Neuqua defeated Morton HS 48-12 this past weekend to take the Rugby Illinois Boys HS D1 Championship.

Neuqua finished the  2018 Varsity Season 16-0,  including four wins over ranked teams.  Defensively, the team gave up no more than two tries in any match during Rugby Illinois regular season and playoffs, and capped playoffs with 177 points for and only 19 points against.

Morton came in on a high after defeating  LaSalette in the semi-final on their side of the bracket and didn't disappoint the big home crowd by taking an early 7-0 lead after some grinding forwards pick and go rugby to punch in. Neuqua responded immediately, securing their own kickoff and marching down into Morton territory.    

From a  lineout at Morton's 5m line, Neuqua worked the ball wide and fullback Griff Huffmon went in untouched at the sideline.   The conversion attempt from out wide by Will Chevalier rattled off the near upright to leave Morton with a 7-5 lead about 10 minutes in.   On the ensuing restart, Morton was pinged for a penalty at the breakdown and Chevalier took the quick tap, hit center Zane Jackson with a long skip pass to put him through a gap and Jackson dished to winger Sean McNamara to beat the fullback for  Neuqua's2nd try.   The conversion by Chevalier was good and  Neuquatook a 12-7 lead.

Morton rallied to bring the ball back down and camp inside the  Neuqua five-meter line.  The  Neuqua defense held, though, despite wave after wave of Morton forwards trying to bash through.

With about two minutes to go in the 1st half, the  Neuqua backline opened up the Morton defense on a set move from a lineout at midfield, and  Jackson went 60 meters to score under the posts. With the conversion  Neuqua led 19-7.

The 2nd half opened with Neuqua receiving, and after working the ball into the Morton half on some hard-charging runs by lock Will McNamara and prop  Chaz La Point, the Morton defense moved up too quickly and Chevalier hit a wiper kick in behind the Morton line. The ball rolled into in-goal and Jackson raced in to score his second and make it 24-7.

After slotting a penalty kick,  Neuqua struck again from another lineout, and a set move put wing  McNamara over for his 2nd try of the day.   Chevalier hit the conversion from the sideline for a 34-7 lead.

Morton rallied in the final 15 minutes and their forwards put Neuqua under pressure and forced a yellow card. Up a player, Morton went over for the try. But Neuqua replied with some big forward runs from Will McNamara, #No. 8 Dylan Crawford, and prop Thomas  Modaff.   Reserve center Jared  Komarynsky took advantage of the go-forward to slice through from 15 meters out for the short-handed try.   Chevalier his the conversion, and then a few minutes later he scooped up an errant Morton pass at midfield, hit a gap, and raced through from the 50 meters to touch down. Chevalier converted to cap the game at 48-14.