Putnam County defender Emmanuel Meraz returns for his senior season to help the War Eagles pursue another region title. Meraz is the state’s leading returning scorer from the 2024 season. He scored 45 goals last year, which was good enough for second in the state, averaging 2.81 goals per game and helped the War Eagles achieve a 14-2 overall record and a 9-0 region record.
Meraz accounted for 45 of the team’s 106 goals, outscoring the team’s second-leading scorer by 32 goals. He will be a name to watch in the coming season, both on the pitch and on the recruiting trail.
Other standout returning scorers include Metter’s Jonathan Elizalde, who tallied 33 goals while helping Metter reach the second round of the playoffs. Jefferson County striker Tristan Solis led the Warriors with 30 goals, helping them advance to the quarterfinals. Lithia Springs’ Manny Mancilla and Wayne County’s Emanuel Herrera tied as the highest-scoring sophomores from last season, each netting 27 goals.
Among freshmen, LaGrange forward Elvis Castillo and Hebron Christian forward Benji Gunji led the way, both scoring 24 goals last season. Overall, the state returns 34 players who scored more than 20 goals last season while only losing 29, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting and high-scoring season ahead.
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