The answer was "no." Jesuit edged their rivals 36-35 in a barnburner of a game.
Jesuit came out firing, converting an early penalty into a try from close range. They kept the pressure on, using their lineout to set a driving maul for another score and a 12–0 lead. De La Salle answered with a converted try, then struck again late in the half to take a 14–12 lead into the break.
De La Salle carried that momentum into the second half, as blindside flanker Nicholas Costagliola powered through defenders for a try under the posts to make it 21–12. Jesuit responded by turning penalties into points, leaning on a dominant maul to cut the deficit to 21–17. Another DLS score stretched the margin to 28–17.
Then Jesuit erupted. In a two-minute burst, they punched in two quick tries — including a 60-meter break from junior lock Jack Dillie — to seize the momentum. With five minutes remaining, Jesuit’s maul delivered again, pushing them ahead 36–28.
The drama wasn’t over. A late De La Salle surge resulted in a penalty try, and with Jesuit down a man, DLS pressed hard in the closing moments. Jesuit scrambled, forced a crucial turnover, and cleared the ball to seal the win.
“Another game that gave both coaches more gray hair,” said Jesuit Head Coach Andrew Acosta. “It’s still February, and both teams are navigating the realities of high school rugby — ski week, other sports, retreats, sickness. De La Salle battled the flu, we’re still a work in progress, but both teams fought to the end. It was a good advertisement for high school rugby on the grass in 75 degree weather!"
With the results, De La Salle and Jesuit both end up 2-2, while St. Francis and Rio American will be the top two coming out of NorCal with the All-California playoff on the horizon.
