Wolverines pull away in second half to top Raiders

Polk County Middle secured second place in the Blue Ridge Conference East Division and closed its regular season Monday with a 3-1 win over Rugby at Utz Field.

The Wolverines finish the regular season with a 9-3 record and will host Smoky Mountain Middle on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. in the opening round of the BRC tournament.

Manny Albarran gave the Wolverines a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute, scoring off a pass from Topher Pearson. Rugby answered late in the half to make it 1-1 at the break.

The Wolverines finally retook the lead in the 49th minute on a goal by Keaundrae Green, and Pearson added a late goal assisted by Thomas Varnadore to seal the win.

“Rugby was much improved from our first match, they worked extremely hard, and were first to the ball for a lot of the match,” said Polk Middle head coach Lennox Charles.

“We should have had two more goals in the first half, and that would have changed the momentum, but the players kept working they were able to pull out the much needed win.”