The Knights of San Marcos High School battled a gritty Steele Canyon Cougars High School team to win the first Southern California Interscholastic Rugby Federation Gold Championship Saturday.
San Marcos won 47-20 thanks in large part to the team's consistently ability to move the ball across the field, thus creating gaps in the Cougar defense to exploit.
The Cougars, a brand new team playing their first season, tried to use their pack's size, opting for more pick-and-goes. But the Knights were able to hold off the Cougars numerous multi-phase attacks.
San Marcos, finish their first season in SCIRF as the undefeated champion, and captain and No. 8 Cooper McMullin was strong throughout the season, leading the team's efforts both with the ball and on defense.
The Coronado Islanders faced the Granite Hills Eagle in the 3rd/4th place contest with Coronado emerging as the victor 31-17; it was not until late in the game when Coronado, much like San Marcos, was able to stretch the Granite Hills defense and then exploit those gaps. Coronado’s outside center, Dante Pacheco, played a major role in orchestrating Coronado’s backline moves throughout the game.
| SCIRF Gold Season | ||||
| Week | Away | Home | ||
| Week 1 | Coronado | 39 | Granite Hills | 21 |
| Week 1 | Steele Canyon | 15 | San Marcos | 41 |
| Week 2 | Steele Canyon | 32 | Granite Hills | 12 |
| Week 2 | San Marcos | 46 | Coronado | 7 |
| Week 3 | Steele Canyon | 26 | Coronado | 17 |
| Week 3 | San Marcos | 41 | Granite Hills | 7 |
| Week 4 | Granite Hills | 12 | Coronado | 62 |
| Week 4 | San Marcos | 32 | Steele Canyon | 22 |
| Week 5 | Coronado | 5 | San Marcos | 50 |
| Week 5 | Granite Hills | 12 | Steele Canyon | 44 |
| Week 6 | Coronado | - | Steele Canyon | - |
| Week 6 | Granite Hills | 24 | San Marcos | 52 |
| Finals Week | Granite Hills | 17 | Coronado | 31 |
| Finals Week | Steele Canyon | 20 | San Marcos | 47 |
