seymour wins soccer thriller

Friday evening’s game between the Carter and Seymour soccer teams may have just raised the bar. 

Again. 

A rivalry fueled by bitterness and constantly increasing with each sporting event became another step steeper as the conclusion of the 3-2 Seymour victory. The Region 3AA schools that are often so evenly matched no matter what the sport, finished with interesting fashion on the same field where the two schools played football earlier this school year.

A Chase Parrott goal in stoppage time provided the story-book ending for the Eagles.  But the celebration afterwards was reason for concern for Carter’s head coach, Gene Chunn.  Chunn hesitated to have his team meet the Eagles (6-0-3, 4-0-1) for the post-game handshake, but eventually cooled off and decided to congratulate the winning Eagles with a round of applause in front of their bench.

The game-winner, which was Parrott’s first goal of the game came parallel with the longing coaching staff’s urge to step it up for the final few minutes of the contest.  “You’ve gotta want it more!  You’ve gotta want it now!”  As the final whistle blew, it was evident that indeed, the Eagles wanted it more. 

The Eagles commanded the game early, but they knew that the talented Carter team (8-3, 5-1) is as dangerous as it gets in district play.  The winner of this game would likely have home field advantage throughout the opening rounds of the fast-approaching playoffs.

The opening goal of the night came on behalf of a Spenser Proctor header in just the third minute of play.  Parrott assisted on the second goal, which was put in by Kaleb Missildine.  The score was two to nil when the Hornets’ decided to join the action. 

The Hornets are led by a sensational sophomore named Mark Sherrod.  As a Freshman, the oversized slasher was within just a few goals of setting the state record for most goals scored in a single season.  Sherrod scored the Hornets opening goal inside the 37^th minute of play.  His gazelle like speed and big frame will keep Carter in the hunt as long as he wears Green and White.  However, on this night, he would be held in check just enough thanks to a spirited Seymour gameplan. 

The orders of “No, just two people on him!” and “Don’t let him touch the ball” circulated from the Seymour sideline, some aloud, and some under the anxious coaches’ breaths.  Sherrod gave Seymour head coach Mickey Williams and the rest of his staff fits several other times in the game, and found the net once more to tie the game 2-2, but it would not be enough for the Hornets. 

“Yea, he is unbelievable.  He almost got the freshman goal record last year, and he is going against everyone, Catholic, CAK, Farragut...he is better than any of those kids,” said Williams of the Carter phenom. 

“He is a great player, but we are a great team,” added another Eagle’s assistant coach.

With 19 goals this year, Sherrod is four ahead of his closest follower in goals scored this season. 

The Hornets are now fighting an up hill battle for first in the district after the Eagles’ win.  They will face Gibbs and Harriman, while the Eagles are slated to match up with Cosby and Austin East to finish the regular season.