HS Around the Country Tonight
HS Around the Country Tonight
Here;s a quick roundup of what's been happening in Boys HS Rugby.
We do have a more detailed report on the Gonzaga Tournament here: Gonzaga Tournament Provides Plenty of Challenges
Indiana
Pendleton beat Penn 17-12 in a classic game that puts Pendleton at the top of the league in the Hoosier State. Westside Black Swarm, meanwhile, won well over Bishop Dwenger. Details on these games to come by we can tell you that Dwenger and Westside were deadlocked 5-5 at halftime. And for Pendleton, Nick Trout, who is having some kind of season, score all of his team's points with two tries, two conversions, and a penalty goal.
Ohio
The big rivalry in Cleveland is St. Ignatius vs St. Edward and this was a big day for this fixture. Ignatius won 37-5, but St. Edward battled hard and tightened it up in the second half.
Wisconsin
Green Bay, Pulaski, and Nicolet all moved to 2-0 this weekend.
Southern California
The final round of games that also served as play-ins for HS Nationals got done. Belmont Shore is now 3-0 after beating the other 2-0 team, San Diego Mustangs, 33-26. Shore looks like they are on their way to a second-straight SoCal championship.
But the games are pretty close at the top end, and SOC Raptors managed to overcome yet another big penalty count to edge Thunder 27-26.
Northern California
Jesuit looked at their schedule and decided to to a little Nationals replication with two games in two days. Senior Night saw them handle Motherlode 52-19, and then they took on SFGG a day later, winning 38-20.
Motherlode gave plenty for Jesuit to handle and showed plenty of skill. It was 14-10 at halftime but Jesuit was able to wear them down late.
On Saturday, on a very warm day in Sacramento, SFGG took an early lead, but Jesuit got a penalty try and a penalty goal from flyhalf TJ Pappas. It was 10-10 at halftime.
Once again Jesuit pulled away late.
Nine different players scored over the two games; Pappas led with two tries, 10 conversions, and a penalty for 33 points. Sophomore center Jack Patock led the defense, prop Joe Mokofisi produced some big carries, and lock Kaden Collons continues to dominate the lineouts. In the backs fullback Noah Sanchez and center Cormac O'Flaherty were very good.
"We were able to get over 30 players valuable minutes over the two days," said Head Coach Andrew Acosta. "Now we turn our sights toward the playoffs and Nationals."
Also in NorCal Elsie Allen won big yet again. They aren't deep, but the Lobos have talent and could be the class of D1.
The Wolverines won over Lamorinda in the Premier Division.
Quad State Showdown
Greenwich looked pretty impressive in their own tournament this weekend, beating an admittedly slightly depleted Berks side 38-0 and also beating Bishop Hendricken and a combined Union/Morris side out of New Jersey. They are starting to play well as a team and the timing for that is good.
Texas
Dallas Jesuit pushed aside memories of their shutout loss to Strake Jesuit and put in a really strong defensive effort in the Rugby Texas single-school final. holding Strake Jesuit to two tries, the Rangers took the title 27-14. Details to come.
Florida
With Okapi getting a bye to the semis, it was up to the remaining six to play their way into the next round. Key Biscayne just got by Wellington 33-31, while on the other end of the spectrum, Boca Raton soared past Tampa 74-15. The third game was pretty close, too, which is no surprise as their previous result was 19-14. Gibbons beat Jacksonville on that first meeting April 1 and did it again this Saturday 26-15.
