Hammonds named Standard's top offensive player

North Augusta quarterback Loranzo Hammonds topped a loaded field of candidates to be named the 2009 Aiken Standard High School Offensive Player of the Year.

The dual-threat junior edged out teammate Matt Hazel, one of the top receivers in the state, finishing with 1,193 yards receiving and 18 touchdowns on 75 catches, and Williston-Elko running back Kendric Salley, who rushed for 1,901 yards and 29 touchdowns to lead his team to an undefeated season and a Class A, Division II state title, to win the award.

In one of the deepest fields in years, players like Williston-Elko quarterback Tamyn "Gator" Garrick - who threw for 1,460 yards and 25 touchdowns and helped his father, head coach Dwayne Garrick, when the ultimate prize - and Strom Thurmond's Nick Williamson - who rushed for 1,192 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 11 passes for 178 yards and another score - didn't even land on the list of finalists, making Hammonds recognition that much more special.

Hammonds finished the year with 1,016 yards rushing, including 13 rushing touchdowns. He also threw for 2,315 yards, completing 188 of 242 passes. Perhaps the most impressive statistic, though, was his ability to avoid mistakes. He tossed only four interceptions all year, compared to 31 touchdown strikes.

Hammonds spent the 2008 season serving in a part-time role, running a few series a game behind starting quarterback Travis Murphy. This year, the job was all his, and he made the most of it, leading the Yellow Jackets to a 10-1 regular season and a trip into the second round of the Class AAAA, Division II playoffs.

"He matured a ton last year and did the little things right," said North Augusta head coach Dan Pippin. "I was really happy he was on my team and not somebody else's."

Hammonds always seemed to make the play - mixing it up with his arm and his feet - when North Augusta needed it the most, but perhaps his best quality was taking the pressure off his teammates. The Yellow Jackets were blessed with a talented running back, in the form of Demarcus Rouse, and four standout receivers in Matt Hazel, Jessie Pernell, Montez McGuire and Cam Alston. Defenses, though, knew they had to focus on Hammonds first, and that created some opportunities for a versatile Yellow Jacket offense that averaged nearly 35 points per game.

"It made it real easy," said Hammonds. "I knew they were going to make plays when I got them the ball. I just had to get it to them."

"You couldn't just defend (one guy)," added Pippin. "When you have a quarterback who can move around like that, it's dangerous. He can be an inch from the line of scrimmage and still throw the ball about 60 yards."

There were very few goals that Hammonds didn't accomplish this season, but he did fall short in two areas. He had hoped to bring his team a region title, but the team's only regular season loss to Irmo cost him that opportunity. A state title was also a feat he desired to achieve, but the Yellow Jackets blew a fourth-quarter lead and fell on the road at Goose Creek in the second round of the Class AAAA, Division II playoffs.

The good news for Hammonds - and the thought that keeps opposing defensive coordinators counting sheep at night - is that he will be back again in 2010 to try to reach those milestones.

"Our goals are going to stay the same," said Pippin. "We've got to be successful."

With Hammonds under center, it may be impossible to be anything else.

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