Two weeks to the day since watching the varsity girls win their first region championship in program history, Habersham Central High School’s varsity boys soccer team knocked off previously unbeaten North Forsyth High School, 1-0, Tuesday to earn its first region title since 2019.
After falling 1-0 to North Forsyth (16-1, 11-1 Region 8-AAAAAA) in Cumming on March 8, HCHS (13-2, 11-1) had to get a win in the contest to snatch the region crown away from the visitors.
Coming into the contest, North Forsyth was ranked No. 2 in Class 6A, No. 9 in the state among all classifications, and No. 21 nationally among all classifications. HCHS was ranked No. 7 in Class 6A, No. 33 in the state among all classifications, and No. 97 nationally among all classifications.
After an intense first half ended scoreless, HCHS was able to get the breakthrough goal with 19:08 left in the contest as senior Owen Wallace went after a ball in the 18-yard box of North Forsyth.
As a defender tried to clear the ball away and kicked his foot to head height, Wallace dropped to the ground holding his face to draw the foul. Since it was in the 18-yard box, the Raiders were awarded a penalty kick.
Juan Lara stepped to the spot and lined up his left-footed kick. The senior had no issues slotting the ball past the North Forsyth keeper and pandemonium ensued as Lara and the rest of the squad sprinted to a raucous crowd at Raider Stadium to celebrate.
The Raiders were able to see out a nervy final 19 minutes and solidify the win and the region title.
“It’s awesome. First one in five years,” HCHS Head Coach Ric Wallace said. “The best thing, these kids have grown up being Rapids and wanting to be Raiders forever. We’ve got pictures of some of these guys on the shoulders of former players and they trained with the Raiders years ago.
“They’ve wanted it forever.”
Wallace took his squad to Greenville, SC last week while they were on Spring Break. While other students were off on trips to the beach or, at the very least, sitting at home relaxing, the Raiders were putting in work.
The players had to abandon their cell phones and train as opposed to having a lethargic week off the field. And it paid off.
“We went to Spring Break, where it’s real easy for them to say, ‘Hey, that’s my time. I’m not going to do that.’ We went as a team to Greenville and we trained and we stuck to a schedule,” Wallace said. “They’ve bought into everything we’ve asked them to do. It says everything about how they’ve grown as young men.”
Wallace said that Lara has grown a lot this season and, despite being naturally quiet, has found his voice and confidence as a leader on the team.
“There were times a couple of years ago where he shied away from the big moment,” Wallace said. “He said, ‘I want it, Coach. I’ve got this.’ We knew going in that he was the man. If we got (a penalty), that’s where it would go. Even if we got something a little further out, he wanted it.”
Owen Wallace, who will celebrate his senior night alongside eight other seniors Friday night, is the head coach’s son, making this being the first region championship for the program in five years all the more special.
“You know, he was born on the day we got our first (region championship) in 2006. I just reminded him today, ‘Man, you were born for this. You’ve had a ball at your feet your whole life. Go out there and lead us today,’” Ric Wallace said. “He came up big and played hard today and was able to create a little something that got us the penalty, the ultimate game winner.”
With the proverbial monkey of winning the region title off the team’s back, they now get a night on Friday to celebrate those who’ve helped build the way back to being on top and play somewhat stress-free soccer. Still, Wallace said he doesn’t think the team will take the night off.
“I really believe they understand these moments aren’t going to last because they have alumni guys coming back and talking to them and telling them things. They’re buying into that stuff,” Wallace said. “It’s ingrained in them, the actions that we want and the way we work. You can see that out there. I think they’ll continue to do that and just enjoy the moment they get here again in Raider Stadium.”
The Raiders will kick off against East Hall at 8 p.m. Friday.
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