Red Bank soccer coach Wade Il Vento heard that Boyd-Buchanan was "good in the air" and had an uncanny ability to score off headers.
The Buccaneers validated that Monday night.
Kade Owens and David Ingram scored first-half goals, and the third-ranked Bucs advanced to the Region 3-A/AA championship with a 3-0 win over Red Bank. Boyd-Buchanan (16-0-1) will face the winner of today's semifinal between Loudon and East Ridge in Thursday's championship, with the Bucs either hosting Loudon or traveling to East Ridge.
"We're thankful to get the win and have the opportunity to move on," Boyd-Buchanan coach Dustin Walker said. "I'm proud of our guys, how we came out and put them under pressure from the get-go."
Each of the Bucs' goals came off a header. They controlled the flow of play for most of the first half but were unable to put away any opportunities until Owens converted in the 21st minute off a John Beasley throw-in.
"We knew whoever got the first one, the match would go easier for them," said Beasley, the District 5-A/AA player of the year. "We knew if we kept pressure it would fall, so we kept doing what we were doing."
Ingram was assisted by Hayes Wood five minutes before halftime.
The Lions (13-3) started to mount an offensive attack in the second half, at times putting the Boyd-Buchanan defense on its heels and creating a few opportunties, but they were unable to capitalize with a goal.
The Bucs' Asa Owens did, though, putting another header away late in the second half.
Red Bank's Will Davis, who will play college football at Austin Peay, had a solid match in goal for the Lions, finishing with 11 saves - and ranging high for a few - against shots on goal.
The Lions had played 120 minutes in each of their past two matches, needing kicks from the penalty mark to defeat Hixson in the District 6-A/AA semifinal before falling to East Ridge in the 120th minute in the championship match.
"The future is bright for us," Il Vento said. "I love the fact that we didn't roll over, give up a bunch of goals. We held it close and tried to keep it interesting.
"We're a little worn, but I don't think it showed on the field. That's just a great team in Boyd."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreeprerss.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.