RABBITTOWN, Ga. — When Gainesville and East Hall open the 2023 soccer campaign tonight at East Hall Stadium, it will be for more than just bragging rights between the two powerhouse programs.
The pair of matches, beginning at 5:30 p.m. with the girls, will be part of the new Copa 985 series, initiated by Habersham Central boys coach Rick Wallace.
The Copa 985 league features area teams Cherokee Bluff, Chestatee, East Hall, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Habersham Central, Johnson, and West Hall playing a 7-game match series with five separate trophies up for grabs at season's end. Trophies will be awarded in girls and boys varsity and JV girls and boys, as well as an overall trophy combining points from all four.
Gainesville boys coach Eli Viviant says it’s something they have wanted to do for years to promote the area programs -- but, of course, having official bragging rights wouldn’t hurt either.
“Coach Wallace approached everyone after last season and wanted to know if (all the Hall County programs) were interested,” Viviant said. “We had been trying to do something like this, but scheduling was usually an issue. But with so many of the Hall County teams now in the same region (8-4A), it made it a little easier.
“We’re very excited about doing this. I think this will help improve all the teams involved. It also will bring some extra intensity to the matches. Should be very fun.”
Monday’s showdown will be the official opening of the season. But the Copa 985 began on Friday when Gainesville and West Hall scrimmaged at City Park. The Gainesville boys won 2-0, while the Red Elephants took a 10-0 victory. Neither girls team nor the Gainesville boys made the playoffs in 2022, while the East Hall boys lost in the Class 4A semifinals last season.
East Hall boys coach Chris Henry was also excited about the new league and said if you can win the Copa 985, you should also be competing for a state title.
“I think the state title may be just a pinch above winning the Copa (985), but every game will probably be a playoff atmosphere and really help get everyone ready for the (state) playoffs,” Henry said. “The idea had been hovering around for years, so for everyone to come together and do this is tremendous for the sport and the area teams. My guess is if you win this, you definitely should be competing for state titles.”
While the obvious 2023 favorites look to be the Johnson boys (2022 Class 5A state champion) and the Cherokee Bluff girls (Class 3A semifinalist), all five titles should be up for grabs. The Knights would have finished 6th in 2021, and the East Hall boys would have won the Cup that year if it had existed.
“Johnson will be tough again, they return just about everyone, but there are a lot of good teams,” Viviant said. “Just because we have a state champion in the field doesn’t mean it will be easy for them. I think every match in this league will be tough for everyone.”
Henry said program bragging rights are what most people are looking for.
“There are some great individual teams, but I think having the best overall program -- boys, girls, JV -- would give whoever wins it something to hold onto for a whole year,” Henry said. “We’re ready to find out who has the best overall program.”
