Jesuit New Orleans defeated Brother Martin 33-17 Saturday to win the 2022 Louisiana state high school rugby championship.

While Brother Martin was the defending state champion, the Jesuit Blue Jays came into the game unbeaten in Louisiana action.

The game remained in doubt until the match’s final minutes. Jesuit scored early when a series of penalties against Brother Martin allowed the Jays to kick repeatedly for touch and finally grind it over through No. 8 Conlon Pausina.

The next 15 minutes of play saw a back-and-forth. Brother Martin put everything in their defensive line, which led to Jesuit kicking over. Flyhalf Andrew Newell saw the space and sent a deep wiper kick that Brother Martin recovered just before their goalline. The Jesuit chase was on and they earned a holding-on penalty. Center Nick Farina tapped quickly and was over.

Brother Martin got the ball back after the restart and worked their way down to score. But the restart after that saw Newell pin Brother Martin back. The Jesuit defense forced a knock-on, the Blue Jays recovered, and after a series of pick-and-goes, flanker  Quinn Amedee was over to make it 19-5.

Brother Martin rebounded with two well-taken tries to draw within two. But Jesuit prop Joe Barnett powered through the defense to make it 26-17. Finally scrumhalf Matt Cashio spun it to Newell, sold a move left and cat back right to score and seal it 33-17.

Newell was named player of the game, and Jesuit is now champions of Louisiana.