Two teams you don’t want to meet in the state playoffs – except maybe the finals, or if you’re feeling really, really, really confident: McIntosh and Johnson, Gainesville. The first won the Class AAAAA title in 2017, 2019 and 2021 – with no tournament in 2020 due to Covid. The second won the state title in 2018, was the runner-up last year and made it at least to the Final Four the other years.
Unfortunately, Johnson, Gainesville was the one Veterans’ boys drew in the Elite Eight. They faced off Tuesday at the home of the Knights and with Johnson, Gainesville earning the win, 6-1. (And oh by the way, McIntosh fell to St. Pius X, 3-2.)
The Warhawks trailed 3-0 at the half against the Knights. Dre Brown prevented the shutout with his goal in the second.
Johnson, Gainesville improved to 19-1-1 and moved on to play Woodward Academy, a 1-0 winner over Midtown. Veterans was left to celebrate its year. The boys finished 17-3-1 overall, 8-0 and winning Region 1-AAAAA. It was their sixth-straight region title; five at the AAAAA level and one at AAAA.
