Champ vs. champ, public school vs. private. Gaffney vs. Hammond oozing with intrigue

Hammond was able to showcase its football program in 2019 in a nationally televised contest. That year, the Skyhawks’ roster had such future college players as Jordan Burch and Alex Huntley when they hosted Southern Columbia (Pa.) in a game that was shown on ESPN2.

Three years later, the S.C. Independent School Association’s most decorated football program is ready for a high-level matchup that’s a rarity in South Carolina — a game featuring the private-school Skyhawks against one of the most storied public school programs in state history.

Hammond will travel to Class 5A champion Gaffney High School on Sept. 2 in one of the more intriguing non-region matchups involving a Midlands team in the 2022 season. Both schools are coming off state title wins in the largest classifications of their respective leagues.

Gaffney won its 17th state championship last season when it defeated Dutch Fork 22-19 in the S.C. High School League finals and ended the Silver Foxes’ 62-game unbeaten streak. Hammond won its fifth straight SCISA Class 3A championship last season. It was the school’s 19th state championship in football and 13th title since 2006.

“It’s not very often you get to go on The Reservation (the nickname for Gaffney’s home field) and play one of the best programs in the state,” Hammond athletic director Jeff Barnes told The State. “We are excited to play in that kind of atmosphere.”

Barnes said it’s the first time in the 17 years he’s been at the school that Hammond is playing a regular-season game against a South Carolina public school. The last time such a matchup has happened for Hammond wasn’t immediately known. The Skyhawks regularly scrimmage against public school teams and have played in Richland 1’s Sportsarama jamboree over the years.

“We reached out around here, talked to schools about playing. Then we reached out to Charlotte schools and they weren’t interested,” Barnes said. “No one will pull the trigger around here, and I get why, because they are supposed to win and we are the underdog.

“So we talked to Gaffney and now we can find out where our program measures on the bigger stage.”

It all started with a tweet

The Gaffney-Hammond game will take on a David vs. Goliath-type feel with the size difference of the schools. Hammond has an enrollment of around 350 in ninth through 12th grade, while Gaffney’s enrollment just for high school is closer to 1,500.

The process of putting the game together started in January with a tweet, according to Barnes and Hammond football coach Jon Wheeler.

With SCISA expanding to four classifications this year and Hammond being in a division with the biggest private schools, it had a little more flexibility in making its schedule. The Skyhawks added a home-and-home series against Prince Avenue Christian School in Georgia and were looking for another marquee game on the schedule.

Hammond could have played scheduled another SCISA team but wanted a different challenge.

Wheeler saw a post on Twitter that Gaffney was looking for a non-region game to fill out its strong schedule — that’s when he got the idea to reach out. The Indians’ non-region schedule also includes games against Fort Dorchester, Class 4A champion South Pointe and N.C. powerhouse Mallard Creek.

Gaffney has played teams from lower public school classifications in the past. Last season, the Indians hosted eventual Class 2A champion Gray Collegiate, but it was only a one-year deal.

“They are a respected program around here,” Gaffney coach Dan Jones said of Hammond. “Our kids love to compete, and it is good for their kids. They play some teams that are a good bit better and they wanted a challenge; hopefully, we can give them one and a great atmosphere.”

Wheeler talked with his Hammond players about the possible matchup and challenges that go with it. If the players weren’t onboard with it, then Hammond would have looked for another opponent.

But the Skyhawks player response was overwhelmingly that they wanted to make sure the game happened, Wheeler said.

“We have our hands full, but the boys are excited for the challenge,” Wheeler said. “I gave them credit. We asked the boys and they came up and said, ‘Why not? Let’s go see how we measure up to the state’s best.’ ” Win or lose, we will get better.”

Hammond will receive compensation as part of the matchup. Barnes said the deal is similar to the one Gaffney had with Gray last season. Gray coach Adam Holmes said his team got $5,000 and a postgame meal. The War Eagles nearly upset Gaffney, losing 38-35 after a fourth-quarter comeback.

Gaffney will pay the Skyhawks $3,000 to help cover travel costs and also feed them a meal.

More than monetary reasons, Wheeler said the experience will be something his players will always remember.

“Great opportunity that we have earned and the kids have earned ... what Hammond has done in SCISA,” Wheeler said. “It is a great opportunity to play arguably one of the most prestigious high schools in the state. Now is the right time for this opportunity. Gaffney is very gracious to give us this opportunity.”

Most intriguing non-region matchups

A look at some of the top games involving a Midlands school vs. a non-Midlands opponent

8-19: Brookland-Cayce at Byrnes

8-19: Myrtle Beach at Camden

8-19: Greenwood at AC Flora

9-2: Hammond at Gaffney

9-3: Dutch Fork vs. Creekside and Gray Collegiate vs. South Atlanta at Cam Newton Invitational

9-23: St. Frances (Md.) at Dutch Fork

Hammond 2022 schedule

8-19: at Prince Avenue Academy (Ga.)

8-26: at Florence Christian

9-2: at Gaffney

9-9: vs. Laurence Manning

9-16: vs. Wilson Hall

9-23: vs. Camden Military

9-30: vs. Augusta Christian

10-7: at Cardinal Newman

10-14: at Trinity Collegiate

10-28: at Heathwood Hall