KC Jr. Blues Win Missouri Again
Behind an MVP performance from flanker Mason Tasset, the Kansas City Jr. Blues won the team’s 4th-straight Missouri State Championship this weekend in Jefferson City, Mo.
The weekend was a tough one for all concerned as eight teams assembled in the state capital to play quarterfinals and semifinals on Saturday, and final placements games on Sunday.
The Jr. Blues beat the St. Louis Mustangs 38-10 in the quarters, and then took care of Park Hill 24-0.
Charlotte Catholic Takes NC Single-School
Charlotte Catholic defeated Myers Park 43-21 Saturday to win the North Carolina single-school championship.
Myers Park gave Catholic all they could handle, and Catholic Head Coach Ian Mueller said his team needed plenty of resilience and fitness to win.
Right at the end of the first half of a tight, physical contest, Charlotte Catholic’s Reid Brandt was yellow-carded for a no-wrap tackle. Up a player, Myers Park scored a try to lead 14-12. But then Charlotte Catholic replied, with Greg O’Shields, Greyson Krone, and then, back on the field, Brandt scored to take control.
Boys HS Scores This Weekend
Here are scores from Boys HS games around the country. Most of these games are now playoffs, as states and regions are looking for champions.
We have bolded the state, regional, and major finals.
Down to Four in Rugby Pa
It’s down to four teams in the Rugby Pennsylvania Single-School competition after Conestoga, St. Joe’s Prep, La Salle, and Gregory the Great all won quarterfinals this past weekend.
It was an impressive showing for Conestoga, which, since their 18-14 loss to Cumberland Valley back at the beginning of April, has averaged 55 points per game. And they capped it off with a 62-33 defeat of that same Cumberland Valley team.
Led by captain Pete Jean and the human wrecking ball Daquan Perri, they have laid down a marker.
Two of the game this past weekend were very close. La Salle edged Moon Area 26-24 and St. Joe’s Prep beat West Allegheny in overtime.
“We’ve never seen kids bigger than this team,” said St. Joe’s Coach Brian McCloskey. “But out guys played well and tackled well and were good at forcing turnovers.”
Rugby Maryland Latest
In Rugby Maryland, the MIAA crowned a champion, while the top two in the Maryland HS club competition have been decided.
MIAA Championship
The top two seeds, Loyola Blakefield Jesuit and Archbishop Spalding came through their semifinals to collide for the third time in the last four years in the MIAA Varsity championship match. Loyola dispatched Mount St Joseph 34-10 while Spalding overcame a solid Calvert Hall squad 24-13.
Loyola posted a convincing 43-24 win over Spalding during the regular season. However, from the start of this match it appeared Archbishop Spalding was not going to allow that script to play out again. The weather would also play a role, with wet and sometimes rainy conditions throughout the game disrupting handling and possession.
Highlanders, Lions Win in NC Semis
The Chapel Hill Highlanders and Union County Lions won semifinal games this weekend to make the North Carolina HS Club final next week.
It was a physical clash between Union and the Charlotte Tigers. Union County is a relatively young team and over the season that group has been coming together.
“We have been slowly getting the younger players up to speed,” said Union County Steve McAreavy. “During our spring break tour to Florida the guys really started to play some team rugby, instead of playing as individuals.”
With the players having bought into the system, and with sophomore prop Tarshawn Reed having a solid game, and senior center Khris Missick excellent in the backs, the Lions held off the Tigers 28-13.
Rocky Mountain, Mountain View Win Idaho Semis
Mountain View and Rocky Mountain both won semifinals to make the state championship game in Rugby Idaho.
Mountain View defeated the Renegades 39-17 on Saturday, while Rocky Mountain beat Capital 27-23.
Mountain View was once again led by their senior captain, Kody Walker, and junior flyhalf Cody Hersey. Walker's strong running earned him two tries, and Hersey's fancy legwork brought him a couple of tries as well. Additionally, the Mavericks flyhalf hit a penalty kick from about 40 meters out and also three conversions for 14 points. Junior fullback Caden Chandler was also impressive, showing his lightning speed and sharp cuts while scoring in the match.
South Greenville, Wando Win in SC
It will be ,as expected, Wando v South Greenville in the South Carolina championship game this coming weekend.
Wando handled Greenville HS in fairly impressive fashion, running out to a 21-0 lead and cruising to a 33-10 victory.
