The Putnam County boys soccer team begins its quest for a state championship this week.
The War Eagles (11-6) enter the Class A Division I state playoffs as the No. 17 seed, drawing No. 16 seed Vidalia (6-10) in the first round. They’re ready to face the Indians in the first round this Friday.
Putnam County head coach Michael Taylor believes that Vidalia will provide a challenging matchup for his team, despite its record. The Indians are a battle-tested squad and have faced a tough schedule.
However, Putnam County has also faced a rigorous schedule, so it should be an even matchup.
“I think our seed is right where I was expecting it,” Taylor said. “I believe we have a good matchup with Vidalia for the first round. It should be competitive, but a game we are certainly capable of winning.”
The War Eagles boast a strong core of players with playoff experience. Veterans Jared Arreola, Malcolm Marks, Emmanuel Meraz, and Angel Sanchez have played a pivotal role this year.
Meanwhile, underclassmen Edwin Garcia, Alexander Jimenez, and Jonathan Acostas have also stepped up. The War Eagles will heavily depend on their blend of experienced and younger players this year.
Putnam County ended the season on a two-game winning streak, with many players contributing to those victories. The War Eagles defeated Oglethorpe County and Prince Avenue Christian last week.
“I loved how we bounced back after the two losses to Lake Oconee Academy and Toombs County to close out the regular season. We had two nice wins against Oglethorpe and Prince Avenue Christian,” Taylor said. “I think we’re as ready as can be, and I am very pleased with our team.”
The winner of the Putnam County- Vidalia matchup will face either top-seeded Model or No. 32 Woodville-Tompkins. Model ended the season ranked No. 1, while the War Eagles finished at No. 8.
Taylor wants his players to aspire to winning a state title, but not to overlook Vidalia.
“We’ll keep our focus on the first game and try not to look at the second round until we take care of our match,” he said. “The bracket looks very balanced, and it will come down to which teams play focused, play well together, and communicate well on the pitch. It should be an exciting tournament for sure.”
Putnam County will travel south to face Vidalia this Friday. If the War Eagles win, the second round will take place on May 2.