Hammond defeats Wilde Lake in battle of champions

Although Friday night's season opener between Hammond and Wilde Lake was a battle of defending champions, it was clear from the action on the field that each team has some work to do if they hope to duplicate last year's success.

Hammond, the defending 2A South regional and co-county champion, defeated visiting Wilde Lake, the 2010 3A state champ, 16-12.

The game, which ended with Wilde Lake running back Anthony Miller being downed on the Hammond two-yard line, was marred by half a dozen turnovers and a sluggish Hammond running game.

Hammond linebacker Rasheed Lashley's 25-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown midway through the second quarter turned out to be the decisive play of the game.

On the play, Wilde Lake sophomore quarterback Spencer Ampofo rolled out toward the visiting sideline. With Hammond linebacker Jared Turner, who also filled in on the offensive line to replace an injured starter, closing in fast, Ampofo tried to ditch the ball. Lashley picked it up and ran it in for the touchdown. Despite Wilde Lake's protests, the play was ruled a fumble and the touchdown stood.

"We do a scoop-and-score drill every Tuesday at practice, and I just used what I learned in practice in the game," said Lashley, an all-county linebacker last season. "If you have an opportunity to score on defense, why not take it?"

Devon Paye took the ball on a sweep and passed it to Dionte Jones for the conversion and an 8-6 Hammond lead.

Paye and Jones combined to rush for 2,500 yards last season, but on Friday night the Wilde Lake defense held the tandem to only 75 yards. Paye gained 33 of those yards on a pair of carries in the second half, a 22-yard run and an 11-yard run. He finished with 59 yards on 14 carries.

"We'll improve with our line," Hammond coach Dan Makosy said. "We had to piecemeal our line together, and I tried to keep that a secret as much as I could, so that was a difference … but we'll be fine."

Early in the game, Wilde Lake had the more impressive running attack. The Wildecats rumbled for 58 yards in six minutes on their opening drive, culminating in a 1-yard touchdown by Miller. On the drive, Miller ran for 38 yards on six touches.

Wilde Lake also stuffed Hammond on each of its first three possessions, but the Wildecats' third fumble of the second quarter gave Hammond the ball with only 25 yards to score.

Three plays later, including a 20-yard pass to receiver Akili Moore, sophomore quarterback Tyler Martin snuck in from one-yard out to put his team ahead 16-6 after a conversion by Jones.

"We went through the season last year, played 14 games and had 13 turnovers. We get three in a half and I'm going 'Man!'," Wilde Lake coach Mike Harrison said. "But the kids came back and they played with great character in the second half."

Neither team made much headway in the second half until Wilde Lake's Tommy Klotz recovered a fumble inside Hammond's 40-yard line. The defending state champions scored on the drive to make it a one score game, at 16-12, but failed on a two-point conversion attempt.

Hammond drained the clock after that score with a seven play drive, but Wilde Lake got the ball back around midfield with 90 seconds left to win.

Because Hammond's scoreboard was inoperative for the entirety of the game, spectators and players alike were left in suspense of how much time was left when Miller's final rushing attempt fell just two yards short.

"I didn't really know what the clock was looking like, I just ran the ball," Miller said. "We're just going to work hard in practice next week and we're going to be ready next time."

WL 6 0 0 6 – 12

Ha 0 16 0 0 – 16

First quarter

WL: Miller 1 run (kick failed).

Second quarter

Ha: Lashley 25 fumble recovery (Jones pass from Paye).

Ha: Martin 1 run (Jones run).

Fourth quarter

WL: Waters 1 run (run failed).

Around the league

Atholton defeated Glenelg, 39-0, on Friday afternoon, but because of a self-reported offseason practice violation, the game will go down as a win for Glenelg and a loss for Atholton.

The game was played at 4 p.m. because of a power outage at Glenelg.

A 0 16 7 14 - 39

G 0 00 0 - 0

Second quarter

A: McMahon 12 run (kick failed), 10:26.

A: Tennessee 45 pass from McMahon (Haas kick), 7:36.

A: Haas 24 field goal, :19.

Third quarter

A: Thomas 7 run (Haas kick), 2:09.

Fourth quarter

A: Newsome 7 run (Haas kick), 7:42.

A: McCloud 1 rush (Haas kick), 2:09.

Howard shut out Centennial, 41-0, as Ryan Wade threw touchdown passes of 55 and 21 yards.

Ho 7 14 6 14 - 41

C 0 0 0 0 - 0

First quarter

Ho: Anderson 1 run (Lee kick).

Second quarter

Ho: Marsh 21 pass from Wade (Lee kick).

Ho: Curley 15 run (Lee kick).

Third quarter

Ho: Jackson 55 pass fom Wade (kick failed).

Fourth quarter

Ho: Lee 20 run (Lee kick).

Ho: Kelly 20 interception return (Lee kick).

Other scores:

River Hill 28, Reservoir 7

Long Reach 55, Marriotts Ridge 14

Mt. Hebron 26, Oakland Mills 0