Any normal team headed for its first appearance in a state championship game has the right to be nervous. Then again, the Northwest Whitfield boys' soccer team isn't quite normal.
The Bruins (17-4-1) face Chestatee (19-2) at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Mercer University in Macon to decide the GHSA Class AAAA championship, seeking to continue the most unlikely of postseason runs. Coach Ryan Scoggins' team will start seven freshmen Saturday and has won four playoff games without its two leading scorers.
"It's been pretty incredible," said Scoggins, who had to replace his two top scoring threats after they encountered legal issues. "Four of our freshmen were starters all season, and three others have joined them. They have done amazingly."
Scoggins, whose team shocked Marist, 2-1, in the semifinal round, relies on a pair of seniors - keeper Vicente Vaca and defender Carlos Martinez - and junior striker Daniel Montejano to help keep the "Baby Bruins" in line on the pitch. They play an aggressive style, led offensively by center midfielder Fabian Navarro, a freshman who has trained on the U-15 national team.
"He's a tremendous talent, but really this has been a collective effort," Scoggins said. "We went to Marist and they had some unbelievable kids, but our freshmen were unfazed and ready to go."
Northwest, the No. 2 seed from Region 6-AAAA, began the playoffs with a 3-0 win over Cedartown before a rousing win over North Oconee on penalty kicks in the second round. The Bruins then defeated Druid Hills 4-2 in the quarterfinals to set up the memorable win at Marist.
"It's been a really cool story," Scoggins said. "When the kids got in trouble it was right before the start of the playoffs and it was a really big shock, but the team regrouped and decided they didn't want the season to end."
Northwest isn't the only northwest Georgia boys' team seeking a soccer title this weekend. Calhoun is trying to win its first championship after falling just short twice previously. The Yellow Jackets will face Westminster, a rematch of the 2013 Class AA title game, at 7:30 tonight at McEachern High School.
Coach Matt Rice's team won 2-1 at Windsor Forest in the semifinal round and is led by veterans Julio Lopez, Daniel Isep, Gerardo Fraire and keeper Eduardo Fajardo.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.