Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
JACKSON — Performances like Thursday’s show why Gallia Academy has been one of the premier programs in Southeast Ohio throughout the last five years.
There’s a level of grit, resiliency and determination that the Blue Devils play with that simply wears opponents down. Jackson was the latest to feel that in full force.
The Blue Devils scored twice in the last 22 minutes, including the game-winner with less than two minutes to play, sealing a massive 2-1 victory over the Ironmen.
CREDIT: Brock Netter/SOSA
“This was a grind, and completely different in terms of the way we’ve done things this season,” Gallia Academy coach Cory Camden said. “It took us a lot of time to finally click, and missing a penalty kick, it felt like we were dead at that point. Our legs were gassed, but that’s also, in part, to us not playing for a week. Jackson is a really good team and they did a great job disrupting what we wanted to do. But we found a way somehow.”
Having moved from Division IV to Division III this season, Gallia Academy (9-1-1) understood the importance of the match from a tournament-seeding standpoint.
However, Jackson (9-2) was on the attack early and often. The Ironmen held an early shot advantage, but was unable to put one across the goal line.
The Blue Devils countered and got off a number of shots themselves But, much like the Ironmen, nothing was finding the back of the net.
The minutes continued to tick as the stalemate unfolded, until the Blue Devils were whistled for a foul in the box. That set up Grady Massie to take the penalty shot and strike the back of the net to put Jackson ahead 1-0 just before halftime.
PHOTOS: Images from Gallia Academy’s win over Jackson
“It was all or nothing all that time. We needed to get some fuel off the bench and figure out a way to score,” Gallia Academy’s Beckett Camden said. “We made some tactical changes during halftime and went right back at it.”
Jackson continued to be aggressive in the second half, but it got caught for a handball in the box to set up Gallia for a penalty shot.
But keeper Tanner Jenkins guessed correctly, dove to his left and made the save to keep the lead intact.
The Blue Devils continued to push, and was awarded a corner. That was just the chance it needed and Nathan Shockey sent the ball right to Camden, who finished with a header into the back of the net for a 1-1 tie.
“I missed that penalty shot, and I told myself that we were not going out like that,” Camden said. “I saw that they were marking me so close, so I gave a little jab step and cut in. Shockey hit me on a perfect ball right at the six and I got my head on it. I probably would have missed it if I hadn’t cut my hair a while ago. So, luckily, it just slid right off into the back post.”
The sense of urgency picked up for both squads and they emptied their tanks trying to get the go-ahead goal.
Jackson had a great look with a 1-v-1 chance, but pushed the shot slightly left of the net.
That missed chance turned into Gallia’s gain.
With less than two minutes left, the Blue Devils cleared the ball and Colton Reed took off in a dead sprint, caught up to the it, beat the keeper and found the back of the net for the game-winning goal at the 1:59 mark in the second half.
“It was such an awesome feeling. We caught them a little off-guard and played the ball over the top,” Reed said. “Honestly, I thought I missed the shot. But luckily, the turf let it curve on me and it slipped into the left post. This game is big for us. It came down to composure and aggressiveness. We’ll possibly see them again in the tournament, so this win was nice to get.”
Gallia Academy, who topped Ironton by a 2-0 final on Saturday, returns to action on Tuesday at Fairland. Jackson travels to Miami Trace that same evening for FAC action.
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