TO THE BITTER END
After seeing Toombs County build two-goal lead, Model can’t dig out of hole despite inspired play in second half
A historic season didn’t have the storybook ending the Model Blue Devils and their supporters were hoping for Wednesday night.
Model, which advanced past the state semifinals for the first time in program history with a win over Providence Christian last Friday, fell behind by two goals in the first half Wednesday. Despite a determined, no-quit effort in the final 40 minutes that led to several offensive chances, the Devils couldn’t dig out of the hole, falling 2-0 to Toombs County in the Class AA state championship game at Mercer University.
After a strong first 10 minutes of the game that resulted in multiple offensive chances for Model (211-1), Toombs County turned the momentum around from there. The Bulldogs were able to control possession for much of the rest of the first half and eventually cashed in one of their quality offensive chances in the 28th minute, when Yovanny Zamorano corralled a loose ball in the box and rocketed a shot past the Model goalkeeper and into the bottom left corner of the net to make it 1-0.
Just a minute later, Toombs County (20-3) threatened again with a ball deep in the box that resulted in a Model foul and a penalty kick awarded to the Bulldogs. Toombs County defender Braylen Dietrich came up to take the attempt and sent a powerful shot into the right side of the net to make it 2-0.
That was the score at the half as Model had a couple deep throwin opportunities in the closing minutes of the first half, but not much else.
“We talked at halftime about being down 2-0, and we could either let them continue to control the game or we could go out there and fight,” Model head coach Donnie Mendence said. “And our guys went out there in the second half and really battled to the end. They continued to attack and play hard, but we just couldn’t finish the opportunities we needed to. We just thought, if we could get that first goal and make it 2-1, then maybe we could make (Toombs County) feel the pressure a little bit, but we just couldn’t get that goal to make it happen.”
Shortly into the second half, Model’s Wyatt Patterson got behind the Toombs County defense and had a chance to put a shot toward the goal, but he couldn’t quite direct it where it needed to go, resulting in the ball going wide for a goal kick.
A few minutes later, Lakin Dancause’s header off a long pass was saved by Toombs County goalkeeper Tucker Brodnax to prevent another possible goal for the Devils.
In the 69th minute, Elijah Marshall found Model teammate Evans Drinkard on the wing with a nice through pass, but Drinkard’s shot hit off the post and bounced out for a goal kick as Toombs County avoided yet another possible goal by Model to cut into the deficit.
Model’s Benton Potts had the last solid opportunity with a shot from just outside the box in the 71st minute, but it sailed high as the Bulldogs’ two-goal advantage stood up to the end as a frustrating night eventually came to a close with the Devils falling just short in their first chance to win in a state championship.
“I think that’s the most disappointing part when you look at this game, is I think we played pretty well. We had long parts of the game where I thought we really controlled things, but we just couldn’t capitalize and finish goals. That’s the way this game goes sometimes,” Mendence said. “There were really those two minutes in the first half where we made a couple mistakes that helped (Toombs County) get that lead. If we could take that out of it, it would’ve been a different game, but that’s not how it works, and you’ve got to give credit to (Toombs County). They are a very good team and deserved to win.”
Brodnax finished with five saves as he preserved the shutout for Toombs County, along with strong play from the defensive back line.
Model goalkeeper Tanner Couey made multiple saves in the second half as well to keep the Devils within two of the lead.
After the Devils’ first trip to the state championship game, which followed a season in which they won another region title and went undefeated at home, Mendence said he was proud of what his team accomplished, despite the loss Wednesday, and hoped the program would continue to build and get a chance at more state championship games in the future.
“This was a special group, and we still did something we’ve never done before just playing here tonight,” Mendence said. “We’ve got six seniors with some really good players in that group, but we have a lot of guys that made a big impact this year that will be coming back. We want to keep working hard to get better and make sure Model soccer continues to be able to compete in games like this.”