Conestoga capped off an impressive run to win the Rugby Pennsylvania single-school championship, beating St. Joseph’s Prep Sunday 52-19.

Both teams won their semifinals on Saturday, but St. Joe’s had to really work for it, and came into the game perhaps a shade more tired than Conestoga. And the favorites made them pay, scoring four converted tries in the opening 15 minutes to put the game away early.

“We played a good game,” said Conestoga Head Coach Alex Johnson. “We played up to our ability level. I told the boys it was down to them how they wanted to perform, and to run with it, and they did.”

St. Joe’s bounced back with a score going into halftime, but Conestoga scored once more before the break - a play Johnson was very happy with as it regained the momentum for his team.

“They kicked off high, and we lost that ball, and they rolled from there,” said St. Joe’s Coach Brian McCloskey. “They are an excellent team. Our guys played hard, but playing back-to-back games like that is tough.”

This is the 5th year out of the last six that St. Joe’s has made the state single-school final.

For Conestoga, Kadel LaMarre was outstanding at No. 8 and scrumhalf Brigham Duecker distributed the ball nicely.

“It’s easy to forget how important a good pass from your scrumhalf is, but he had it,” said Johnson. 

Captain Peter Jean led from the front once more as Conestoga essentially dominated possession.