In what has to be thought of as an upset, Pelham HS defeated Xavier HS 20-14 in MetNY action over the weekend.
Pelham (ranked #21 by GRR) left the game elated with the win over the #2-ranked Xavier, but also feeling like they could have scored more.
“We came away feeling like we outplayed them,” said Pelham HS Head Coach Matt Persanis. “No luck, no trickery. We just played well. I thought this team could beat anybody on any day; I just didn’t know if they would.”
While Leo Venebles had a strong game and kicked a key penalty for the team, he also missed two conversions and two kickable penalties, and had those kicks gone over the score might well have been more like 30-14.
“We threw the ball away when we were on their five,” added Persanis. “We had good possession and field position and the thing is we didn’t always convert because Xavier is very good. But we did exert a lot of pressure on them.”
Xavier got two tries, one from an early interception, but they suffered from ill discipline, pinged for penalties and, later, when they were chasing the game, they were hit for ruck penalties as they tried to steal the ball and get one more score.
But Pelham’s phase play was solid and their discipline was excellent.
“We gave up only five penalties, and in a previous game we gave up only four,” said Persanis. “We’re just don't give up a lot of penalties. We just defend well and get up and get onside.”
04.15.2024HS Boys
Pelham got a try from flanker Bailey Worsley, who fended away a couple of tacklers and steamrolled another to score. They got a try from prop Mike Rooney, who also took on the lineout throwing on a windy day and was pinpoint accurate.
Venebles scored, catching Xavier slow to react on a penalty and tapping quickly.
Along with those scorers, fullback Rowan Balachandran was impressive and got full value for kicks to touch. Lock Massemo Piettrinco defended “like a madman” said Persanis, made positive meters, and was the first guy to get downfield to chase kicks.
Can Pelham follow this up? They are very strong, but their depth—mostly the depth between the most experienced and the new players—is a bit light. So we will see. This coming week they play in the Gonzaga Invitational. Certainly they come in with some confidence.
