They've seen a tremendous reversal of fortune over the past four years under the guidance of Dan Pippin, and this year's seniors in the North Augusta High School football program celebrated another milestone Friday, completing the regular season with a 10-1 record, compared to the 1-10 tally that the squad endured in the 2006 season.

Pippin, the Yellow Jackets' coach, relished a huge treat in his team's last home game of the regular season, in watching Loranzo Hammonds throw for two touchdowns and run for two more, helping lead North Augusta to a 35-7 victory over Aiken - a squad that had always bested Pippin's teams in previous contests.

"I've never been 10-1 or 9-1 or 8-1," Pippin said. "The most wins I've ever had is seven, so I feel good. I think we have a shot. We have a one-in-eight chance of making it to Williams-Brice (Stadium for the Class AAAA Division II title game), and that's special."

Referring to the steady improvement from season to season, the coach said, "That is a credit to everybody in our program and the community. It is a huge deal for everybody."

Dillon Temples, Ricky Cervantes, Matt Hazel and their teammates have their next assignment at home Friday. Conway (5-6) will face the Jackets in the first round of the playoffs. The Tigers' most recent game was a Friday blowout win at home against Carolina Forest, 56-14. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m., and advance tickets are available for $6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today (Thursday) and Friday in the auditorium.

Conway was the state runner-up in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2006 and beat North Augusta in the playoffs in both 2002 and 2003, Pippin said, describing this year's Tigers as "real good."

In the Aiken game, the Green Hornets' three turnovers and an explosive Jacket offense helped end Aiken's winning streak. Hammonds helped set up his team's opening score, rumbling 37 yards to the Aiken 3-yard line, and DeMarcus Rouse took it into the end zone from one yard out.

The Jackets increased that cushion with a 37-yard screen pass to Jessie Pernell that set up a 2-yard slant to the same player on the next play that went into the end zone.

It was still 14-0 late in the second quarter, and Aiken was driving the football on the strength of Aiken quarterback Billy Vickers' legs when another critical mistake boosted the Jackets' fortunes. A North Augusta interception with 5:19 left on the clock gave North Augusta a chance to add to its lead before the halftime break. Montez McGuire, on fourth-and-long, took advantage, making a 27-yard catch put the Jackets up 21-0, and his squad never looked back.

A 37-yard Hammonds cutback touchdown run capped off a 70-yard drive to open the second half, and North Augusta later went ahead 35-0 when Hammonds scored on a one-yard keeper before the end of the third quarter. He finished the game with 108 rushing yards and 177 more on the ground.

Most frequently putting the brakes on Aiken's offense were Rick Griffin and Emeka Okafor, with 10 tackles each. Montel Hughes added eight.

"They are a good football team," said Carey Johnson, Aiken's coach. "They capitalize on mistakes. They try to hit people with big plays, and they have some kids who can do it."

North Augusta's defense did the rest of the work, holding Aiken to just 219 total yards - only 19 of those coming through the air. Aiken did ruin the shutout with an 18-yard Devontai Pope touchdown run in the fourth quarter, but that didn't stop the Jackets from celebrating a long-awaited victory.