CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Initially, Graham Hammond was trying to get out of the way.
Then a ricochet put the Cleveland High School senior soccer player right in the middle of the game’s most important turn of events, and he made the most of the opportunity.
Hammond connected on the game-winning goal in the 102nd minute, and the Blue Raiders claimed their first District 5-AAA championship since 2013 with a 3-2 overtime victory against McMinn County on Wednesday.
The Class AAA 10th-ranked Raiders (14-2-3) will face the loser of the District 6-AAA final between Warren County and Cookeville in next week’s Region 3-AAA semifinals, while the Cherokees (12-9) will travel to the winner.
Hammond had two of his team’s three goals, helping Cleveland rally from a pair of one-goal deficits.