Boys' Varsity Soccer: Spartans Find Spark to Power Past Chargers, 3-0
By Boris Vanjicki | Sep 10, 2025 6:14 PM
South Knox kept their momentum rolling on the road Tuesday night, surging by Pike Central in a 3–0 non-conference victory. The Spartans took control early, probing for an opening before breaking through in the 13th minute. Ross Holscher’s drive from distance forced a save, but the rebound fell kindly to Levi Loudermilk, who buried the follow-up to make it 1–0. Just five minutes later, Holscher turned provider, threading a pass to Malaki Downen, who coolly slotted home to give his side a 2-0 advantage. After carrying a two-goal cushion into the break, South Knox showed no signs of letting up. Loudermilk nearly struck again minutes into the second half, only to be denied by a sharp stop from the Chargers' keeper. In the 51st minute, Tucker Mahan tested the gloveman after connecting with a Downen cross, but was also kept out. The pressure finally told with 17:30 to play. Downen curled in a corner to the back post, where Joseph Ellerman rose highest and thundered home a header to seal the 3–0 result. Goalkeeper Blake Sutton held down the other end with four saves, recording a clean sheet as the Spartans stretched their unbeaten run to three straight, improving to 3-2-2 on the year. Coach's comments: "I thought we came out sharp and set the tone early. We were patient in our buildup and created good chances, while defensively we stayed organized and didn’t give anything away. The field wasn't the easiest to play on with the uneven bounce, but we adjusted, kept our composure, and made the best of it. It was a good team effort, and it’s always encouraging to see different guys step up and finish plays." Next up: South Knox returns home under the lights to face Shoals on Thursday, September 11, with kickoff set for 7:00pm.