Bluffton’s Hernan Gomez broke through in the final minute of regulation to lift the Bobcats to a 1-0 win over rival May River on Friday.
Gomez converted a Alexis Jimenez assist in the 79th minute to break a scoreless tie and forge a season split between the crosstown rivals.
“We’re both quality teams, and at the end of the day it’s who wants it more,” Jimenez said. “At the end of the day, I feel like that was kind of us, already losing one and having that mentality that we had to win the game.”
Hector Zelaya made 11 saves to preserve the shutout for the Bobcats, who were outshot 11-4 in shots on goal and scored on their only attempt on frame in the second half.
“Our defense was top level tonight,” Sharks coach Misael Garzon said. “Unfortunately for us Hector had one of the best games I’ve seen from him, making spectacular saves throughout the night.”
The Bobcats (13-2-1, 5-1) can forge a tie for the Region 8-3A title by winning their final two region games, which would result in a tiebreaker determining the top two seeds for the Class 3A playoffs. Bluffton hosts Ridgeland-Hardeeville at 7 p.m. Tuesday and travels to Battery Creek at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The Sharks (18-2, 7-1) host Beaufort High at 7 p.m. Monday.
Video by Carlo Perruzza