It’s rematch time as the top two teams in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association league meet up.

Undefeated Calvert Hall takes on 3-1 Loyola Blakefield in the championship game, and while Calvert Hall might be considered the favorite, it’s worth pointing out that when the teams last met, on April 23, Calvert Hall emerged victorious by just one point, 27-26. The time before that was a non-league game in March, a 29-29 tie.

Loyola Blakefield’s first-year coach Danny Breda says it’s been a bit of a whirlwind season dealing with an intense rivalry and adjustments for COVID (which basically have meant no games outside the league).

“The rivalry with Calvert Hall has been fun,” enthused Breda. “Their coach Brandon Macpherson and I are friends and it’s the oldest Catholic school rivalry in the country, so the boys are definitely up for it.”

The two schools have been in existence since before the Civil War and are less than four miles from each other.

L-B Adjusts

“From Day One our mindset has been that we have nothing to lose and everything to gain and our motto has been to ADAPT,” said Breda. “With all of the uncertainty surrounding COVID and a new coach with a new system the boys are just grateful they get to play rugby this season and it looks like they are really enjoying the time together. I have been really impressed with how both JV and Varsity teams have embraced all the changes with an open mind and we have been improving every week. We are just hoping to continue to get better and have fun with our last week together.”

The Calvert Hall and Loyola Blakefield will also face off for the JV championship this afternoon.

“Calvert Hall is a really good, well-rounded team,” said Breda. “They really compete in the breakdown and have physical forwards but also have some experienced and savvy backs. Our team is made up the same way and we have been playing some fast running rugby so far. We just need to execute our skills when it matters and keep enjoying ourselves."

The Players

Calvert Hall has seen powerful center Josh Maki challenge defenses all season and he opened up the semifinal against Archbishop Spaulding with a breakaway try in the first few minutes. He ended up scoring three tries in that first half and setting up another, using a combination of pace and size and opportunism. Nate Simon is a smart scrumhalf and a very good goalkicker and kicker from the hand, and he partners nicely with Brennan Ames at flyhalf. The pack, especially in the second row led by a very active Sean Lige, works hard and gets in the opposition’s face.

For Blakefield, many of the players got their start in the Potomac youth touch league. Scrumhalf Tyler Cahill and center Luke Amaral are excellent examples of that, while they have a veteran group anchored by flyhalf Brett Stoll and fullback Billy Zittle in the backs, and up front No. 8 and captain Emmett Radebaugh and hooker Christian Arthur.

Crossovers from other sports Nick DuBois and Aiden Parsons have pushed into starting roles and started to score tries.

This promises to be another tight contest, with the Varsity final kicking off at 6pm. 

Here’s a look at the last time they met:

"We are confident going into the game," added Calvert Hall Head Coach Brandon McPherson. "Everyone is healthy, which was not the case in the first two matches. We're a small but strong and fit forward group with a senior back line. Everyone has really turned it on over the last two weeks but I will note two of our loosies have had stellar tackle counts consistently through the season2".