Sevier County Smoky Bears Clinch District Tournament Championship with 6-1 Victory Over Jefferson County

Death, taxes, and Darwin Garcia goals were the only things that were guaranteed on Thursday evening as the Sevier County Smoky Bears hosted the Jefferson County Patriots in the TSSAA AAA District 2 Tournament Championship inside the SCHS Soccer Complex.

The Smoky Bears (15-2-2) would easily defeat the Patriots (9-5-2) by a score of 6-1, on the strength of a 4-goal performance from junior Darwin Garcia.

"What an incredible performance, we knew someone had to step up for us today with Angel being out but we weren't sure who it would be, but man Darwin played a great game for us and did a great job of leading us tonight." Coach Tim Bohanan lamented on Garcia's performance.

Sevier County would strike first at the 8 minute mark as Jorge Zelaya would rebound the shot from Garcia off the keeper's arm, and deposit it into the back of the net, giving the Smoky Bears an early

1-0 advantage over the visiting Patriots.

"I'm so happy for Jorge, you know getting that goal to get us started. He works hard and it's really paying off and he's playing great soccer right now." said Coach Tim Bohanan of Zelaya's opening goal.

Garcia would strike for his first goal of the contest in the 17th minute after weaving his way through the Patriots defense before netting a goal on a beautiful strike, while being dragged down by a Jefferson County defender enroute to the goal.

Three minutes later Garcia found the back of the net again after another beautiful display of dribbling past the Jefferson County defenders before delivering a beautiful strike for the goal that made the score 3-0 Sevier County.

Jefferson County would get their lone goal of the game, on a nice set piece that was blocked by keeper Kensley Solano before being rebounded and played into the net before Solano could get back to position, bringing the Patriots within 2 goals heading into halftime.

The Smoky Bears came roaring out of the gate in the second half, as only 28 seconds into the period senior Freddy Castro worked the far sideline of the field before crossing back into the middle of the field just inside the box and scoring an easy goal in the side of the net to hand the Smoky Bears a 4-1 lead.

Garcia would get the hat trick goal, 8 minutes later after Castro weaved through the traffic before playing a perfect ball in mid net that Garcia would bang home for his third goal of the game in the 48th minute of the game. Garcia's third goal of the game catapulted Sevier County to a 5-1 lead over the Patriots.

The final goal for Sevier County would come just over the mid-point of the second half, off the foot of Garcia, catching the Patriots keeper on the opposite playing side of the net and drilled his fourth goal of the game to make it 6-1 Smoky Bears.

"I really thought that when Darwin scored that last goal that was the hat trick goal, and then someone told me that was his fourth. He's been close a couple of times this year but he never could finish it off, but he got the job done tonight, and I'm just super happy for him and proud of him." Bohnanon said of Garcia's fourth goal.

Sevier County was able to insert most of their younger players throughout the final minutes of the game, allowing them to pick up valuable game time in a meaningful game.

"We try to get those guys all the time we can, they work just as hard as our starters and it helps us when we can get them gametime in a game like this (championship game) where the intensity is the highest level of competition that you will face."

Sevier County will next face Tennessee High on Tuesday, May 12th, with kick-off time still TBD.