Red Mountain Wins Arizona

Red Mountain defeated Desert Vista 64-5 Saturday to win the Rugby Arizona Boys HS championship.

Finishing undefeated once more in state competition, Red Mountain was led by No. 8 Dalton Hola, who was very active in the breakdown and on defense, but had to leave the game with an injury late. Flyhalf Kristian Sanchez controlled the attack nicely in his last game in league play, using his teammates well. Stephen Schulz was also hugely influential in the game. In the forwards, flanker TJ Beatson was outstanding running with the ball and worked nicely with Hola in causing Desert Vista problems in the breakdown. He also linked nicely with the backs when needed.

But Head Coach OJ Hawea said that Red Mountain will need to step up its game if the team wasn't to compete well outside the state. Red Mountain controlled much of the contest, but in the end, Hawea said he was disappointed with the second-half performance. 

"We played great in the first half to be up 40-0," said Hawea. "But we got too full of ourselves and caught up in the niggle, and lost our shape. We won the game, and it was a good win, but an ugly finish."

Red Mountain also won the U16 state title last week with a 36-10 win over Arrowhead. On the U18/varsity level, this is Red Mountain's 5th-straight state title.

Red Mountain 2016 Rugby Arizona Varsity results: