's SCISA matchup with in-town rival Heathwood Hall. The Commodores' staff not only witnessed his defensive ability, but another on-field talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Trailing the Highlanders with 11.2 seconds left, Jackson calmly booted a 36-yard field goal to put Hammond up 9-7. He then fittingly made the game-ending tackle as Heathwood Hall made numerous lateral passes in hopes of a miracle play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Highlanders instead dropped their 21st consecutive game to Hammond. Conversely, the Skyhawks extended their SCISA-best overall winning streak to 27. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"We knew if we didn't let them score, we'd have a chance to win this game," Ross said. "It came up later than we thought it would, but when the game's on the line, I want to be the one who makes the play. I was ready to kick it and made it."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ross' heroics were made possible by a quarterback switch on the final drive. With no timeouts and 1:33 left, senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823078' first='Ben' last='Muela Kiser']</strong> traded positions with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1647349' first='Cade' last='Amell']</strong> - who also plays some receiver now that he's at Hammond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Move the ball downfield and get points on the board," Amell said about the game plan on the final drive. "There's nothing special to it. I put my team in the best position to get the ball and put it in the endzone."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The freshman had a key first-down run, then found Kiser for a completion to the Heathwood Hall 26. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was short of the first down. However, it put the football in Ross' range to hit the game-winner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I told our coach [Jon Wheeler] that Cade, he's got a little bit of a better arm than me," Kiser said. "I told him to put him out there. He can make plays and put me at receiver. Let me make plays too and it worked out."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kiser and Heathwood Hall's<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='473014' first='Patrick' last='Belk']</strong> accounted for the only touchdowns of the game. On the Highlanders' opening series, Belk scrambled out of the pocket, cut back inside and bowled over the defender at the goal line for a 27-yard touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A forced fumble and recovery by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824709' first='Cole' last='Moore'] </strong>set up the Highlanders' first score. He, defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592011' first='Jackson' last='Noble']</strong> (who had a 69-yard interception return) and safety <strong>Liam Noble</strong> were active both upfront and in the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> The Skyhawks' defense also clamped down in the first half. Ross and defensive linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1550897' first='Hugh' last='Manning']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='763831' first='John' last='Stokes']</strong> teamed up for three straight sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just before halftime, Hammond pounded away on the ground with Kiser and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816470' first='Levi' last='Myers']</strong>. A 13-yard run by Kiser set up his one-yard keeper two plays later with 16.9 seconds left.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hammond still trailed 7-6 at halftime after missing the extra point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The second half was a defensive battle as both teams denied the other scoring opportunities. A seven-minute drive to start the third quarter came up empty for Heathwood Hall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meanwhile, Hammond was unable to get in position to take the lead by the Highlanders' defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After Noble forced an incompletion with 2:47 on fourth down, the Highlanders looked in position to run out the clock. Hammond's defense with a sack by Ross forced a three and out. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He then proceeded to end Heathwood Hall's hopes with his leg. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->