Photo Credit: Jaden Do

By: John Taylor

Staff Writer

For the first time in Hammond history, the Golden Bears broke the 55-point all-time record in their most recent game against Centennial. On Friday, September 5th, the Hammond Golden Bears Varsity Football Team stormed into the 2025 season with a statement victory, hanging 60 points over Centennial in a dominating 60-25 win.

It is this kind of offensive explosion that Hammond students will never forget. Hammond’s sideline roared with energy throughout the entire game. Every big play fueled the next and the Golden Bears never let up.

Even with the game firmly in hand by the second half, the Golden Bears kept the same powerful energy all night long. The Golden Bears offensive performance marked a milestone for a program that has been progressively building up momentum.

Hammond dominated the rushing offense, gathering a total of 297 rushing yards as a team. The team’s running back, Jaden Asaah-Timothy, set a new career-high in rushing yards, gaining a total of 127 yards with two touchdowns on 13 carries. 

Lazaro Ribalta, the team’s quarterback, also set a new career-high in rushing yards. He rushed for a total of 152 yards with two touchdowns on 11 carries. Ribalta also threw for a total of 242 yards and three touchdowns, completing 72.7% of his passes. 

This dual-threat performance created a balanced offense that Centennial could not take down. “It feels like we’re more focused, and we’ve got a better bond as a team,” Ribalta said. 

On the defensive end, senior Kyon Hairston dominated with 5 tackles and 2 sacks, helping restrict Centennial from making any big offensive plays. The Bears defensive squad as a whole played with aggression, swarming to the ball and feeding off the energy from the offense. Every stop felt like fuel added to the Bears’ fire. “We came out prepared. We came out there not hoping we’d win, but knowing we’d win,” Hairston said.

One of the highlights late in the game came when junior inside linebacker Bernard Ametewee found the end zone, capping off the Golden Bears’ offensive showcase. For many players, it was the most memorable play of the night. “When Bernard literally took the ball out of somebody’s hands and ran for a touchdown—that was definitely my favorite part,” Asaah-Timothy said when asked about his favorite highlight from the game.

Beyond the statistics, the atmosphere at Hammond was electric. Students and families filled the stands, and each touchdown was met with a roar that echoed across the field. For a community that has been waiting for a breakthrough, this game was a turning point. The result of this game was not just a commanding victory: it was a statement that showed that Hammond is ready to compete at a higher level. 

As the Golden Bears look ahead to the rest of the season, this 60 point game stands as both a historic milestone and a source of confidence. If Hammond can replicate this mix of balanced energy and execution, then the 2025 season could be one of the most exciting in the program’s history.