Blue Devils get last-minute goal in 4-3 win

Matthew Syverson followed through on a throw-in from Jason Ortega with 40 seconds left in regulation to score and give Model’s boys’ soccer team the 4-3 win Thursday over Ridgeland in its season opener.

Syverson’s goal came after Ridgeland had tied the game on a penalty kick a few minutes earlier. Model held a 2-1 lead early in the second half.

Ortega finished with two goals for the Blue Devils (1-0), while Tee Jarrard had two assists. Greyson Padgett scored a goal, and Syverson had an assist as well. Model keeper David Clark had nine saves in the game, including one on a penalty kick.

Model will travel to Chattooga today for 7 p.m. match to open Region 7-AA play.

In other action:

Model girls 10, Ridgeland 0

The Model girls’ soccer team exploded out of the gate to roll up a 10-0 win over Ridgeland to start the season Thursday as the game was called after 37 minutes due to the mercy rule.

Jennifer Espinoza and Lauren Akemon each had four goals and an assist for the Lady Blue Devils (1-0), while Nora Grace Snow added a pair of goals. Anna Ruth Parker had two assists, and keeper Bethany Crawley recorded three saves.

Model will be back in action today at Chattooga for a 5 p.m. game.

TENNIS Model boys 4, Armuchee 1

The Model boys’ tennis team got a 4-1 win over Region 7-AA rival Armuchee on Thursday.

Parker Stone and Micah Veillon led the charge for the Blue Devils in singles play, with Stone winning 6-4, 6-2 in the No. 1 spot and Veillon winning 6-4, 6-3 at No. 3. Armuchee’s lone win came at No. 2 singles as Levi Johnson won 6-2, 6-1.

Model swept the doubles matches with Justin Roberts and Eli Abdou winning 6-0, 6-4 at No. 1 doubles, and Barton Sapota and Chase Geier winning 7-5, 6-1 at No. 2 doubles.

Both teams will be back on the court Monday as Model takes on Coosa at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College and Armuchee travels to Rockmart.

Armuchee girls 4, Model 1

Sisters Brook and Hannah Dellis anchored a 4-1 win for the Armuchee girls’ tennis team Thursday over Model.

Brook Dellis won her No. 1 singles match 6-1, 6-1, while Hannah Dellis won at No. 2 singles, 6-2, 6-1. The No. 1 doubles team of Chloe Purdy and Madison Bartlett fought back after losing the first game, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Armuchee will be on the road Monday at Rockmart, while Model takes on Coosa at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College.

Pepperell boys 3, Gordon Central 2

Pepperell’s No. 2 doubles team of Wheeler Mathis and Blake Galenzoski fought through a marathon match Thursday to win and give the Dragons a 3-2 victory over Gordon Central on the road.

After winning the first game 7-6 (7-4), Mathis and Galenzoski fell 4-6 in the second game before pulling out a win in a 10-point tiebreaker, 11-9.

Tyler Welchel and Kolby Legg took the No. 1 doubles match 6-3, 6-1, while Zane Camp won 6-2, 6-4 at No. 1 singles.

Pepperell (2-2) travels to Summerville to play Chattooga on Monday.

Gordon Central girls 4, Pepperell 1

The Pepperell girls’ tennis team lost 4-1 at Gordon Central on Thursday.

Kaylee Mansell was the lone winner for the Lady Dragons, as she took her No. 3 singles match with a score of 6-0, 6-2.

Pepperell (1-3) travels to Summerville to play Chattooga on Monday.

Coosa boys 5, Chattooga 0

It was a sweep for the Coosa boys’ tennis team Thursday with a 5-0 win over Chattooga.

Taking the singles matches were Joseph Smyth (60, 6-1), Jay Tumlin (6-1, 6-1) and Zac Mitchell (6-4, 6-0). Jordan Broome and Jayden Cave won the No. 1 doubles match 6-3, 6-4, while Bradley Johnson and Brady Jacobs won at No. 2 doubles, 6-2, 6-3.

Coosa takes on Model on Monday at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College.

Coosa girls 3, Chattooga 2

Early struggles led to comeback wins for the Coosa girls’ tennis team Thursday in a 3-2 win over Chattooga.

Coosa’s Victoria Thomaston dropped her first game at No. 2 singles before rallying back to take the match 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. Sadie Hagen and Alexis Holmes took a similar route before winning their No. 1 doubles match 6-7, 6-1, 6-2.

Keegan Justice won at No. 3 singles for Coosa, 6-1, 6-2.

Coosa takes on Model on Monday at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College.