Cullman's Garrett Manley cuts off a Pelham player during Friday's 2-0 victory.

HUNTSVILLE — Friday was all about revenge for Cullman’s boys soccer team.

On Saturday, though, the Bearcats will be after something much more palatable.

A Class 6A state championship.

The top-ranked Black and Gold avenged a mid-March loss to No. 7 Pelham with a 2-0 shutout at John Hunt Park in Huntsville to set up a showdown with No. 10 Daphne at 10 a.m. for the program’s first state title since 2002.

Sound exciting?

For Cullman coach Casey Harbin, the road to victory was anything but.

“That middle 10-15 minutes in the second half when they were pressing us … I didn’t know what was going to happen honestly,” he said. “You never feel good with a 1-0 lead or a 2-0 lead. Heck, you don’t even feel good with a 3-0 lead. We started it, and we finished it. It wasn’t good in parts, but I was so proud of them. In the end, the scoreboard is the only thing that matters.”

After a scoreless first 30 minutes, Cullman (24-4-2) took a 1-0 lead following a sensational goal by Ben Walker. The senior handled the ball down into the corner before drilling what he’d hoped to be a cross to the backside.

However, with a little help from the wind, Walker’s kick curved just outside the hands of the Panthers’ goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

Just in time, too.

“We started off a little shaky, but then we started to play our game after that goal,” Walker said. “I got a little lucky. I wasn’t going for a goal, but that wind kept pushing it. I’ll take it in a game like this.”

The clutch boot came on the heels of a handful of good looks by Cullman that didn’t find the net early on in a dominant first half of possession.

Pelham came out a new squad in the second half, though, pressing the Bearcats aggressively throughout the final 40 minutes. The tactic resulted in more shots for the Panthers and less possession time for the Black and Gold.

Not that it mattered.

Cullman’s defenders did more than enough to stifle any attack that came their way during the back-and-forth matchup before Brazilian transfer Gui Albuquerque drove a stake right through Pelham’s heart.

The senior took advantage of a short stoppage in play to possess and secure the Bearcats’ other goal with less than five minutes left on the clock.

From there, the writing was on the wall.

“It was awesome, because this game was really tough in the second half,” Albuquerque said. “They were attacking us all the time. After that goal, I think we could chill a little more. And that’s it. I’m glad to get to the championship. My family isn’t here, so this team is like my second family. I just want to bring this title back to Brazil with me.”

With redemption now in their back pocket, all that’s left for Harbin and Co. is a blue trophy.

Standing in their way is a 16-5-5 Daphne group Harbin admittedly knows “nothing” about. The Trojans blanked Northridge 1-0 to punch a ticket to Saturday’s championship match.

Harbin, though, isn’t so much worried about who stands opposite his team on the pitch.

He’s more concerned about his own guys. However, Friday’s win put all remaining doubts — if there were any — to bed for the rest of the season.

“I was so impressed with how the guys came out and played the first 10-15 minutes of this semifinal game,” Harbin said. “I don’t think tomorrow is going to affect them at all. They’re way more excited than I am. Are you kidding me? And I’m out the roof excited. It’s going to be fun.”

Added Walker: “If we can go out there and win tomorrow, it’d be a great way to go out and end a high school career. We believe in ourselves to do it.”