CHATTANOOGA, Tn. — Spectators in attendance at the Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts were treated to nine goals on a balmy night last Saturday. Scenic City SC defeated visitors North Georgia United 6-3 in an exciting game that featured plenty of skill and talent on show, as well as the many goals.
The star of the show was undoubtedly the home side’s Sam Conrad. While he didn’t score himself, the 5-9 striker from nearby Lookout Mountain produced a masterclass in attacking play, exhibiting exceptional skill, tenacity, and physicality.
It was the visitors who opened the scoring, and early on too. Exciting forward Maximo Juarez, who enjoyed a fine battle with Scenic City’s Adin Castle throughout, set the game’s early pace. With just five minutes on the clock, he collected the ball in his own half and solo-ran a fine counterattacking move that took Scenic City’s scrambling defense by surprise before launching a shot that Maro Mendez in the home goal could do nothing about.
Scenic City didn’t sit about though, and within a minute Conrad had hit the post as they immediately went in search of an equalizer. It came after only seven minutes and involved the other Conrad on the field, Sam’s brother Jack. Sam’s work into and in the box, resulted in a pulled back pass that his brother was able to slam home from close range and past North Georgia goalkeeper Caleb Pete. A fine goal capping a fine, hard worked assist. There would be more of these.
Sadly for Jack, that would be his last major involvement in the game. Just shy of the half-hour mark, Head Coach Josh Luff took him off due to a lingering illness. He was replaced by Preston Munroe who immediately set about putting his side ahead. His shot with his first touch was pawed but not saved by Pete, and Scenic City were 2-1 ahead. Munroe would get another five minutes later, only for it to be called offside.
The second half began as the first ended, with the hosts on the attack. Sam Conrad was moved out to the right side of the attack to make way for the introduction of Adrick Hall as center-forward. Out on the right, Conrad’s blistering pace, quick tempo passing, and eye for intercepting balls, caused utter havoc to the left-side of North Georgia’s defense. Five minutes into the half, Scenic City had their third. It began as an intercept from Conrad who stole the ball and cascaded into the box. Not being greedy when he could have shot himself, he pulled the ball back to the onrushing Hall who made it 3-1.
North Georgia forward Ronald Maradiaga made things interesting with a goal three minutes later as we entered the final thirty minutes of play at 3-2. Pete had a tough night, but played well in spite of the six goals conceded. He made a few good saves, including an excellent mid-air stop just after the hour to deny Conrad. Only a few minutes later though, he could do nothing to stop the header from Michael Clow from going in, off a corner by Brian Jimenez. 4-2.
Fans who left CSLA early may have missed a deluge of goals late on. There were three in the last ten minutes alone. On the 82nd minute, Obinna Okoronkwo scored a fine volley for North Georgia, yet another excellent strike for the watching crowd to savor. Six minutes later, Sam Conrad repeated the same trick again, dribbling into the box and pulling the ball back into the middle. Again, Hall was present to smash it past Pete and at 5-3 on 88 minutes, it looked over.
Jimenez wasn’t finished though, and he would provide the coup de grâce on these spirited North Georgia visitors with an absolute beauty of a strike right at the death, from the outside of the box. His left footed effort, sailed past a diving Pete and into the net. The highlight of the game, and a goal fit for any occasion. You only wish there were cameras present to record it, but the small band of support there won’t forget it any time soon.
I spoke with Head Coach Luff after the game and he expressed delight at his side finishing the regular season in fourth, after just winning promotion from Division One in the spring. This, in spite of dealing with a seeming conveyor belt of injuries that robbed the side of many of its regular starters. He also reflected on the personal growth of his players, the injection of youth from the likes of Conrad but also the leadership from the likes of Clow and [Tayleor] Fisch, and his hopes for the continued growth of the game in the region with the likes of fellow Chattanooga-based UPSL outfit Kaistorms FC [in the KY-TN conference] and the emergence of Cleveland United [set to begin play in Spring 2026] nearby.
Scenic City look ahead now to a playoff match against either Atletico Buford or Kalonji Pro-Profile of Georgia Zone 1 [unknown at the time of writing] and a bonus run into the post-season in their first campaign in the top flight. North Georgia have some talented players but ultimately will settle for eighth and last place in Zone 2.
Box Score
Scenic City SC v North Georgia United
UPSL Premier Division - Georgia Zone 2
Saturday 15th November, 2025
Venue: CSLA | Chattanooga, TN
Final Score: Scenic City 6-3 North Georgia
Scoring Summary:
5’: M. Juarez (NGU)
13’: J. Conrad (SCE)
39’: P. Munroe (SCE)
50’: A. Hall (SCE)
53’: R. Maradiaga (NGU)
65’: M. Clow (SCE)
82’: O. Okoronkwo (NGU)
88’: A. Hall (SCE)
39’: B. Jimenez (SCE)
Man of the Match: Sam Conrad (SCE) - didn’t get a goal himself but nabbed several assists and was always SCSC’s most potent offensive threat. Caused havoc for the North Georgia defense especially after being deployed out wide in the second half. Seemed to be the first to every ball, showed physical fight to win it in challenges and had multiple intercepts. His footwork and quick passing really make him stand out. A real talent.
Starting line-ups:
Scenic City: Maro Mendez; Joseli Castilla, Stiven Galicia, Michael Clow (C), Ben Horchak, Adin Castle; Tayleor Fisch, Brian Jimenez; Clay Gallant, Jack Conrad; Sam Conrad Head Coach: Josh Luff
North Georgia: Caleb Pete; Lakin Dancause, Ivan Orellana (C), Jose Garcia; Max Ramos, Gonzalo Lemus, Alfonso Vega, Yeibert Vargas; Obinna Okoronkwo, Maximo Juarez, Ronald Maradiaga Head Coach: Kennet Fosuhene