Jackson Scores in Final Seconds to Secure Crosstown Rivalry Win

Jackson scored with 34 seconds left to take the home victory on Saturday over Northwest. Photos by John Lucas Jr., JTV Sports.

Trey Richmond & David Rice | JTV Sports

Saturday September 20th

(9-20-2025, 3:25PM): Jackson High School won the crosstown soccer rivalry, determined in the final seconds over Northwest on Saturday.

Before the varsity contest, JHS honored Justin Mehall in a re-dedication ceremony. Mehall tragically lost his life in his sophomore year of high school and would have been in the graduating class of 1994. The soccer field at Parkside Middle School is named in his honor and was re-dedicated to his family today with his mother in attendance.

To open the game, Lucas Ratell saved the first shot on goal in the game for the Mounties. Jackson kept the ball on the Northwest side of the field for a majority of the first half. That led to a thought to be goal at the 23 minute mark that was taken away because of a penalty. Then a high arching shot on goal once again saved by Ratell with 20 minutes left in the half. 

Northwest’s Chase Wyers put a shot on goal that was saved by Liam Brooks. But shortly after, scoring was opened up with Wyers taking advantage of an open net to put the Mounties on top 1-0 at the half.

In the 2nd half, the Vikings got onto the scoreboard after Kerolles Ghattas dribbled his way through defenders and sent the ball past the goalie to knot up the game at 1. George Danielson for Northwest had a big defensive play as he deflected a shot in the goalie box to keep the game tied. Followed up shortly by another Ratell save off J-High’s Alpha Sow shot.

Wyatt Green got a yellow card after pushing the Mountie ball handler out of bounds. On the free kick, Evan Connat got a shot on goal, but was saved by Brooks with under 10 to play. With 5 minutes remaining, Mamadou Basirou put a shot on goal, again saved by Ratell of NW. 

The game was ultimately decided by a penalty kick with 33.6 seconds remaining by Alpha Sow into the top right corner. That took the lead and secured the win for Jackson High over Northwest 2-1. 

Jackson is now 6-4-3 and is unbeaten in five of their last six games. Northwest falls to 6-12-1 with just four regular season games left.