South Greenville defeated Irmo 27-7 in the other semi.
"Irmo is massive," said South Greenville Coach Phil Weston. "They are strong and tough, but our guys hung in there."
Once the South Greenville forwards got the ball working through the phases, Irmo's backline defensive line started to fracture a little, and space opened up for the backs.
St. Thomas Aquinas Wins Kansas Title
Saint Thomas Aquinas won its 9th consecutive Kansas state championships Saturday, defeating the Kansas City Cougars 57-12 in the final.
STA continues to play well and show depth, with their JV team winning the Tier 3 title with wins over Garden City and Saint James Academy.
Hayden King was the player of the game for Aquinas. The scrumhalf played a strong game, keeping the tempo high and the ball moving constantly, which kept the Cougars on their heels. Wing Sean Benson was outstanding on the wing for the Saints and flanker Steven Rohde also had an excellent game.
Back Bay to SoCal Final
Back Bay has joined the Coastal Dragons in the final of the Southern California Boys HS club championship after the Sharks beat the San Diego Yougn Aztecs 60-3 Saturday.
The Dragons had already won their semi, having played the game early so the San Diego Mustangs could attend the Pacific Cup. Then in Saturday's other semi Back Bay took control and pinned the Aztecs in their own 22 for most of the game.
Sosefo Mailangi-Ray scored four tries for the Sharks.
Royal Irish Wins MW, But Has to Work For It
Royal Irish won the Midwest Boys multi-school team bracket Sunday, but it wasn’t easy.
The defending NIT HS club champs defeated Fishers 21-17 in the final in a game where Fishers scored late and had a chance to win it.
Royal Irish lost a few players to injury on Saturday, but Head Coach Scott Peterson said he just thinks the team is still finding its way, and needs to learn to put away teams when they have the lead.
Penn Dominates in Midwest Championships
Penn HS won the single-school brackets of the Midwest HS Championships, and while this was a very competitive bracket, Penn won in convincing fashion.
In Sunday’s final, Penn took on Notre Dame de La Salette, who had upset GRR #1 St. Edward 10-7 on Saturday. La Salette frustrated St. Edward with an impressive defensive display, and looked to do the same against Penn. At halftime of the final, Penn led 14-5, and it seemed as if they would continue to have trouble breaching the the La Salette defensive line.
Midwest HS Championships Day One
Here are the latest scores from the Boys HS Midwest Championships in Elkart, Ind.
In the HS Club bracket, Royal Irish is in the final as expected, and they will take on Fishers:
Quarterfinals
Fishers 31-12 Brunswick
Marian 22-14 Grand Rapids Catholic
Carroll 36-7 Dexter
Royal Irish 31-0 Grandville
Cup Semifinals
Fishers 22-10 Marian
Royal Irish 19-7 Carroll
Consolation Semifinals
Brunswick 27-17 Grand Rapids Catholic
Dexter 27-7 Grandville
In the single-school bracket, the top four ranked teams did indeed win, but current #1 St. Edward lost in the semis:
Quarterfinals
St. Edward 54-0 Bishop Dwenger
ND de La Salette 39-0 Pulaski
St. Ignatius 43-0 Brownsburg
Penn 60-0 West Ottawa
Danville Wins Pacific Cup
Danville won the Pacific Cup HS Tournament with a convincing 42-10 defeat of Peninsula Green.
This was a much-anticipated meeting between the Northern California Varsity Premier Champion (Danville) and the NorCal DI winner (Pen Green). PG had hoped to unseat the Oaks but it didn't happen that was as Danville put together a complete performance.
"We controlled the game and on defense we also played well and turned over their ball," said Danville Head Coach Roy Helu, Sr.
Thrilling Day 2 at Pacific Cup
there was a lot of talk about collision courses as Danville and Peninsula Green both won Friday to book a spot in the Pacific Cup Final Saturday.
In the three-day, eight-team, three-games-each tournament, Danville met Red Mountain in one semifinal, and Peninsula Green faced off with Kahuku in the other.
In the consolation semis, CK McClatchy took on the San Diego Mustangs, and Union HS of Rugby Oregon faced the Bay Barbarians, a team made up of mostly Archbishop Riordan players with some from Los Gatos.
In the consolation semi, the Mustangs and McClatchy played to a 17-17 tie, and in overtime, McClatchy scored to win it 22-17.
