Granite Bay defeated Jesuit HS 29-25 Friday night in a game between the top two teams in Northern California’s Varsity Gold Sacramento conference.

This is the region’s high school club competition, which Jesuit plays in as well as the single-school competition. Jesuit fielded their set, available team from a squad that has been hit by some injuries in the backline. Granite Bay, with the victory, improved to 7-0 and took a #1 seed into the NorCal playoffs next week.

Photos by Daniel Bandoni

Jesuit took an early lead 3-0, but Granite Bay replied and took a slim lead into halftime. GB held on through a difficult second half, when they had to weather two yellow cards. The killer blow came partway through the second half. Jesuit had a lineout five meters from the Granite Bay line. HS All American Chase Bixby stole the Jesuit throw-in, and GB sent it out to the backs. Sam Cusano broke out of the 22 and made it all the way to the halfway line. There, Cusano popped a kick downfield that was gathered by wing Anthony Wiley and taken in for the try. That turnaround was a big one for Granite Bay, and they held on after that.

Along with Wiley, Tyler Douglas and Jacob Van Order also scored tries. Van Order’s was a length-of-the-field ramble. Cusano added two tries, while Bixby and Matt Rogers were also outstanding.

“This was a huge game for us,” said Granite Bay Coach Jason Divine. "Our defense was good. We got our attack working, and we really had to put in a total team performance.”

“Granite Bay flat-out won that game,” added Jesuit Head Coach John Shorey. “We’ve been through a series of tough games, and it’s been a good learning experience. We blooded a couple of players and we needed to, because we need to find players who can perform at nationals.”

More established players such as lock Robert Paylor and openside flanker Bailey Abercrombie, as well as impact sub scrumhalf Willie Nelson were strong for Jesuit, but they still have work to do.

Next week is a big week for both of these teams. Jesuit is now done with multi-school competition because they can’t play the Sunday playoff games. So Jesuit will face off with Dixon for the single-school championship. Meanwhile, Granite Bay enters the multi-school playoffs, which has the quarterfinals on Saturday and semis on Sunday.

“All of the teams in the Bay Conference are tough,” said Divine. “We know it will be hard.”

Granite Bay is slated to face North Bay, and in the way of a spot in the final is probably highly-regarded Sierra Foothills. The smart money is on a Granite Bay v Danville club final in Moraga on April 25. Both teams are undefeated in league play.