Boys soccer playoffs: Johnson looks to extend streak; GHS, Hab, NoFo face brutal Sweet 16

Class 4A No. 1-ranked and defending Class 4A state champion Johnson will lead six northeast Georgia-area teams into Friday's second round action of the Georgia High School Association soccer playoffs.

The reigning state champs come into their second round matchup with No. 6 Druid Hills riding an 11-match postseason winning streak. However, the Knights (15-1-1) struggled in their first-round game, needing a late goal to hold off fourth-seeded Stockbridge 2-1 last week.

“Stockbridge was a solid squad and played us hard,” Johnson coach Frank Zamora said. “We missed a few opportunities early in the game that could have changed the outcome. We’ll need to improve with our chances in the final third.”

Still, Johnson brings in a 12-match winning streak in 2024 and has won 15 straight postseason matches at The Dungeon going back to an opening-round loss to Grady in 2017. Druid Hills (12-5-1) is 3-2 on the road in 2024, including an impressive 2-0 win last week at Cedartown.

“Druid Hills is a very good team,” Zamora said. “They are fast, strong and physical. We will have to have an overall solid performance from the entire squad. We will have to click in the final third and take advantage of the opportunities early.”

Defensively is where this current Knights squad excels. They have pitched six shutouts and surrendered just 17 goals. Only once, in a 5-4 win over rival Gainesville, has anyone scored more than 2 in a match this season.

Also, on Friday, North Forsyth (18-1) comes in as the No. 2 seed from Region 8-6A, ranked fourth in 6A, and tied for the most wins in Class 6A. Gainesville is the No. 3 seed from 8-6A. But North Forsyth’s pair of 3-2 wins over Gainesville eventually landed them the higher seed.

Longtime Red Elephants’ coach Eli Viviant said they are a dangerous team, and if not for some “unlucky bounces,” they were in line for a possible region title. They head to No. 1-ranked and nationally fourth-ranked River Ridge (17-1). River Ridge was ranked No. 1 in the nation for a good chunk of the season before dropping a 1-0 decision to Class 7A Hillgrove. However, the Knights have outscored their opponents 71-12 and have nine shutouts on defense.

“We have had an unlucky season where bounces haven't really gone our way,” he said. “We had two losses in (penalty kicks), two more in the 2nd overtime. We have been in all our games this year, never losing by more than one and leading most of our games at some point.”

River Ridge is a really strong team.  I don't think that they have any weaknesses,” Viviant said. “But I think that we can play with anyone. The goal for us will be to stay in the game. We might not have possession of the ball, but when it comes our way, we will try to make it count. Hopefully, this time of the year, the bounces will go our way.”

(Check below for the full schedule of games on Friday.)