Southeast Whitfield scored twice in the second period of overtime to stun Northwest Whitfield 3-2 Friday night in Tunnel Hill, winning the GHSA Region 7-AAAA boys’ soccer championship and earning the region’s top seed heading into the upcoming state playoffs.
The visiting Raiders (14-2-3, 6-0), the reigning Class AAAA state champions, tied the game at 2 with less than five minutes left in the second period of overtime off a Jerry Favela corner kick, with Angel Garcia heading it home. Two minutes later, Leo Barajas, off a crossing free kick from Nathan Villanueva, scored the goal that held up as the winner.
“My guys never quit,” Southeast coach Hector Holguin said. “We aren’t special or super talented, but we never, ever quit. Our guys will begin practice, run 20 40-yard hill sprints and go straight into a 20-minute scrimmage. We practice in a rough environment so that we can play in any type of environment.
“That’s why I felt fine despite being down 2-1 late in overtime. I knew my guys would score – they just always find a way.”
The game was scoreless at halftime, but the Bruins (11-4-1, 5-1) got the game’s first goal on a Hayden Adams header. Villanueva put one past Northwest keeper Jose Mendiola to tie it with 25 minutes to play. Each team missed on good scoring chances late to send the game into overtime.