Boyd-Buchanan's soccer team won 5-2 over Hixson during the regular season. The Buccaneers equaled that offensive output in the first half of Tuesday's Region 3-AA semifinal.
The Bucs scored five goals in the first 40 minutes and advanced to the region final at East Hamilton with a 6-0 victory over the depleted Wildcats.
Boyd-Buchanan (15-3) and the 15-1 Hurricanes will play at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Both already have qualified for the Class A/AA sectional, opposite Chattanooga Christian and Notre Dame.
"We're young, so we still kind of watch the guys, but we knew they were pumped and ready," Boyd-Buchanan coach Jason Owens said.
That readiness led to three goals in the first 13 minutes of the match, the first on a touch goal by Kenny Diaz. Mason Wortman and Chase Reed had the next two, and Ian Pilgrim made it 4-0 in the 34th minute.
Hixson suffered an own goal right before halftime.
"We didn't necessarily expect the offensive output in the first half, but it didn't surprise us," Owens said. "We've had a couple good days of training. The guys know how to score, and it was clicking tonight."
Zach Jenkins scored the second-half goal off a free kick by Wortman 16 minutes in.
The Wildcats (10-9) reached the region tournament in a season with injuries before and during the season and a lot of turnover within the roster as the season went along. They lost two players Monday.
"For us to get this far is a huge accomplishment," Hixson coach Jeff Dean said. "It was a long season, and the guys could've laid down, but they played their hearts out."