It's been a wild Northern California Boys HS Premier season, and it's now down to two teams, as Danville and Jesuit won semifinals over the weekend.

After both teams showed some vulnerability through the regular season, healthy and ready for the championships, they showed up big-time. Jesuit beat SFGG 45-28 in a game where the Marauders led 28-0 at halftime. And a week after beating Granite Bay 46-12, Danville thumped Lamorinda - a team that beat the Oaks just a couple of weeks ago - 50-3.

Jesuit Over Granite Bay

Jesuit playing three touring sides during Spring Break and that experience seemed to build the team's confidence. Against SFGG the Marauders marauded. 

A patient, measured attack the focused on possession was hard to stop and Elias Ramirez, playing at scrumhalf, really put pressure on Golden Gate and was able to score just ten minutes in.  Wing Ben Skinner hit the conversion. Skinner scored and then converted his own try.  Flanker George Miller was the next on the board and Fullback Mason Phillips then went on a mazy run that beat several defenders to score right at the half, with Skinner hitting both conversions. 

That made it 28-0 at the break.

Ramirez started off the half with another smart play when he caught Golden Gate napping on a penalty. Skinner hit the kick and Jesuit was really showing a team effort. Golden Gate was not done and came back to score. The Jesuit forwards then took over with a solid driving maul that Max Sackett finished off.  The conversion was missed.  Golden Gate got one back, before Laiatu Latu went a strong run to score and put Jesuit back in the driver’s seat.  Golden Gate would not go away quietly and punched in two more tries to flatter the score line.

Final score: Jesuit 45 - SFGG 28

Latu and flyhalf Max Schumacher were named players of the game, but the Jesuit front row really dominated the set piece.

“The players called the game and made the adjustments they needed to be effective,” said Jesuit Head Coach John Shorey. “We played four top tier teams in the past few weeks (St. Edward from Ohio, two Australian teams and Rangitoto from New Zealand) and learned quite a bit. We are not the finished product, but the progress is evident. We will need to bring our A game against Danville, who are clearly one of the top five teams in the country.”

Danville Rolls Over Lamo

Hit with injuries and preparing for the playoffs, Danville rested some starters against Lamorinda April 14 and lost 31-24. This week, Danville reversed that with interest, winning 50-3. It was a balanced attack by the Oaks, with seven different players scoring. In the pack, lock Joshua Allan and No. 8 Luke Freeman shone. Cal Liebowitz had a solid game at flyhlalf, while the midfield of Jason Severance and Luke Ogburn was a handful.

"As we get close to the end of the season and Nationals I believe we are playing as well as anyone in the country," said Head Coach David Liebowitz.

Next week these two teams face off for the Northern California title.