Andy Scheidler
sports@thefranklinpress.com
When the third goal went into the net, Macon Middle School players on the field and on the sideline went crazy, jumping and celebrating wildly.
Flat Rock players sunk to their knees and laid on their backs in disbelief, knowing the game was over.
Ulises Pardon’s goal with 45 seconds remaining in Thursday’s game at MMS provided the final dagger in a 3-0 victory. It sealed the Blue Ridge Athletic Conference tournament title, believed to be the first in the program’s history.
“It’s like nothing else in the world,” assistant coach Luke Walker said. “These kids work so hard. To see them get to live this – unbelievable.”
Walker has worked with this group of players for a couple years. He reached out to Rodney Vanhook to join him before this season, with Vanhook listed as the head coach and Walker an assistant coach, along with Coley Tyler.
Vanhook took a stricter approach, cutting out the goofing off in practices. The players weren’t quite sure what to make of it early on, but knew a few games into the season that Vanhook had their backs.
Playing at Smoky Mountain, one of the Panthers’ strikers got taken down in the box for a second time without any call. Walker started toward the field with a head full of steam, but Vanhook stopped him.
“No coach, you stay,” Vanhook told him. “I got this one. It’s my card.”
Vanhook got a card, which Walker said proved something to the players.
“His boys knew he was on their side and he was gonna fight for them,” Walker said.
The coaches witnessed a tremendous progression from the start of the season until the end. They lost 5-1 at Flat Rock in the first game. They started rolling toward the middle of the season, and ended the regular season with 10-2 record to win the Western Division of the conference.
Flat Rock went 12-0 in the regular season to win the Eastern Division, then won two tournament games. The Eagles came in as the defending tournament champions, winning it in 2018 and 2016.
MMS got to host the game (it rotates every year between each division), which was significant for a couple reason. One, MMS plays on a natural grass field that by this time of the year is far from plush. Two, the Panthers enjoyed the support from a large and vocal crowd.
“What support from the parents and fans,” Walker said. “I don’t know if any middle school game has seen that kind of love. The 12th man was definitely in the house tonight. They showed out for us and kept our guys going.”
MMS didn’t sub any players during the entire 60-minute affair. That was based on who they were playing: a Flat Rock team full of bigger and stronger players.
But the Panthers had a counter.
“We’re smarter, faster and have more heart,” Vanhook said.
That heart was evident when Walker began working with the players. He recalled countless times they would practice in 20-degree weather.
“I told them as long as they wanted to play, I’d come out and freeze with them,” Walker said.
Getting players in the right positions helped the team make strides during the season. As they continued to gel and improve, their confidence steadily increased as well.
“They started to see what we’ve seen for years,” Walker said, “and they started to believe what we’ve believed for years.”
Jacob Martinez scored the first goal against Flat Rock. Pardon sent a ball in that was past the Flat Rock defenders, but not too far that the keeper could get it. Martinez got to it just before the keeper, booted it and avoided a collision.
It remained 1-0 until the second half, when Martinez again found the net. This time it came off a corner kick from Pardon.
Pardon then drilled the dagger goal with 45 seconds left. It was his 25th of the season.
Walker said Pardon broke Andrew Trivett’s single-season goals record (which was 14 in 12 games last year).
“He put an examination point on his record-setting season,” Walker said of Pardon.
Flat Rock came close to scoring in the second half. One shot hit the corner post, just out of reach of a diving Frankie Vallez. A few minutes later, a shot hit the crossbar before Vallez gathered it.
“Frankie was unbelievable,” Walker said. “Frankie is a superstar. The whole team is. He’s a leader of that team. He has been for years. It’s become a team full of leaders. There’s not just one, which is what we aim for. Build a team so strong you can’t pick out the leader.”
The players voted for a team captain after each game. More often than not, a new captain was named.
It taught the players to appreciate their teammates, Walker said.
“The level of camaraderie and love between these guys is unbelievable,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
The large team consists of 23 players. The coaches kept that many players because they want the younger ones to gain experience.
Eighth-graders included Elijah Cochran, Miguel Diaz, Aaron Jennings, Jacob Martinez, Ulises Pardon, Juan Pena, Jayden Pevia, Alex Robles, David Rubio, Frankie Vallez and Jazihel Vazquez.
Seventh-graders included Graham Caldwell, Miguel Cruz, Braylen Dezarn, Sebastian Hernendez, Daniel Riddle, Aiden Sizemore, JC Tagge, Preston Trentham, Alex Trivett and Vinnie Walker.
Two sixth-graders also made the roster: Conner Baldwin and Greg Karcher.
Vanhook posted a quote on the bulletin board in the locker room a couple weeks ago. It said: “Be phenomenal or be forgotten.”
“I’m telling you, these kids have lived by it today,” Vanhook said.
“These kids have worked their butts off. They’ve come out day after day and they’ve learned. They’ve taken the criticism. From that first game to this one, two totally different teams.”
Sixth-graders
Conner Baldwin
Greg Karcher
Seventh-graders
Daniel Riddle
Preston Trentham
Vinnie Walker
Sebastian Hernendez
Graham Caldwell
Miguel Cruz
Alex Trivett
JC Tagge
Braylen Dezarn
Aiden Sizemore
Eighth-graders
Frankie Vallez
Alex Robles
Ulises Pardon
David Rubio
Miguel Diaz
Jazihel Vazquez
Jacob Martinez
Jayden Pevia
Aaron Jennings
Juan Pena
Elijah Cochran