RABBITTOWN — Averen Samuels doesn't stop. His motor is running all the time. And on Tuesday at East Hall Stadium, he didn't quit until the ball landed in the back of the net.
Samuels booted his fourth goal in two games, the sixth of the playoffs, in the 11th minute of the first half to help lift the Vikings past Islands, 1-0, and into the Class 4A state title game.
Samuels has scored the Vikings' last four goals -- three against Lagrange in the quarterfinals.
East Hall Head Coach Mark Wade said Samuels plays with relentless effort.
"Averen has scored a whole bunch of goals just like that, where it's just an effort goal," he said. "He doesn't give up on the ball. One of the hardest things to do is tell the kids to follow up on shots. I've never had to tell him that. He goes after it all the time.
"The goal really helped us in the first half. I think it took their steam out of them a little bit in the first half and kind of got us through the first half without them putting it on us. I knew the first 10 minutes of the second half they would be all over us and they were."
The Vikings fended off Islands' pressure early on the first half to hold on to the slim 1-0 win.
"It was a great win for us," Wade said. "I just think we fought a little harder there. Early in the second half, they had us on the ropes a little. But we're just thankful for the win. We'll see what's next."
The Vikings will play top-ranked Southeast Whitfield in the title game either Thursday or Friday.
