Once the Boyd-Buchanan soccer team put the “Hammer” down Thursday evening, they never looked back.
The Class A/AA 11th-ranked Buccaneers scored goals in each half, and played one of their most complete matches when it mattered most in defeating Arts & Sciences 2-0 to claim the Region 3-A/AA championship in a match played at Finley Stadium.
With the win, the Bucs (14-5-3) will host sixth-ranked Central Magnet (14-1-2), who lost a 3-2 decision to Signal Mountain in the Region 4-A/AA championship, Saturday in a sectional matchup. The top-ranked Eagles (15-0-2), who claimed their first-ever championship, will host the Patriots (11-7-2) Saturday at 3.
Boyd-Buchanan, who improved to 2-1 against CSAS on the year, started as out the more aggressive team Thursday. Known for their ability to score off set pieces, they threatened early when Zach Jenkins headed a shot that just slid over the goalpost. A similar play minutes later, off a John Beasley throw-in, led to a Jenkins header that traveled to Kenny Diaz, who knocked the ball in for a 1-0 edge.
“I was a little worried we would come out tired after how physically demanding the East Ridge game was,” Boyd-Buchanan coach Dustin Walker said. “We really had to dig deep, but we wanted the region championship. We didn’t have a letdown the entire game.”