While the school-team league in Northern California keeps going, some clubs are still playing some early matches.
The SacAir Islanders and Danville Oaks played what was probably better termed a scrimmage. They played three periods, and then were having so much fun they added a fourth. This contest ended as a 29-29 tie.
This is the second buildup game for SacAir (they beat San Mateo earlier). The Islanders have added a little more structure to their wide open playing style and it has made an impact. But their character is still their ability to burn teams with their pace, and you are slow to regather a kick at your peril.
Danville was a little more controlled but they have players with open-field skills all over.
Several teams traveled Southeast to the Fresno area to play in the CenCal Challenge, which was a series of shortened games involving the likes of San Mateo, Bullard, Kern, Edison, and Buchanan.
In the school league, Serra edged Acalanes Dons 21-15, with both teams scoring three tries but Serra’s kickers, Andrew Takapautolo and Liandro. Flores, making the difference.
Troy Marquez, Leokava Tuineau, and Parker Van Doren scored the tries for Serra. San Joaquin Memorial exploded for 51 points over Bellarmine.
In the Single-School D1, two teams with a history of victories in the league ended up on the short end of the stick. St. Francis beat De La Salle 43-31.
Uate Pifeleti, Sione Tonga, and Isaia Porter led a high-flying Lancers attack.
Many of the games are close now.
Rio Americano is looking very good here and they produced a 21-15 win over Jesuit of Sacramento. Rio got tries from Ronan Curry, Seti Perona, and Reed Knapp, with Perona’s three conversions the difference.
Jesuit matched Rio try-for-try but Head Coach Andrew Acosta said the Marauders left too many chances unclaimed.
Jesuit will rue a couple of mistakes and penalties that hurt them.
For Rio, their 21-14 loss to De La Salle the week before is their only setback so far.
The other team in the league is St. Ignatius of San Francisco, which crossed over with Open Division team Bishop O’Dowd and won a close one 30-21. Jude Crum and OC Lehner performed well for O’Dowd.
So we’re still in early days, but in five games involving these five teams, ever team has lost a game.
