Campbell County senior Noah Rittinger wanted it.
“I’d love to face Brossart,” Rittinger said.
So did Bishop Brossart senior Tyler Smith.
Even Brossart coach Ron Dunlevy and his Campbell County counterpart, Kyle Newman, will forego any conversation for the next two days.
Smith, Rittinger, Dunlevy, Newman and the rest of the Mustangs and Camels will get for what they hoped – the finals of the boys 10th Region boys soccer tournament. Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Brossart’s Munninghoff Family Stadium on Saturday.
“I know Coach Newman,” Dunlevy said. “When we’re not playing each other, we’re very friendly. When it comes to the 80 minutes that we’re going to play on Saturday, I wouldn’t say we’re not friendly, but we’re not friends for a little bit.”
“Yes, 100%,” Smith said when asked how much he wanted to play Campbell County. “That’s our biggest rival, always has been.”
Brossart and Campbell County advanced with forceful semifinal wins on Thursday.
The Camels mercy-ruled Harrison County, 10-0, behind Rittinger’s three goals and two each from Kaden Rose and Luke Linville. Smith scored all four goals in a 4-0 win over George Rogers Clark.
The Mustangs and Camels split their two regular season meetings on Campbell County’s pitch. The Camels shut out Brossart, 2-0, Sept. 12, and Brossart won the 37th District title on Oct. 5, 3-2 on penalty kicks.
Brossart (16-4-5) holds the overall series lead, 25-12, since 2001. What is maybe more interesting: Saturday will be just the second time the Mustangs and Camels have met for a regional title (Campbell County won, 3-0, in 2017).
When it came to Rose and Rittinger on Thursday, Newman had a simple request.
“They don’t have a leash when on attack,” Newman said. “We just ask them to be dangerous.”
Campbell County (11-9-1) scored in just about any way they wanted – the Camels scored four times in the opening eight minutes and finished the half with a 5-0 halftime lead. Harrison County’s season ended at 6-9-1.
Rittinger scored his first goal in the eighth minute by lobbing the ball over Thorobreds keeper Boston Reynolds at about the 18-yard box and dribbling the rest of the way untouched.
“I flicked it over the keeper off of Kaden’s ball through,” Rittinger said.
James Besecker, Luke Brown and Austin Bush added single goals. Brown’s tally was his first varsity goal.
“I was kind of numb, and then it hit me,” Brown said. “It felt exciting.”
Smith’s right-footed first goal, a direct free kick just outside the 18-yard box in the fourth minute, curved to the lower left corner and past GRC keeper Jacob Davis.
“It’s all in the ankle,” Smith said. “You hit it and you turn that ankle inside, and the ball will whip a little bit.”
Smith added two penalty kick goals in the 29th and 59th minutes. His approach is casual and fierce – a five- or six-step saunter and two quick steps and shoot.
“I’m looking in the keeper’s eyes,” Smith said. “I’m seeing where he moves his body, if he moves at all, and then I pass it the other way.”
Smith finished the night with a score in the 73rd minute.
“On a game when you score two penalty kicks and a free kick from 18 yards out, there’s not a lot you can do about it,” GRC coach Nicholas Vogler said. The Cardinals finished at 14-6-2.
Saturday’s winner meets defending Ninth Region champion Ryle or Newport Central Catholic in Monday’s first round of the state tournament, but nobody on the Alexandria (Brossart) or Claryville (Campbell County) campuses dare think about anything but Saturday.
“I’m just excited that we’re playing,” Newman said.
