Since joining the 8th Region, boys’ soccer games between Woodford and Collins have been like heavyweight fights. The most recent showdown was no exception.
Woodford County held a one goal lead entering the final minute Monday night, but Collins scored with 54 seconds left in regulation and went on to win in penalty kicks. The teams were tied 1-1 after two scoreless overtime periods.
The match was physical from the start, with officials allowing play to continue through much of the contact. Collins created the first two chances, taking free kicks in the opening 10 minutes, but both shots missed the mark.
Woodford had a corner kick later in the half, but Collins turned the play into a counterattack. The Titans moved the ball downfield and took a shot that Woodford goalkeeper Drake Godman saved. At the other end, Angel Aguilar sent an attempt just wide before halftime. Neither team scored in the first 40 minutes.
Aguilar continued to find shooting opportunities after the break. Collins had back-to-back attempts miss the goal with 28 minutes remaining, and Woodford kept looking for a way through as the score remained 0-0.
The breakthrough came with 11:29 left in regulation. Aguilar played a ball into the box, and Hudson Deaton finished the chance to put Woodford ahead 1-0.
Woodford held that lead for more than 10 minutes, but Collins found an equalizer in the closing seconds. Jesus Garcia scored with 54 seconds remaining, sending the match to overtime.
Neither team scored in the first extra period. In the second, Woodford’s Andry Bo Cac went down in the box while attempting a shot and left the field injured. Officials called a foul on Woodford and awarded the ball to Collins.
Woodford coach Fonyam Atanga disputed the call after the match. He said Bo Cac was kicked on the play and that an athletic trainer confirmed he had a contusion.
“I don’t understand how we can have a player who gets kicked in the box, and the referee’s telling us that he’s the one that fell,” Atanga said.
Atanga said the decision was difficult to accept in a match his team had been close to winning in regulation.
“At the end of the day, you can play as best as you can, but you can’t deal with what the referees do,” he said. “I’m very proud of my team, but sometimes you just need a little bit of fairness.”
The score stayed 1-1 through the second overtime, bringing on penalty kicks. Aguilar converted Woodford’s first attempt, and Collins answered. Chili Seitz scored next, followed by another Collins goal. Ellis Endicott also scored, but Collins responded again to make it 3-3.
Jeronimo Pardo’s attempt was blocked but Collins missed its next shot, tying it up again. Deaton scored for Woodford, and Collins matched it. Juan Marroquin converted Woodford’s sixth attempt, but Collins answered once more.
The final turning point came when Tanner Johnson’s shot was denied in the seventh round. Vladimir Garcia then scored for Collins to end the shootout.
Asked about a possible rematch, Atanga said Woodford would work to settle the game before it reached that point again.
“All I can do is prepare my team to take care of the game in regular time,” he said.
This article appears in October 22, 2026.