INDIANAPOLIS
Trey Dobson had himself what could best be described as a full Saturday.
Even more impressively, the Greenwood Christian junior managed to conduct business in approximately one-third of a day’s time.
After quarterbacking the Cougars’ football team to a 38-7 victory at Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian in the afternoon, Dobson made his presence known in the evening’s Class A soccer match at Indianapolis Lutheran some 135 miles away.
A sectional championship was on the line, after all.
Dobson’s play led to the lone goal in GCA’s 1-0 defeat of the host Saints, a second-half score highlighted by equal parts skill, timing and good fortune.
Greenwood Christian (11-4-2) has captured eight sectional titles, including a run of three straight under three different head coaches. The Cougars look to continue on when they host Scecina in a regional semifinal at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Shortly before the halfway point of the final 40 minutes, Dobson took a pass from Bo Campbell and headed toward the goal. A Lutheran player attempted to clear the ball as it sped toward his team’s goal with senior goalkeeper Porter Miske out of position.
His sliding attempt, aimed to send the ball left of the goal, instead found its way in.
All this after Dobson threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and took one to the house on a kickoff return during the football game.
“Football is my main sport, so I love football more. Anything football, I just love,” Dobson said. “But I know this was a big game, and I know I had to step up and do my best after playing this morning. The atmosphere (tonight) was just awesome.”
Following the goal, it was a matter of all feet on deck in GCA preventing the Saints from tying the score.
The fifth-ranked Cougars needed a complete team effort to get past the No. 15 Saints (10-6-2) in a rematch of the regular season battle at Lutheran on Sept. 28, a game that ended in a scoreless tie.
With rangy 6-foot-5 senior Preston Van Til in goal, Greenwood Christian was then able to keep Lutheran scoreless despite two shot attempts from point-blank range and another that ventured barely left of the GCA goal.
“Yeah, that was pretty stressful,” Van Til said with a laugh as he held the sectional championship trophy. “It bounced off my knee and then he kicked it and it hit me in the face. But Carson Boyce cleared it out and saved us twice. Really thankful for him.”
Following the match, Greenwood Christian players and coaches gathered in front of Lutheran’s north goal for the customary team photos and selfies with friends and family members. Smiles were many because additional goals remained within reach.
“Honestly, Lutheran is a heck of a team that played a fantastic game today,” first-year Cougars coach Kefil Tonouewa said. “We kept going out there, and we kept knocking on the door, and by luck. They tried to clear it, but it went in.
“It feels great. This is a tribute to the boys, and we just hope to keep it going. We just want to enjoy tonight and get back to work next week.”
