The UC/Clairemont Honey Badgers moved to 3-0 with a dominating win over San Pasqual this past weekend.

This sets up a clash between the Honey Badgers and HTH/Pt. Loma, both teams in the larger San Diego Old Aztecs youth program. The two teams will face off for the Mettle Cup Friday. The Mettle Cup was started last year when the Honey Badgers team was founded, and it was UC/Clairemont that won the inaugural contest.

“Because we are not allowed to play in the playoffs, this will be our championship game,” said Honey Badgers Head Coach Pueata Auva’a, who works with his staff Jason Lee and Joe Solomona. His team can’t advance to the playoffs because the Southern California Varsity White Division requires all teams to have at least 70% of their players from a single school. UC/Clairemont doesn’t meet that requirement.

“What makes this game special besides the above is that both players and coaches from each schools know each other very well and in some cases very close friends, that have played together and coached together for the Young Aztec Youth Rugby age grades,” said Auva’a. “Both teams will have plenty of support Friday. Both schools have strong forward packs and like to play a fast game.”

And both are undefeated.

The  Honey Badgers are led by captain and scrumhalf Josh Urbonas, with vice captain and flanker Jack Desany also playing well. IYoung Issiah Crespo along with fullback Patrick Madden and center Ryan Shogun are all select-side players.

“Our team motto is that no one is bigger than the team,” said Auva’a. “This is highlighted by a lot of our JV team pushing for playing time in our Varsity team.”

Zachary Rhodes, Argen Urbonas, and Parker Rogers have all pushed for 1st-team playing time, while centers Nico Perez and Gavin Rasmussen, and wing Belix Guerra are all new to the game but have played well.