Islands center back Alex Roma (right) in action as the Sharks beat East Hall to win the Class 3A state soccer title on May 12, 2026.
Islands junior Charlie Neall holds up the state championship trophy and celebrates with teammates after the Sharks state championship victory over East Hall on May 12th, 2026.
Islands freshman Colt Lawhorn makes a cross that led to a goal by Andrew McLaughlin as the Sharks beat East Hall to win the Class 3A state soccer title.
Colt Lawhorn of Islands in action as the Sharks beat East Hall to win the Class 3A state soccer title on May 12, 2026.
Colt Lawhorn of Islands pressures the East Hall defense as the Sharks beat East Hall to win the Class 3A state soccer title on May 12, 2026.
DULUTH — Islands soccer coach Justin Brantley saw the potential in his team long before the season opener. He made sure every practice and every match served as preparation for a state championship run.
Brantley loaded the early schedule with tough opponents to harden his squad. His obsessive focus on details became contagious, and his players took pride in executing every small aspect of the game from day one all the way to the glorious finish the Sharks celebrated on Tuesday night.
Islands captured its first state championship in commanding fashion, rolling past East Hall 6-0 at Duluth High. The Sharks became the first public school in Savannah history to win a boys soccer state title and the first team from Islands High School to bring home a state crown in any sport. They finished the season with a 22-2 record.
The Shark defense was nearly impenetrable throughout the playoffs, not allowing a single goal in five of their postseason matches.
“We beat three potential state champions in our last three games, so I was very, very confident in my guys because I know we don’t concede goals very easily,” said Brantley, now in his fifth season leading the program. “We had that confidence in our back line and we just played a fantastic game — it was our best match of the year. There had been so many games when we just didn’t finish with our chances, and I told the guys to keep playing those balls and those shots are going to drop — and they did tonight with four goals in the first half.”
The Sharks took control early. Freshman Colt Lawhorn made several powerful runs down the right flank and struck quickly in the sixth minute, delivering a cross that sophomore Andrew McLaughlin slotted into the left side of the net.
Ten minutes later, senior JJ Stein found himself in the right place at the right time when East Hall tried to clear the ball out of its own end. Stein stopped it with his chest, then instantly scored from about 10 yards out, pushing the lead to 2-0 in the 16th minute.
Islands kept the pressure on with a set piece in the 19th minute. Senior Zach Smith showcased his strength with a long throw-in over the East Hall defenders as junior Tao Harlan circled behind them and charged in to score on a ball that deflected off his hip.
Harlan, named the game’s Most Valuable Player, then went one-on-one with the Vikings keeper. He feinted left before moving toward the right post for an impressive goal that effectively put the game out of reach in the 28th minute.
“This means everything to us,” Harlan said. “I love this team so much and it’s our first ever championship. We’re so glad we got the job done for Coach Brantley and now we get to celebrate. I never thought I would get the MVP of the game, but it means a lot to me.”
In the second half, Stein had a strong chance coming up the left side, and the ball came out to Dylan Coggins, who sent it home from 12 yards out on the right wing. With about 1:30 remaining, Stein was taken down in the box and awarded a penalty kick. Brantley put in senior defender Sid Johnson, a vocal team leader, to take the kick, and Johnson converted for his first goal of the season as his teammates erupted.
“Our dream was to get into the final and win it, and here we are — we just won it 6-0,” said Stein, recently named the Region 3-3A Co-Offensive Player of the Year. “I don’t know what to say, I’m almost speechless. Coach Brantley meant so much to us from his motivation to his tactics. He built that connection. The key to our success was our chemistry — we’re like a family out there. We played together and we won that game tonight playing as one.”
It was truly a family affair on the back line. Junior Alex
