OAKWOOD, Ga. — No. 3 Cedar Shoals came into Tuesday’s showdown with No. 1 Johnson with a chance to show it was ready to challenge not just for a Region 8-4A title but even a state championship.
Instead, the Jaguars left The Dungeon as the Knights 60th consecutive region victim after they rolled to a 6-1 win.
The win kept Johnson (8-1-1, 7-0 Region 8-4A) as the only remaining unbeaten team in the region and now with at least a two-game lead over both the Jaguars (8-3-1, 7-3 Region 8-4A), who have completed their region schedule, and Cherokee Bluff (8-4-1, 5-2 Region 8-4A).
The Knights wasted little time in jumping on the Jaguars. Edgar Vazquez one-timed a Junior Castillo cross just 10 minutes into the match for a 1-0 lead.
Yandel Castillo scored from a shot inside the box off Josue Mendoza assist midway through the half and then Vazquez struck again with just 30 seconds left in the half for a 3-0 lead.
“Another solid performance by the boys. It seems like we're clicking at the right time here towards the end of the season,” Johnson coach Frank Zamora said. Definitely proud and happy with this one and now we’ll turn the page and focus on Cherokee Bluff.”
Cedar Shoals closed the gap to 3-1 midway through the second half but Johnson put an end to any upset bid. The Knights scored three times in the final 15 minutes on goals by Santiago Villarrea, Jordy Acosta from a shot outside the box, and then Castillo again.
The Knights have yet to clinch anything with three huge region games left, all on the road. They begin their final road trip on Thursday traveling to take on the Bears, who knocked off No. 8 Chestatee on Tuesday, 2-1 in overtime.
“That's another big region game for us on Thursday,” Zamora said.
