A furious rally in the final 3:52 of a Region 4-5A battle propelled the Lakeside Vikings to a 2-1 win over the Dunwoody Wildcats to claim the final region playoff spot.

Lakeside (8-9, 4-3) found themselves in familiar territory for the 2025 season as the Wildcats (3-14-2, 3-4) scored with 11:08 to play to take a 1-0 lead. Yates Parker got past the Vikings’ defense down the right side and blasted a 20-yard shot into the top left corner of the net for the go-ahead goal.

The two teams went up and down the field in a fast paced final 11:08 before a penalty in the box against the Wildcats set up a penalty kick for the Vikings with 3:52 remaining.

Aiden Avila drove the kick home as the shot went between the outstretched legs of Dunwoody keeper Cam Stinson who just missed denying the goal.

As the clock wound down to 2:05 the Vikings were awarded a free kick on the right side of the field. Lakeside’s Alan Beccera lofted a shot towards the goal that hooked into the top left corner giving the Vikings 2-1 advantage.

Dunwoody continued to play with urgency, pushing the ball up the field and just missed wide right with 50 seconds to play.

Thirty seconds later Lakeside keeper Troy Butler came up big knocking away solid kick by the Wildcats and fell on the ball to preserve the Lakeside lead. He then kicked the ball up field and the time ran out for the 2-1 win.

Butler had five saves in the first half as both teams failed to get the ball into the net for a 0-0 tie at the half.