JA Raider Soccer matched up with Hartfield Academy in the Division 1 State Championship Game at MRA for the rubber match between the two teams. Hartfield won the first meeting on penalty kicks in December at Raider Field, but the Raiders returned the favor with a 5-0 win in Flowood a few weeks ago. That set the stage for an epic Title Game.

The early stage of the game was played in the JA offensive end and the Raiders were able to break through first with a goal by freshman Ben Jones as he scored his 13th goal of the year in the 19th minute. The Raiders earned a corner kick and a perfectly placed ball by Hudson Hadley found the head of Tate Collins for a 2-0 advantage for the Raiders. In the second half JA would tack on another goal by Collins as he scored from 28 yards out on a free kick to make it a 3-0 lead. But the Hawks weren?t done, as three minutes later as Matthew Barone scored on a loose ball in the box. Then in the 62nd minute Caleb Jones headed in a free kick to make it a one goal game. Ben Jones capped the scoring with a goal in the 76th minute to put the game out of reach as JA won their second straight state title and 10th in school history.

Pic courtesy of iE3Photo.