NORTH AUGUSTA --- A 35-7 North Augusta victory over Aiken nearly brought Yellow Jackets coach Dan Pippin to tears Friday night.
The win wasn't rare -- North Augusta finished the regular season 10-1 with bigger games to come in the postseason -- but it marked a stark contrast to when Pippin first took over the reins of the program four years ago.
"That's the big thing," Pippin said. "More than winning one game, more than beating Aiken -- that was all secondary to having 10 wins and a chance at two home playoff games."
North Augusta went 1-10 in Pippin's first season at the school. This year's 10-1 finish marked a full turnaround.
On Senior Night, the win completed a four-year goal for the team's leaders.
"It started in ninth grade," Matt Hazel said. "This game, this win, showed we've turned this program around."
Hazel passed the 1,000-yard mark for receiving this season with two catches for 43 yards. Two other receptions were called back for offensive pass interference, but the Yellow Jackets had plenty of big plays to make up for the lost yards.
Unlike previous years, North Augusta held the advantage over Aiken in speed and skill players. That combination put the game out of reach by halftime when the home team held a 21-0 lead. Quarterback Loranzo Hammonds threw two touchdown passes in the first half and ran for two more in the second half. He completed 9 of 15 pass attempts for 177 yards and rushed for 108 yards.
"They had the advantage of experience," Aiken coach Carey Johnson said. "We've got some young guys, and anytime you get the opportunity to go out and play and compete in a game like this is good."
North Augusta's offense started slowly, but the defense came through with two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the first half.
Jaylon Myers picked off a deep pass early in the second quarter. L.J. Perry grabbed another midway through the second quarter, which led to North Augusta's third touchdown.
Reach Billy Byler at (706) 823-3216 or billy.byler@augustachronicle.com.
NORTH AUGUSTA 35, AIKEN 7
PLAY OF THE GAME: North Augusta cornerback Jaylon Myers made a leaping grab at midfield for his sixth interception of the season to help preserve a first-half shutout.
STAR OF THE GAME : Yellow Jackets quarterback Loranzo Hammonds threw for 177 yards and rushed for another 108. He threw two touchdowns and scored two more on the ground.
WHY NORTH AUGUSTA WON: The Yellow Jackets' strong defense gave them prime field position, and the offense, though inconsistent, came through with enough big plays to win.
WHY AIKEN LOST: The Hornets didn't have the depth offensively to match North Augusta and couldn't keep up.
NEXT: First round of the Class AAAA state playoffs, TBA.
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