Central tops Jackson for district title

~ The Tigers won 1-0 for their fifth straight berth to the sectional round.

With a championship on the line, it was not surprising Wednesday's Class 3 District 1 boys soccer game between rivals Central and Jackson included plenty of physical play, heated exchanges between players, a pair of yellow cards and even a little controversy.

In the end, top-seeded Central grabbed an early lead and held off a spirited second half from the Indians for a 1-0 win and the Tigers' fifth straight district title.

Central (21-5-1) will play in a sectional game at Farmington on Tuesday.

"That was an intense game," Jackson coach Zack Walton said. "You knew it was going to be. Cape and Jackson, there's a good chance it's going to be intense."

Jackson (11-10-2), the No. 3 seed, nearly put the Tigers in an early hole with a dangerous scoring chance less than 5 minutes into the game. The Indians were able to pick off an errant pass back to Central goalie Jordan Young, but Young alertly made a sliding save to keep Jackson off the scoreboard.

Young said he was not expecting to be tested so early by Jackson, which Central had already beaten twice this year, but he knew it was important to be alert.

"It's tough sometimes, but you just have to be in the right place at the right time," he said.

About 5 minutes after Young's save, the Tigers were able to get on the board thanks to a controversial no-call. Central forward Tyson Whiteside made contact with Jackson keeper Tyler Holman on a high cross, knocking Holman to the turf.

Holman and Whiteside both missed the ball, as a deflection put the ball on the foot of Central's Lance Altenthal, who took advantage of the open net and put away the goal to give Central a 1-0 lead.

"Unfortunately, you have an iffy call," Walton said. "It could have been called for a foul going out. It could have, it couldn't have; we don't have instant replay."

Added Central coach Tom Doyle: "They both went up for the ball and they both missed it. I didn't think there was anything dirty there. There was still 65 or 70 minutes left after the goal. They had plenty of chances, we had plenty of chances. We held on."

Holman rebounded from the no-call to make four saves after the goal to keep Jackson in the game.

Jackson had a good scoring chance late in the half, but Young stopped Josh LaForest on a bad-angle shot deep in the box.

After intermission, both teams came out a little lethargic before the Indians started to gain momentum. Midway through the half, Jackson seemed to have the Tigers on their heels, stringing together passes and taking the advantage in possession.

Spencer McCormack had the first good scoring opportunity for the Indians about midway through the second half, when he shot wide from deep inside the box. The Indians kept the pressure on, and with about 10 minutes left, Andrew Lorenz pushed a shot wide of an empty net.

"We knew it would take those going our way if we were going to get a win," Walton said.

After the final buzzer sounded, the Tigers set their sights on getting through the sectional round for only the second time in the past five attempts.

"Overall, I was pleased with the game," Doyle said. "We have to step it up if we're going to go further. Next step is the big one, getting over the sectional hump."