Clarke Central High School boys varsity winger Yamil Garcia slide tackles a Cedar Shoals High School player in Billy Henderson Stadium on Feb. 13. The Gladiators won the title of Classic City Champions with a score of 3-1, making 2025 the 11th straight year the Jaguars have failed to win the rivalry. “(I’m) definitely disappointed with the results. We always want to win every game we play, especially a rivalry game like this. But as far as the performance, I’m very proud,” CSHS boys varsity head coach Conor Naughton said. Photo by Grady Dunston
In the boys varsity soccer Classic City Championship, the Gladiators beat Cedar Shoals High School 3-1 in Billy Henderson Stadium on Feb. 13.
The Clarke Central High School boys varsity soccer team continued their two-game win streak in a game against crosstown rival Cedar Shoals High School, winning by a score of 3-1 on Feb. 13 in Billy Henderson Stadium.
The game started off with a slow offensive performance as both teams struggled to get shots on target in the first 10 minutes amid a frantic, high-tempo atmosphere that had spectators roaring for every tackle and piece of skill.
Another setback came when the Jaguars’ goalkeeper, Miguel Marcos-Ventura, a senior, suffered an injury and had to be taken off the field before either team had managed to score any goals.
“We had a lot of things that just didn’t go our way that we’re not in our control. (We) had a really serious injury to our goalkeeper in the first few minutes and that was a tough thing to respond to,” CSHS boys varsity head coach Conor Naughton said.
However, after this, the game picked up. Despite an earlier missed opportunity to score, CCHS right winger Yamil Garcia, a junior, played a key role in changing the pace of the game, tapping the ball in after a free kick by CCHS central midfielder Heinkel Mejia was spilled onto the goal line.
“It felt great to help score,” Mejia said. “It gave us momentum (and) it’s great to have momentum at the start of a game. Momentum wins you games.”
For the next 16 minutes, both teams found it challenging to break through the other’s defenses. Neither team had many shots on the net and when they did, they were quickly stopped by the goalkeepers.
With 12 minutes left in the first half, CCHS striker Henry Payne, a sophomore with five goals to his name already this season, latched onto a through ball and broke through the Jaguars’ defense. He kept control of the ball despite pressure and fired a shot into the bottom corner of the net, extending the Gladiators’ lead heading into halftime.
“To get that lead heading in half time up 2-0 gave us a lot of confidence and we started playing even better,” CCHS head boys varsity soccer coach Christopher Aiken said. “Defense performed extremely well. This is now three games that we’ve given up one goal or less, so defense has been playing very well.”
“Anytime you play in an atmosphere like this, an intense rivalry game, to see (the team) stay composed throughout the whole game, we didn’t get any yellow cards (or) give up any bad fouls, so (the team) really executed well throughout the start to finish of the game.”
— Christopher Aiken,
CCHS head boys varsity soccer coach
At the start of the second half, despite more attempts on scoring from the Jaguars and Gladiators, both teams were unsuccessful until 12 minutes in, when Mejia scored again with a flicked header off a free kick from CCHS central midfielder Paolo Calabria, a junior, making the score 3-0.
However, with 20 minutes remaining, CSHS striker Damon Davis, a senior, responded with a looped header from CSHS midfielder Wyatt Gehner’s cross, giving the Jaguars a route back into the game.
“It definitely gave us some life, definitely gave us some energy. You could feel it from the bench: everyone was fired up, you could sense it on the field. It brought back a little bit of confidence,” Naughton said.
With the match almost over, tensions arose and the game grew more frantic. Possession shifted rapidly as both teams pushed forward, leading to heated exchanges from players on the field.
Still, the Gladiators held on and were able to claim the title of 2025 Classic City Champions with a student section cheering them on and a final score of 3-1.
“To put three in the back of the net and only give up one, you’re proud of that type of effort,” Aiken said. “Anytime you play in an atmosphere like this, an intense rivalry game, to see (the team) stay composed throughout the whole game, we didn’t get any yellow cards (or) give up any bad fouls, so (the team) really executed well throughout the start to finish of the game.”
