Farragut soccer takes region title with backup goalie

Mitchell White has worked toward this moment for years.

There have been times, especially this season, when it looked like that moment would not manifest itself, but when his No. 31 was called, he made the most of it.

Filling in for Brandon Keane, who suffered a head injury during Farragut’s 7-2 victory over Central in the Region 2-AAA semifinals, the senior goalkeeper allowed just one goal to help the Admirals down Oak Ridge 2-1 in the Region 2-AAA championship Thursday.

“Since my freshman year, I’ve been working to get myself into this spot,” White said. “I’ve been dreaming about winning a state championship, and now we have to make it happen.”

White may play an instrumental part in getting Farragut to that place, as it is unsure whether Keane will return for Saturday’s Class AAA sectional against Dobyns-Bennett. The winner of that game clinches a spot in the state tournament.

“As coaches, we have to take that very seriously,” Farragut coach Ray Dover said. “Even if a kid doesn’t have symptoms afterwards, there are certain protocols that they have to go through. That’s just the way it is, and we’re going to wait to see what the physicians say.”

White says he will be ready. He has been all season, regardless of his role.

He began the season as the Admirals’ starting goalie until Keane eventually took over. Two weeks ago, White was playing on the junior varsity team. But in the biggest games of Farragut’s season, he is being asked to step up.

“It’s next man up,” Dover said. “We talk about opportunity and legacy, and he had an opportunity to cement his legacy. I couldn’t be more proud of him. He’s been able to control the two things you can control, which is his work ethic and his attitude.

“He’s ready … and we’re going to need him again on Saturday.”

The Admirals are a win away from completing a compelling run to their first state tournament since 2014 that includes upending Bearden, the defending Class AAA state champions, Maryville and Oak Ridge to claim the District 4-AAA and Region 2-AAA championships.

“We still have work to do,” Dover said. “I need to get these guys recovered because it was a bang-bang game. We need to hydrate them because there were guys cramping out here. I just think of things one game at a time, and it’s a one-game season when we play Dobyns-Bennett.”