Young Programs Win in SoCal HS Opener
Young Programs Win in SoCal HS Opener
The Varsity White Division of the Southern California Boys HS league started with weekend, with victories for two teams new to the league.
Both Dana Hills and Mira Costa played in the Blue Division in 2013-14, reserved for teams just getting started. Now established they moved out of the developmental league and into the Varsity White, which is for single-school teams that are allowed as much as 30% of their squad to be from another school.
This week, Dana Hills faced off with View Park Prep. Neither team had enjoyed much preparation time as the season starts right after football is done.
View Park started strong and after a long period of attack were awarded a penalty try. Then View Park added to their lead when center Charles Farrar raced in from 60 meters out.
Dana Hills turned to their forwards and powered over twice. With their scrumhalf-flyhalf-center trio of Eddie Wood, Anton Grigoriou, and Drew Falk Dana Hills started to spread the field and scored on two kick-and-chase plays to go ahead 26-12. View Park scored tries from Matthew Rhodes on a quick-tap, and then captain Jabari Fernandez scored in the corner moments later. Neither try was converted and Dana Hills held on 2-22.
“We’re hugely disappointed,” said View Park Coach David Hughes, “but too many injuries and not enough practice time hindered any continuity. Dana Hills were big and physical and had a good kicking game.”
“We played a good all-around game,” said Dana Hills Head Coach Ian Ibbetson. “The forwards put in a huge effort. We couldn’t get a lot of quick ball and really had to work for it.”
Dana Hills got a yellow card and a red card in the game, the results, said Ibbetson, of having several players from football new to the team and who are still trying to get rid of football habits.
“We had a team last year that was predominantly sophomores and juniors, and we have a lot of those guys back And we were able to recruit and expand our squad from 22 to 38, which is great. But we’re still learning.”
Meanwhile, the team that beat Dana Hills for the Blue Division title, Mira Costa, won handily 52-12 over Stern MASS. Mira Costa overpowered the smaller Stern team, with one of the three Tavai brothers playing a big part. With SoCal all-star Justus Tavai out inured and oldest brother and former HS All American Jahlani Tavai now playing football at the University of Hawaii, the family responsibility fell to youngest brother Jonah.
“He’s a game-changer,” said Mira Costa Head Coach Duke Dulgarian.
And s he was, scoring four tries. Hooker Juwan Johnston added two tries in the rout.
“We did a good job in playing a physical game in the first half,” said Dulgarian. “And we were able to spread the field in the second half.”
They were helped along by a strong game from flyhalf Isaiah Leilua.
Like Dana Hills, Mira Costa has been able to recruit several players from other sports after a strong 2013-14 season. Mira Costa doesn’t have to be a 100% single-school team, but it is, and will continue to be.
This week’s Wilson HS v Palos Verdes game was postponed because Palos Verdes HS is in the football playoffs.
Next week, Dana Hills and Mira Costa square off.
Mira Costa Rugby
Mira Costa rugby poses as a team after their defeat of Stern Mass.
