Almost 30 games are on the schedule for Boys HS rugby this weekend.
This even though the Storer Classic is, unfortunately, canceled due to the LA fires. We don't know if any other games are affected by the wildfires, but it certainly is possible.
Arizona and Suth Carolina kick off with some festival action. Both competitions feature a day of shortened games to give the teams a chance to get some time in, talk about it a bit, and do it again.
Meanwhile, we have a few high-profile games. Jesuit of Sacramento goes south to play two games. We have more on that trip here:
Crossover NorCal-SoCal HS Games Set for This Weekend
Also in Southern California, in the SCYR school league Torrey Pines will play Loyola HS Los Angeles on Martin Luther King Day. This is a matchup we haven't seen before and it's going to e an interesting one with Torrey Pines probably the favorite in this league, but making the trip north to LA for the matchup.
Led by scrumhalf and captain James Curtis, who is in excellent form, the Falcons have Sam Violet at center as their defensive captain, and powerhouse front-rower Will Shrekengaust. All three are expected to attend Cal this coming fall. No. 8 Will Barrett is another talent on an imposing Torrey Pines team.
On the other coast, two of the top school teams in North Carolina face off with Charlotte Catholic vs South Meck. This is a time of a series of critical games in this league. The top sides built good records before the Winter Break, but we were warning them that more challenging games might on the horizon. Not that they needed to be warned. Last week it was South Meck vs Hough (both unbeaten before that game), and the other being vastly-improved Charlotte Catholic vs Marvin Ridge. Catholic won a close one 20-10, while Hough remained unbeaten with their win over South Meck.
But some missing players are expected back for South Meck as the 3-1 Sabres face the 3-0 Cougars.
Catholic Head Coach Jason Zehmke is certainly cognizant of the fact that his team went 0-7 last year, but they are certainly improved.
"The team that gets the upper hand in the middle channel could go a long way to securing a W," said Zehmke. "Lots of experience and physicality on both sides."
South Meck captain and No. 8, Quinn Miller, is a force and he faces up against big freshman Miles Caple in an anticipated clash; in the midfield, USA U18 Jameson Beatty will line up against USA U18 camp invitee Luke Zehmke.
"I don't know a better coach than Coach Zehmke," South Meck head guy Rick Norvell said of his opposite. "He's only added a few players from last year; it's by and large the same team that went 0-7 and is now 3-0. It's going to be a 70-minute battle."
