Brandon Jaramillo and Erik Martinez lead shortlist

Why Eastside’s final stands out

Eastside’s case is built on one decisive act.

• The update says the final against Chapin finished 1-1.
• It reportedly stretched through four overtimes before a shootout settled it.
• Jaramillo is said to have made the game-winning save.

That is the kind of moment that tends to dominate any weekly honour. Finals are often tight, chance-poor games, so one intervention from a goalkeeper can carry as much weight as a goal. In a title match, the difference between “solid” and “memorable” is usually a single action. Jaramillo’s contribution appears to fit that description exactly.

Martinez gave Southside early control

If Eastside won on nerve, Southside appears to have won on impact.

• The report says Martinez scored the first two goals.
• Southside reportedly beat Gray Collegiate 3-0.
• The win is described as Southside’s first state championship in Class 4A.

There is a simple reason attackers get so much attention in finals: early goals change the whole shape of the game. A team chasing a final takes risks. A team leading can manage space, tempo and emotion. Martinez’s contribution, as described in the update, seems to have tilted the match quickly and decisively.

Finals usually drive these shortlists

The broader shortlist reportedly includes strong baseball performances, but football finals carry a different emotional weight. A shootout save. A quick-fire brace. A state title attached to both. Those are the moments voters tend to remember first.

Voting, the report says, remains open until 28 May. The next storyline to watch is straightforward: whether fans reward the goalkeeper who held his nerve, or the forward who seized a final before it could drift.