CLINTON — Less than a minute into the second half, Scott High broke a scoreless deadlock with one of its prettiest offensive possessions of the season.
Connor Stanley found Hugo Henry on a perfectly-placed through-ball. Henry timed his break perfectly, and found himself in a one-on-one battle with the Clinton goalkeeper, putting the ball into the back of the net and giving the Highlanders a 1-0 lead.
But the lead would last less than five minutes before Clinton scored on a rebound to tie the game. The Dragons went on to score two more unanswered goals, winning 3-1 and ending Scott High's season in the District 5-AA semifinals.
The game was not without controversy. Scott High appeared to score when Stanley booted the ball home from the back side off a corner kick. The Clinton keeper snagged the ball, but it appeared to be past the post. Highlander players celebrated, but the referee did not award a goal.
The goal would have given the Highlanders a 2-0 lead with 35 minutes remaining.
Less than a minute later, Clinton scored the game-tying goal, and the sequence of events seemed to take the wind out of the Highlanders' sails. The Dragons took the lead on a free kick with 25 minutes remaining, then added an insurance goal 10 minutes later.
Scott had several chances down the stretch, but could not connect.
“I had three guys that were right there and at some point the (assistant ref) on this side said it didn't touch the net, which has absolutely nothing to do with anything,” Scott High coach Eric Henry said of the goal that was not awarded. “I have no idea.”
The Highlanders lost defender Andy Blevins in the first half with a broken collarbone. He was admitted to the hospital and was scheduled for surgery on Tuesday.
“That was disappointing,” Henry said. “He qualified for sectionals in track and now he's not going to get to run. That hurts.”
Henry applauded his seniors, pointing out that they lost their freshman year due to covid.
“Clayton (Carroll) probably should have been in the games more last year,” he said. “He's deceptive. He moves really good. Adrian (Parra) and Luke (Bowling), both of those keepers did an exceptional job for us all year long; as good as anybody could've asked for. Nolan Cotton is a great defender. I always thought he was an offensive player but he asked to play defense and he did great. Connor Stanley, I can't say enough about that young man. He's one of the guys you get and you're glad you got him for four years. He has great foot skills and great vision.”
Henry said he was disappointed in the way the season ended.
“We had aspirations to be playing beyond tonight,” he said. “But it is what it is. I love the boys. I'm proud of them. I know they're disappointed. They deserve better than what they get from the TSSAA and the referee association.”
