GMC Prep takes control in the first half en route to third GHSA state boys soccer title since 2019
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Photo: Brad Harrison/Special to The Central Georgia Sports Report
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
It took awhile for GMC Prep to hit the back of the net, but when that finally happened, it opened the door.
And the Bulldogs’ defense did its part to shut the door on the other side.
GMC scored three times in the final 25 minutes of the first half and kept it going to beat Atkinson County 4-1 Tuesday night in the GHSA Class A/Division II boys state soccer championship at Mercer’s Five Star Stadium.
The Bulldogs finish the season at 17-2, the Rebels at 14-4-2.
The win broke a two-year championship drought, GMC winning the Class A Public titles in 2019 and 2021. There was no soccer season in 2020 because of COVID-19.
GMC lost 2-1 to Christian Heritage – which beat Atkinson County 3-1 in the semifinal – in last year’s championship. The Bulldogs lost in the 2022 semifinals to eventual champ Dalton Academy 5-1.
Photo: Brad Harrison/Special to The Central Georgia Sports Report
Sophomore Tommy Carty scored twice to lead the Bulldogs, with senior Brian Sherwood and sophomore Bennie Huff IV each adding a goal and two assists. Senior Owen McCabe, one of four Bulldogs to play all 80 minutes, had an assist.
Freshman keeper Hayden Wells had six saves on seven shots on goal.
Carty put GMC on the board at the 25:30 mark on a header from Sherwood’s corner kick, Huff adding another goal five minutes later on McCabe’s crossing pass in front of the goal.
Sherwood gave the Bulldogs a momentum boost with a goal in the final minute of the first half, drilling a missile from the left side.
Atkinson County got on the board early in the second half, but GMC’s defense responded. Then Carty sealed it, dribbling through traffic before his left-footer curled into the right side of the net with less than 10 minutes left.