Here’s the latest from the Boys HS 7s at the CRC.
Saturday saw teams play only the one game on Saturday, the quarterfinals for most and consolation semifinals for some.
In the HS Open competition, Archmere shut out Narberth and West Chester won big over St. Augustine 24-5. Media edged LaSalle and Downingtown beat Unionville 2 by a try.
Those four will be in the semis.
For West Chester, this was just one more step on a road to 7s glory. They won the Surfside 7s last year, and finished second in the Subaru 7s and Ariel Re 7s in Bermuda.
“We’re firing on all cylinders,” enthused Coach Lou Raymond. “We’re very fortunate to have these players. A lot of them have been playing together for a long time. They’re teammates, and they’re friends.”
James Jaques and Dan Brown are two Pennsylvania all-state players who have been playing well this weekend. John Dormann is outstanding in the midfield, and Dondre Ross, who is on loan from Conestoga, has been excellent.
“We have some strong runners,” said Lou Raymond. “When we engage contact and get through that first tackle, we can then use our speed and it’s a foot race.”
A foot race the Wolfpack usually wins. Raymond said all he needs now is an injection of aggressiveness, and they could win it all.
West Chester faces Downingtown in the semis while Archmere takes on Media.
In the Elite division, Greenwich will take on the Utah Cannibals, while Rock Rugby plays the Maryland Exiles.
For the Exiles, this was a bit of an experiment. Gone were the senior Gonzaga HS players who helped them to a 3rd-place finish in Las Vegas. However, some younger players have stepped up. All-everything Fort Hunt player Chad Abdalla has been a monster, and the scrumhalf/flyhalf combination of Owen Sheehy and Jacob Estes has played very well. Also stepping up is Gonzaga underclassman Will Like, who has mixed it up well in contact.
Saturday's Scores and Sunday's Matchups:
| Boys HS Open | ||
| Cup QF | Archmere v Narberth | 31-0 |
| Cup QF | West Chester v St. Augustine | 24-5 |
| Cup QF | Downingtown v Unionville 2 | 12-7 |
| Cup QF | LaSalle v Media | 12-15 |
| Cons QF | Shannahan v Burrell | 34-7 |
| Cons QF | Unionville v Blackthorn | 27-5 |
| Cons QF | Union City v Coventry | 19-5 |
| Cons QF | Malvern v NAVs | 5-29 |
| Cup SF | Archmere v Media | |
| Cup SF | West Chester v Downingtown | |
| Plate SF | Unionville 2 v St. Augustine | |
| Plate SF | Narberth v LaSalle | |
| Cons SF | Shanahan v Union County | |
| Cons SF | NAVs v Unionville | |
| Shield SF | Burrell v Malvern | |
| Shield SF | Coventry v Blackthorn | |
| Boys HS Elite | ||
| Cup QF | Greenwich v West Shore | 22-12 |
| Cup QF | Rock Rugby v Fishers | 29-14 |
| Cup QF | Maryland Exiles v Fairfield | 19-7 |
| Cup QF | Utah Cannibals v Rhino | 22-7 |
| Cons SF | Doylestown v Kiski | 24-12 |
| Cons SF | NAVs v Rugby South Carolina | 17-26 |
| Cup SF | Greenwich v Utah | |
| Cup SF | Rock Rugby v Maryland Exiles | |
| Plate SF | West Shore v Rhino | |
| Plate SF | Fairfield v Fishers | |
| Cons Final | Doylestown v Rugby South Carolina | |
| Shield Final | Kiski v NAVs |
