Northview Titans Varsity Boys Game Summaries
Northview v. Chattahoochee Cougars 1-4
March 8, 2008
This is the big game for a lot of people, - the local rival, Chattahoochee, who lost in the State Final last year. The game was delayed because of bad weather but, the Titans kicked-off their fourth game in a week in a 4-4-2 formation:-
Carter Rhoad
Tyler Chamblin Caulin Collier Jarrod Neser Russell Bradford
Chris Britton Jacob Lee Tanner Chamblin Dan Schwartz
Jeffrey Degen Eric Carrion
The game got off to a good start with the Titans holding their own against the #2 ranked team in the state. In fact, they were very hard done by in the 5th minute when Eric Carrion was clean through into the penalty box only to be brought down. Amazingly, the referee did not call a penalty – even the visiting Walton coach agreed with me that it should have been a penalty! Northview were looking the better team and in the 8th minute Jacob Lee and Jeffrey Degen fed Dan Schwartz but he fired high and wide. Looking to keep the momentum going, Coach C brought on Jason Scannella for Chris Britton after 9 minutes. Eric Carrion was unlucky when he chased down a bad back pass to the Hooch keeper who scrambled to kick clear but he ricocheted the ball off Eric and it ran for a throw-in. Hooch escaped again in the 21st minute. Caulin Collier took a fre kick from midfield and the keeper fumbled the ball. Tanner Chamblin tried to bundle the ball over the line but couldn’t, however, the referee bizarrely called a foul on Tanner. Jarrod Neser was there to stop the Cougars during one of their rare attacks in the 23rd minute.
The Titans were playing very well but the Hooch defense held firm. Will Whorton replaced Eric Carrion upfront after 28 minutes and within two minutes, Will hit a great left footed shot past the Hooch keeper to give Northview a thoroughly well-deserved lead 1 – 0. The Cougars tried to get back and a low cross was cleared by Russell Bradford for a corner in the 33rd minute. Tanner Chamblin cleared the corner. Chad Elsey subbed-in for Russell after 34 minutes. Will Whorton was replaced by Eric Carrion after he was yellow carded with three minutes left in the half. Jacob Lee then had a close call with a shot just wide but Hooch came straight back and rather luckily, equalized with 90 seconds left after a wicked deflection from a cross fell straight at the feet of a Hooch player.
A great first half performance by the Titans, who were very unfortunate not to have led by two goals at the half. Would they regret it? Possibly, as we could all see the CHS Coach laying into the Hooch players during his half time “talk”. The Titans began the second half with the starting line up except for Jason Scannella replacing Chris Britton and Chad Elsey replacing Russell Bradford.
Sure enough, Hooch began the half by playing with much more intensity. In the 52nd minute Hooch had a great chance to take the lead as Carter Rhoad could only parry the ball and the Hooch player missed an open goal. Both teams had some chances and in the 57th minute Chris Britton came back on for Jason Scannella then Russell Bradford replaced Chad Elsey so the starting Titans’ line up was back on the field. Hooch took the lead when a free kick from the right wing was not cleared and as it came out of the box on the other side of the field Hooch hit it straight back in and scored to lead 2 – 1.
Looking to get back involved, Coach C brought Will back on for Eric and Jamie Sanclemente for Chris. Russell Bradford had a shot tipped for a corner and from that Tanner Chamblin just missed with a header. With 12 minutes left Caulin Collier received a yellow card and Chad Elsey came on in his place. Caulin returned, replacing Russell, as did Eric for Will. The Titans had played better in the first half but were still in the game until the wheels came off in the last five minutes. A long range shot was deflected for a corner by Carter Rhoad and from the corner the ball was deflected once again and Hooch took the lead 3 – 1. Just after that, a missed tackle in midfield led to the ball going over to the Hooch left wing and as Carter came out the ball was chipped over him to give Hooch the win 4 – 1.
A cruel score line which does not reflect the great performance by Northview. They should have had a lead at half time and only their capitulation in the last few minutes of the game made the game look one sided. Hooch will have been very glad to come out of this game with a win!
Final score: Northview Titans 1 – 4 Chattahoochee Cougars
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