Overtime Goal Sinks Rebels in 13th-District Final

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After scoring a late goal to tie the match and force overtime in Tuesday’s 13th-District final, the Todd County Central boys’ soccer team saw its district-title dreams dashed in the final seconds of a 2-1 loss to hosts Franklin-Simpson.

The teams split a pair of matches decided by one goal during the regular season, including a penalty-kick shootout win for the Rebels and an overtime victory for the Wildcats, so it was only fitting Tuesday’s rubber match would go down to the wire.

The Rebels enjoyed the better scoring chances over the first 25 minutes, highlighted by a Zack Robinson header that went wide and a shot saved after Tanner Henderson got behind the Wildcat defense.

However, after Franklin-Simpson forced Rebel goalkeeper Jonah Rager into his first save of the match in the 23rd minute, the Wildcats began to apply some pressure.

Gabe Jones had a header and a free kick saved in quick succession before rising highest at the far post to nod a corner kick into the net for a 1-0 Franklin-Simpson lead in the 32nd minute.

Early in the 2nd half, Henderson got in the box on the left for the Rebels and played a ball across to Grady Reding, but his shot went wide at the far post.

The Rebels found the equalizer with only four minutes left to play when Robinson headed home at the far post off a corner kick from Chris Salazar, sending the match to overtime.

Todd Central dodged a bullet when the Wildcats’ Jones headed over the bar from close range with just over three minutes left in the second OT.  But with a shootout looming, Franklin-Simpson freshman Oscar Lopez found some space at the top of the box and buried a left-footed shot inside the far post with only seconds remaining to break Rebel hearts.

Rager made four saves for the Rebels, as did Franklin-Simpson goalkeeper Connor Vincent.

The Rebels suffered only their third defeat of the season and will play in next week’s 4th-Region tournament for the first time since 2013.

Franklin-Simpson won its third-straight district title and improved to 15-6-1.

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