Despite a Friday evening spring snowstorm, East HS and the NCOS Falcons faced off for the Rugby Colorado Boys HS state championship Saturday.
The first 10 minutes were back-and-forth, with most of the play in the Falcon's defensive half. East won a turnover penalty at a scrum 10 meters from the Falcon's line and opted for another scrum. John Wilson made a hard run and was brought down inches from the line. From that ruck scrumhalf Nate Day sold a dummy and stretched over for the first try of the game. Cole Younaszi converted.
Both teams played strong defense following the kickoff with each earning penalties at the the breakdown. Eventually John Wilson stripped a Falcon's ball carrier and ran 40 meters before a dropped pass allowed the Falcons to recover the ball. But the Falcons weren't out of trouble yet. Their attempt to clear from five meters in front of their line was partially charged down by flanker Josh Delong and the ball fell perfectly for Wilson to catch and fall across the line for a try. Again Younaszi converted.
Down 14-0 the Falcons earned a penalty immediately after the restart and flyhalf Luke Neely's kick made it 14-3. The Falcons controlled possession from the next restart and East's ill discipline at the breakdown allowed the Falcons to get deep inside the 22. Strong tackling from East's outside backs eventually forced a knock-on and East was able to clear from the scrum.
East worked from there and from another scrum Wilson ran right through the arms of three tacklers, spun away from two more, and then carried three others over the tryline for the try. Younaszi again converted to end the half 21-3.
