Jesuit has an opponent for the NorCal Single-School championship, as Dixon upended Clayton Valley 33-19.

The result was revenge for Dixon, who had lost 29-24 to Clayton Valley on February 21. With the victory, Dixon bypassed Clayton Valley on total standings points to take 2nd among all single-school teams in Northern California, and will play top team Jesuit in the final in two weeks.

“We were too quick for them at the breakdown,” said Dixon Coach Rob Salaber. “They played well and fought hard until the end, but we tend to be a better team toward the end of the season.” 

In the first meeting of the two teams, Dixon was missing HS All American flyhalf Nathaniel Short, and they also had a player run the ball through the back of in-goal before touching down. Those two factors contributed to the loss in February, and weren’t a factor this week, as Short started as played extremely well.

“Our hats off to the Clayton boys,” said Salaber, but the coach is also pleased to have the big game left to play.

Jesuit, meanwhile, has been busy, playing New Zealand teams Westlake (45-12 loss) and New Plymouth (14-3 loss) and the England Lambs (24-10 loss). They will certainly be battle-hardened by the time the championship game comes along.