As time expired and the roar of fans reached a climax, North Marion High School boys soccer head coach Carlos Perez couldn’t contain himself.
The tears started flowing almost immediately. Tears turned to sobs, as Perez laid on his back on the soaked turf field inside Legion Park in Woodburn on Tuesday, Nov. 12, holding his hands to his face, eventually turning onto his stomach. His team began to gather near the opposite side of the field in front of their fans, basking in the adulation.
The No. 2 Huskies had just overcome No. 3 Crook County 2-1 in the Class 4A state semifinals, securing a date against No. 4 Henley in the state championship. After three consecutive seasons of losing in the state semifinals, North Marion will play for a state title for the first time since Perez took over the program in the spring of 2021.
Three years of anguish finally culminated to a moment of pure jubilation — not just for Perez, but for everyone involved in the program during his tenure, past and present.