CALHOUN, Ga. - For three-fourths of Tuesday night's GHSA Class AAA boys' soccer playoff game against Jackson, Calhoun's talented team was like the big bad wolf.
There was plenty of huffing and puffing, but the door that was the Jackson goal was still intact. However, just like in the fairy tale, the wolf eventually got his way. An Alex Flores goal with seven minutes left in regulation tied the game at 1, and Gabriel Garcia's goal in overtime gave Calhoun a 2-1 win in the second-round game.
The Yellow Jackets (11-5-2), the Region 6 champions, will face Savannah Arts Academy in a quarterfinal match Friday. A coin flip between the two region titlists will determine home field.
"They're a hard team to score on," said Calhoun coach Matt Rice, who celebrated his 100th career win. "We did a lot of good things early, but we just couldn't finish. We did wear them down some in the second half, and that was a key. We kept our possession and pulled it through."
The Jackets controlled play throughout, outshooting the Red Devils 9-1 in the first half, 17-1 in the second half and 4-0 in overtime. However, six minutes into the second half Dallas Goddin served a long pass over the Calhoun defense. The ball escaped a defender and Josh Delagarza took advantage with a quick shot and goal.
Calhoun finally broke through, thanks to a kind bounce. Garcia passed toward the Jackson goal, but a defender was waiting on it. The ball, though, stayed low to the ground and went through his legs right to Flores, who jabbed the ball past Jackson keeper Diego Mungula.
It took only two minutes in overtime for Flores to return the favor, with Garcia getting a clear shot left of goal and sneaking it under Mungula for the game winner.
"I don't think they get worried," Rice said of his players' attitude in the waning moments of regulation. "They knew the importance of the moment and that the clock was winding down, but I don't think they let things get to them. I knew as long as we stayed within ourselves we could create a chance to win the ball game and they did."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22.