John Bruce, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
KINNIKINNICK — For the third consecutive season, the South Webster Jeeps are heading to the Sweet 16.
A complete, true team effort helped South Webster blank a talented Lynchburg-Clay program by a 4-0 final in Saturday’s Division V district championship game at Zane Trace High School.
Four different Jeeps scored and Sam Murphy pitched another shutout with an impressive showing in goal as the team picked up their 16th win of the season — its biggest yet.
CREDIT: Raymond Gleadle/SOSA
Benaiah Andrews opened the scoring from his outside midfield position, before Brycin McClintic and Hunter Barnard also added goals for the Jeeps (16-1-3) as they surged out in front.
“The switch field was open the whole game. We knew that the side wings were going to open and they played me a through ball and I just put it in,” Andrews said of his goal. “We moved the ball well, played through balls well. Seeing people through, it was just a great offensive game. I said during the game that everyone was getting one. It just feels great that everyone can score. You can trust anyone and you can pass it to anyone. It really takes a lot of weight off of your shoulders.”
The Mustangs (14-5-1) worked to respond throughout the contest, but South Webster’s defense of Cole Bennett, Brayden Barnard, Caden Johnson and Jared Phelps were solid as usual.
The combination of the Jeeps’ backline and Murphy put together their 10th shutout of the season, with the Jeeps giving up around half of the goals they have allowed this season while Murphy was out due to injury.
“It brought a lot of confidence when we found out that he was coming back,” South Webster coach Corey Claxon said. “It gave us much relief and peace of mind to get him back knowing that he can come up with some big saves. Sam is tough back there and you’ve got to have that. You have to have all of the pieces to the puzzle.”
PHOTOS: Images from South Webster’s district title win over Lynchburg-Clay
With Murphy’s miraculous return, the Jeeps have reached a whole new level of play.
“I was in a hospital bed and every single doctor that talked to me said that I would likely miss the rest of the season,” Murphy said. “And I just thank God every single day that I was able to come back and it is in His glory that I was able to come back that fast. I trust my defense a lot. They are always in the right spot and they know what to do. They were able to shut out [Lynchburg’s] strikers today and they have a good offensive team. I’m proud of those guys.”
The second half continued in a similar fashion as the first, but with Lynchburg’s Tanner Roberts making multiple outstanding saves as he was under consistent pressure from the South Webster attack.
Although the Jeeps did add on with a goal from Carson Coriell, Roberts was able to put his skills on display, including saving a penalty kick with a diving attempt to keep the Mustangs within four.
However, LC would not be able to get any closer as the Jeeps finished out their shutout for yet another district championship — the program’s seventh in the past 10 seasons.
With their third consecutive district crown, this year’s roster is loaded with seniors.
“When the seniors came in, they had to jump right in and play, so their freshman year wasn’t the easiest for them,” Claxon said. “But that gave them the experience they needed for the next three years. They are a special group and we’ve known that since they were young and we’d like to push that for as long as we can.”
While Lynchburg-Clay’s season comes to an end, the Jeeps will advance to a Division V regional semifinal at 7 p.m., Wednesday at Jackson’s Alumni Stadium.
The Jeeps will meet with North Adams, who beat Valley by a 3-1 final to advance.
“It feels great,” Andrews said. “We don’t want to settle for this, but it does feel great.”
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