A Rain‑Soaked Decider
The 2A West regional final between Mountain Island Charter and Christ the King unfolded under an unexpected lightning delay, a pause that turned into a dramatic climax as the match was settled by a single penalty kick. The solitary goal gave Christ the King a 1‑0 victory, extinguishing the Raptors’ hopes of defending their back‑to‑back state titles.
Coach Darren Johnson voiced his disappointment in the aftermath, noting that this was the second occasion a rain interruption had handed Christ the King a spot‑kick triumph. His frustration underscored the thin margin that defined the contest.
Christ the King has now halted three of the last four playoff campaigns of Mountain Island Charter, a pattern that began years ago but was briefly broken in 2025 when the Raptors routed the Chargers 3‑0 on their path to a state championship.
The loss capped a stellar season for Mountain Island Charter, finishing with a 19‑3 record and leaving the program with a wealth of experience despite the disappointment.
South Point’s Own Final Chapter
In the 5A West final, South Point fell 4‑0 to Hickory, ending a three‑year streak of state final appearances. The defeat marked the close of a season in which the Pointers posted a 24‑3‑1 record and had won 85 games over the past four seasons, a testament to the program’s sustained excellence.
Both teams will now look ahead to the offseason, with Mountain Island Charter aiming to rebuild around a core that includes players such as Addison Peirce, Kendall Spence, Harmoni Carter, Paige Roche and Cheyenne Painter, while South Point seeks to maintain its recent momentum.