DALTON — Southeast Whitfield and history joined hands Tuesday.

Eduardo Guerrero’s penalty kick in the 71st minute enabled the Raiders to edge previously unbeaten Thomas County Central 1-0 in a Class AAAA semifinal at Raider Stadium. Southeast will host the championship game Friday against top-ranked Lakeside-DeKalb.

Central coach Jonathan Carroll was disappointed with the officiating, in particular, with the officials’ decision to grant Southeast Whitfield a penalty kick.

“It’s not a case of we were beaten by a better team,” Carroll said to the Times-Enterprise, adding that he plans to appeal the game. “That’s not the case. This game was taken from us. We did not lose the game. That’s the hardest part right now.

“I don’t mind losing. For a referee to take it upon himself and try to change the game, and for a guy who does not the know the rules in a state semifinal, that’s unacceptable to me.”

Added Southeast coach Jamison Griffin: “It feels like euphoria. I’m so proud of the players. What they’ve done is beyond coaching. It’s what the players have inside.”

The Raiders (18-2) had several great opportunities to score in both halves, but were unable to capitalize until officials ruled freshman forward Alam Tiador was fouled in the penalty area with 8:51 remaining, setting up Guerrero’s game-deciding penalty kick.

“I passed the ball to Alam and they fouled him,” the senior midfielder said. “When I went to shoot, I saw him (goalie Chip Sanders) make a move to the left, so I shot it to the right. When it went in, I could sense the victory. It feels like I won the lottery, even better.”

Carroll didn’t believe there should have been a penalty shot.

“The foul wasn’t in the penalty area,” Carroll said. “It was the wrong call and (the officiating) just got progressively worse after (the penalty kick).

Minutes after the penalty kick, an official incorrectly ruled that the Yellow Jacket’s Ethan Vick, who wore jersey No. 16, had received his second yellow card, and therefore was ejected from the game. However, No. 15 Garrett Newsome actually received the team’s first yellow card, not Vick. 

After Carroll vehemently argued with the officials, they conferred and reversed Vick’s ejection before play resumed.

“I told them to check the book,” Carroll said. “The fourth official came over and confirmed it. I mean, is this really how you want the state semifinal to go down? 

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind losing to a Southeast team that shot 25 times and is a top-ranked team. But we worked too hard for a game to come down to an official that didn’t know what he was doing.”

Griffin had his own viewpoint.