By Mark Nagi
It’s become one of the top matchups to watch in TSSAA boys’ soccer. South-Doyle and Station Camp have met on the biggest stage in the last three seasons. Last Friday, they played another classic in the Class AA championship game.
A free kick in the second half would provide all the scoring, as the Bison knocked off the Cherokees 1-0.
“I mean, the whole season, they absolutely played incredible,” said South-Doyle head coach Sam Mitchell. “Today, it really did feel like we had the majority of chances, and we just couldn’t get the finishing touch on it.”
In the first half, the Cherokees had the majority of the run of play, with five shots as compared to only one shot for the Bison. But they couldn’t solve the Holden Preston riddle. The Station Camp goalkeeper had allowed only one non-penalty kick goal in the two games in Murfreesboro.
South-Doyle (20-2-2) and Station Camp played a very physical game, with four yellow cards and a whopping 38 fouls whistled between them. In the 53rd minute, a foul in the Cherokees’ end of the field was called. Station Camp (17-6-1) took advantage when the senior midfielder took the kick almost immediately. His shot from approximately 25 yards out beat the Cherokees’ goalkeeper Kairos McCleland, providing all the scoring in that game.
There was some controversy over the kick’s position on the field, but it counted.
“Obviously, their goal came the way it did, and it’s unfortunate,” said Mithcell. “It is what it is… the kid got his head up, put a great shot on goal. They certainly had chances in the second half, but I felt like we did as well. It was one free kick away. I mean, that’s what’s crazy. It was one free kick away.”
The tally was a rare occurrence. South-Doyle came into this game having shut out Cumberland County 2-0 in sections, then kept the clean sheet against Greeneville in the quarterfinals and South Gibson in the semifinals, winning each by identical 3-0 scores.
In 2024, South-Doyle beat Station Camp in the semifinals on its way to its first state championship. Last season, the Cherokees met the Bison in the title game, with Station Camp winning 3-1. The rubber game would go to the Bison in 2026.
“They certainly are very talented and bring it each and every game that we play them, and it’s always a tight one,” said Mitchell.
That game ends a remarkable run for 18 seniors who helped produce the most successful seasons in South-Doyle boys soccer history.
“God has blessed me with some incredible young men, who take soccer aside, their character, just incredible guys,” said Mitchell. “I wanted them so badly to be able to go out on top because they deserve it because they’re just great men who have made me a better man. And I’m so thankful for them. And obviously, their soccer ability is incredible. I wish I could say it’s something I did, but man, it’s all credit to those dudes.”
