It has been a long week and a wild Day Three so you're getting a short report for what happened at Boys HS Nationals.
Tier II
In a wonderfully dramatic match, the Charlotte Tigers scores first through lock Xavier Flowe. Carmichael responded with a try from flanker Ronan Curry and a conversion from Rupeni Rukuvau for a 7-5 lead.
Tigers could only manage a penalty goal from Vaylin Kellerman but that was enough for a lead of 8-7. Late in the first half, a maul and some excellent work from the forwards put Curry over for his second try and a 12-8 Carmichael lead.
And then in the second half, early, it was 17-8 when some nice ball-handling put No. 8 Isaac Gomez over.
But as time went on Charlotte was able to steal more set piece and play better defense. They kicked a bit more and that helped. Center John Telli was outstanding in rescuring mistakes and difficult situations for the Tigers and he then scored on a smart support line.
That made it 17-13. Finally, off a set play from a scrum, the Tigers ran a loop move and put wing Nehemiah Gill, Jr. in space. He sped in for a dramatic one-point victory 18-17.
HS Club
The third straight meeting between the San Diego Mustangs and Charlotte Cardinals produced an exciting final. This was a defensive battle between two teams that were used to scoring. Both teams were excellent on defense.
Shay Farkash scored off a maul two minutes in to put San Diego ahead, and they added a Reese Curtis penalty to make it 8-0.
San Diego had a couple of excellent chances to score more but Charlotte held them out and cleared their lines.
Then a dropped ball from the Mustangs opened the door. Center Cole Everson toed it ahead, tackled the oplayer that picked up the ball, and that forced a turnover allowing wing Zane Schumacher to nab it and go 65 meters for a superb score.
That made it 8-7 and that's how the half ended. Charlotte tries two penalty goals and missed both, with one hitting the post.
In the second half, Charlotte's kicking game improved and they also started to find some gaps. Wing Aiden McLaughlin had a chance on the outside. When covered he grubbered ahead in a way that put the abll infield and in the try zone. He then outpaced everyone to score a brilliant try. Now it was 14-8.
San Diego answered almost immediately with No. 8 Max Marshall crashing over.
But some solid teamwork allowed Kay Campbell to seal it 21-13.
