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  Could they meet for a State title, as well? 

Mike Forster

Jefferson Forest's Carlos Munoz lets one rip as the Cavs topple Fort Defiance.

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Jefferson Forest had to get by E.C. Glass in order to earn the top spot in Region III.

They also had to get by the Hilltoppers to win their district tournament and the Seminole regular season.

Like an old couple in a bitter marriage, the 'Toppers and Cavs went at it again.  And, while no dishes or furniture were smashed in the process, the teams put on a rousing performance in the Region III title game, Saturday, at Lynchburg's City Stadium.

The Cavs emerged with a 2-0 win,  courtesy of sparkling goals by Michael Sciarrino and Ben Jackson.

Both strikes came in the first half.  While it wasn't until the final minutes of the contest that the Cav faithful could breathe easily, that two-goal margin was monstrous, compared to how close the teams played in their previous two matches (1-1 in the regular season; 1-0 in the district finale).

That two-goal margin of victory is also twice what was earned by the Cavs in their previous two regional tilts.

In the Region III opener, JF nearly had its wheels fall off, edging Fort Defiance and Mother Nature in a 2-1 win.

In the semifinals, the Cavs topped Spotswood by the same mark.

In both contests, JF saw its foes establish early leads.  While there was little concern that the Cavs would be unable to mount a comeback, the Fort Defiance match was especially dicey.  

That's because the Indians held a 1-0 edge at the half as ominous clouds blanketed the sky above Sabre Stadium.  Had lightning been spotted, there was the chance of the match being called in Fort's favor.

On this night, the heavens were on JF's side.  So was Carlos Muñoz, who finally put JF on the board, six minutes into the second half.

The Cavs got the game-winner when Muñoz showed exceptional footwork in dancing through the Indians' midline with 10 minutes left in regulation.

He dished to Ben Jackson, who found Tyler Bullock on the right flank.  Bullock finished the play with a line drive from the top of the box that neatly creased the netting.

Things were a bit less dramatic against Spotswood.  In that one, fullback Nicholas Shortridge and striker Matthew Crider provided all the scoring that JF would need.

Meanwhile, Shortridge and defensive mates such as Jacob Jennings, Drew Henderson and Trevor Jannah were stout in front of keeper Jeremy Lee.

That defense really stood out in the final, against Glass.  The Hilltoppers were held to a measly four shots.  With his guys stifling the Glaziers, Lee did not have to make the kinds of saves that earned him Region III Player of the Year recognition.

Meanwhile, JF sustained its average of 2.00 goals per regional game.  This time, the offensive honors went to Michael Sciarrino, who scored seven minutes into the match.  

After Teddy Delledera (playing striker) nailed a shot that was saved by Glass keeper Zach Boedeker, Sciarrino pounded on the deflection.  He easily nailed a one-timer past the downed goalie.

Halfway through the period, Ben Jackson followed suit, taking a deflection of an Austin Griffith shot for a dead-on look at the keep.  Jackson coolly converted the opportunity.

JF (21-0-1) plays a decent Bassett squad on Tuesday (after press time).  The winner will play on Friday at Radford.

We've found it's unsafe to assume anything, this time of year, no matter the teams.  

Nevertheless, the smart money says that the defending State champs will make the trip and will play on graduation day for a second-straight year.