The South-Doyle Cherokees met the Station Camp Bison in the Class AA state championship game on Friday, May 22, 2026 at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro, Tennessee . The Cherokees lost the game 1-0. (Photo Tanner Walker/5SP)
BY DAVE LINK
MURFREESBORO – One free kick can go a long way in the sport of soccer.
One free kick lifted Station Camp of Gallatin to the Class AA state championship Friday afternoon at Siegel Soccer Stadium.
And that one free kick made South-Doyle the state runner-up.
Garza Law is the proud sponsor of 5Star Preps’ 2026 TSSAA Spring Fling state championship coverage May 19-22 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Senior midfielder Ryan Hendon drilled a free kick in the 52nd minute past South-Doyle junior goalkeeper Kairos McClelland, giving Station Camp a 1-0 victory and the state championship.
It was the Bison’s second straight victory over the Cherokees in the state title game.
“It was one free kick away,” South-Doyle coach Sam Mitchell said. “That’s what’s crazy. It was one free kick away.”
South-Doyle (20-2-2) went up against Station Camp (17-6-1) for the third straight year in the Class AA state tournament.
Station Camp beat the Cherokees 3-1 in last year’s final for its third state soccer championship.
In 2024, South-Doyle beat Station Camp 1-0 in the semifinals before winning the first state soccer title in program history.
“It’s a fun game,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know if we can call it a rivalry. We only see each other here (in Murfreesboro), but it’s definitely a fun game. They certainly are very talented and bring it each and every game that we play them, and it’s always a tight one, always fun.”
Mitchell credited his players for getting to the state Final Four three consecutive years.
“Man, I wish I could say it was something I’ve done, but just credit to these guys,” he said. “God has blessed me with some incredible young men. Take soccer aside, their character, just incredible guys.”
South-Doyle had 10 shots in Friday’s game while Station Camp had nine.
The Cherokees had five shots in each half, and the Bison were credited with one shot in the first half and eight in the second half.
“I definitely felt like we controlled the first half,” Mitchell said, “and I don’t want to take anything away from (Station Camp). They certainly had chances in the second half, but I felt like we did as well.”
South-Doyle senior defender and team captain Isaiah Mitchell thought the match could have gone to either side.
“It was a hard-fought game by both sides, very physical,” said Mitchell, nephew of head coach Sam Mitchell and assistant coach Jonathan Mitchell.
“Station Camp is a very solid side, and I think we were unlucky. I feel like it could have gone both ways very easily, so we have to take runners-up here.”
Hendon, who had five of the Bison’s nine shots, made his free kick count. He took it from about 25 yards away from South-Doyle’s goal and slightly to the left side.
And he took it quickly.
McClelland, who was home schooled last year and played for the Knoxville Ambassadors, said the free kick was taken in a hurry.
“I don’t think we were expecting (him) to take it so soon,” McClelland said. “Furthermore, from that distance, it seems like he pushed it up a little bit, but at the end of the day, it went in, and that’s how they scored.”
Coach Mitchell did not go there.
“The kid got a setup, put a great shot on,” Sam Mitchell said.
Station Camp goalie Holden Preston and the Bison defense made that goal enough.
But the Cherokees didn’t stop pushing until the final horn.
“Today it really did feel like we had the majority of the chances and just couldn’t get the finishing touch on it,” Sam Mitchell said.
It wasn’t an easy post-match speech for Mitchell, who has 18 seniors on this year’s team.
“I wanted so badly for them to be able to go out on top because they deserve it,” he said. “They’re just great men who have made me a better man, and I’m so thankful for them, and obviously their soccer ability is incredible.”
Isaiah Mitchell won’t forget his soccer days at South-Doyle. Nor will his senior classmates.
“It’s amazing,” Isaiah Mitchell said. “Going into my freshman year, I never thought that we’d be here. It’s amazing to be here back-to-back-to-back. We wish we could have had it, but I’m proud of the boys.”