Chattanooga, Tenn. (Oct. 10, 2024) – Over the weekend, Chattanooga FC 11B Navy solidified their place at the top of the Mid South Conference with a dramatic 6-4 victory over IFC in a 14U Boys Premier 1 division match.

This game, filled with goals and momentum swings, was a defining moment in the team’s quest to claim the division title and secure their spot in the 2025 USYS Southern Regional Championships.

In a packed weekend featuring over 80 matches in Mississippi and Tennessee, teams battled fiercely to stay in contention for division titles, with first-place finishers in Premier 1 divisions earning automatic qualification for the next season’s USYS National League Quarterfinals. For Chattanooga FC, this match had been circled on their calendar for months, with the team determined to make their mark on the standings.

“The boys knew all season that this would be an important matchup to be No. 1 in the Mid South this season,” Chattanooga FC coach Dalton Healy said. “They were excited to play in this rematch before heading to the Quarterfinals in Phoenix this December. The parents were thrilled that the boys kept playing hard, even from behind, and that all of their training paid off. We all knew winning this match would lead to securing the No. 1 spot.”

The game opened with a tense, scoreless 15 minutes, but it wasn’t long before IFC’s Xavian Owens and Joseph Ketchum broke through to give their team a 2-0 lead. Chattanooga responded quickly, as Zane Shaffer found the back of the net twice to tie the match 2-2 before IFC's Joshua Marchant put the Mississippi side back in front just before halftime.

Chattanooga’s resilience continued into the second half, with Austin Bradley leveling the score at 3-3 early on, and Sammy Jimenez Renteria giving Chattanooga their first lead of the day in the 47th minute. Yet, IFC refused to back down, with Marchant scoring his second goal to knot things up at 4-4.

Bradley then stepped up again, becoming the third player to score a brace, as his second goal put Chattanooga ahead 5-4 in the 54th minute. Byron Bernabe added a crucial insurance goal in the 61st minute, sealing the thrilling 6-4 victory and solidifying Chattanooga’s hold on first place.

With this crucial win, Chattanooga FC 11B Navy now stands atop the Premier 1 division in the Mid South Conference, positioning themselves for success at the USYS Southern Regional Championships and beyond. This performance, marked by grit, teamwork, and a relentless drive to win, exemplifies the spirit of Chattanooga FC’s academy program.

The teams journey continues in December, where they’ll head to Phoenix to compete in the USYS National League Quarterfinals, ready to carry their momentum into the next phase of the competition.