Bulldogs beat Brooks to advance to quarters

Published 11:22 am Thursday, May 1, 2025

By the narrowest of margins, the GMC Prep boys soccer team punched its ticket to the state quarterfinals Wednesday.

The Bulldogs (15-1) defeated visiting Brooks County (12-4) 1-0 thanks to a Greyson Robbins goal early in the second half. With the win, defending boys soccer state champ GMC now looks to the round of eight where it will travel to 14-4 Trion with a semifinal berth on the line.

Wednesday’s test against the Brooks County Trojans, runners-up in south Georgia’s Area 1, came a little earlier in the playoff road than the Bulldogs are accustomed to. Competition most often steps up in the quarterfinal round. In last year’s case, GMC got all the way to the semis before breaking a sweat. In a campaign where regular season competition was lacking overall though, it’s maybe not a bad thing that a full 80-minute match presented itself in just the second round.

“This is easily the toughest road we’ve had since probably 2018 when we lost to Savannah Country Day in the second round,” GMC coach Bobby Jaworski said. “I knew that this game was not going to be easy, but that’s the kind of test we’ve got to see and overcome.”

Both teams had opportunities throughout the first half, but both teams were also having to deal with a couple of sophomore stalwarts in goal. GMC Prep’s Hayden Wells and Brooks’ Henry Alvarez each had diving saves in the first 40 minutes. With less than two to play before halftime, the Trojans were awarded a free kick from fairly close following a foul call. Their ball went through the Bulldog defense, but Wells got his hands on it and sent it over the crossbar. The Bulldogs countered with their own run in the final seconds as Tommy Carty drove up the right side and passed off to Robbins who fired just left of the net as time expired.

Both contenders likely welcomed halftime as they were playing in one of the warmer environments they’ve seen this year.

Similar play resumed coming out of the break as the teams looked to unknot the scoreless tie and keep their seasons alive. GMC would earn that honor by quickly turning defense into offense five minutes in. The Bulldogs broke a Brooks attack and sent a ball upfield to Bennie Huff IV, named the Area 2 Player of the Year recently, and he later scooted it forward to the racing Robbins. The junior forward went low for his team-leading 19th goal of the season, finally breaking the wall Alvarez had set up in the Trojans’ goal.

The final 35 minutes weren’t without tense moments. A Brooks player looked back post with 22 minutes remaining. Luckily for GMC, post was indeed what his shot found instead of net. The heat continued to play a factor. The ‘Dogs needed fresh legs to close out the game, but close it out they did to cement their status as a quarterfinalist.

The GMC Prep boys now turn their attention towards recovery and getting ready for a Trion team that enjoyed one of those easy playoff roads the Bulldogs had been used to. The northwest Georgia school was granted a bye in the first round then washed out Washington-Wilkes 10-0 in the second round Wednesday. GMC and Trion last saw one another in the quarterfinals in 2022, a game GMC won 2-1. Winner of Tuesday’s Elite Eight contest goes on to face either Lake Oconee Academy or Dooly County in the semis.

GMC girls season ends in second round

The GMC Prep girls soccer team saw its season come to an end Tuesday when the Lady Dogs lost to visiting Claxton 2-1. Claxton sophomore Melissa Atjun had goals in the first and second halves to put her team up 2-0 before GMC could muster a late answer to prevent the shutout.

The GMC girls had a good season, earning an area championship and owning a 12-6 record. In terms of awards, senior keeper Raeley Wolfe was named Area 2 Player of the Year. Lily Mullis, Saiya Patel, Olivia Robbins, Addi Brown, Peyton Wingard, and Ellie Westmoreland all earned First Team All-Area recognition. Emily Gates, Ava Russell, and Carlee Blackerby all brought home All-Area Honorable Mention.