Belmont HS defeated BC High 20-7 to take the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Boys D1 championship over the weekend.
In a tight, physical clash, Belmont would not trail at any time, but it took some times, and some smart decision-making to take control of the game.
Belmont scored three minutes in. A long kick into BC High territory followed by a big hit that knocked the ball loose gave Belmont an attacking scrum just outside the 22. Belmont tried to test BC High on the edge, and while they were stopped, there was an earlier penalty for a high tackle. Belmont tapped quickly, got close to the line, and finally Asa Rosenmeier was over, with his brother, Erik, converting to make it 7-0.
From the ensuing restart Belmont knocked the ball on and were under some pressure. Belmont hung on and at one point scrumhalf Henry Brown was over the ball in a ruck and forced a penalty that seemed to get Belmont out of trouble. Not so fast. Back came BC High. A Belmont lineout around midfield went long and BC High recovered the ball. Some good ball movement and five phases finally led to outside center Jack McNichol sidestepping and accelerating his way through four would-be tacklers. He charged on for about 30 meters before beating two more and then shoving the final defender back to score. The conversion was good and the game sat tied 7-7.
Over the next few sequences Belmont had chances to make inroads but misfired on their lineouts. Finally, once they get that set piece going, and they seemed to have a chance on the outside, the last pass sailed into touch.
Still, Belmont remained in BC High territory and all told were there, knocking on the door, for about eight minutes. Finally, a penalty in front of the posts led to flyhald and captain Erik Rosenmeier to point to the posts and he was good with the kick for a 10-7 Belmont lead.
The next period of play was back and forth with both teams stringing together some phases and ultimately making some errors before another penalty attempt from 20 meters out by Rosenmeier. It was a wise move to go for points in this, the final, and he was accurate again, making it 13-7.
With halftime looming BC High lost the restart forward, and after the scrum were pinged for multiple penalties.
This time Belmont opted to keep the play moving and a quick tap from Max Cornelius set up Viktor Insanic to crash over for a Belmont try. Rosenmeier converted and it was 20-7 at halftime.
The second half was a defensive battle with both sides pressing deep into opposition territory and neither able to convert any of these forays into points. Belmont had a yellow card at the third minute and then defended their goal line for a long series. A nicely-executed poach by Jake Cornelius helped keep BC High from scoring.
Erik Rosenmeier later executed a 50-22 that put BC High under pressure. That eventually led to a penalty, but Rosenmeier's effort drifted wide.
