Morton High School rode some late-season momentum and a knack for winning close games to the Illinois Boys HS championship this past weekend, edging two of their biggest rivals to get there.

Three teams from the Illinois DI East made the playoffs in Illinois, and they finished 1-2-3, with Arlington, despite a 2-4 regular-season record, defeating Brother Rice for 3rd.

Morton, which finished the conference 4-2, defeated defending champions the Fox Valley Chiefs in the quarterfinals, before just getting by Brother Rice 15-12 in the semis. That set up a clash with New Trier, 6-0 in the regular season and winners over Mt. Carmel (22-19), and Arlington (22-17).

Close games were de rigueur in Illinois, especially among the top three. New Trier beat Arlington three times and Morton once before the final on Monday, May 25. But those winning margins were never more than five and as slim as two points.

It was the same story with Morton, whose two victories over Arlington were by a try each time. So while New Trier, coached by Leo Sheridan, was unbeaten going into the final, they new only too well that the game would be close. And close it was, with the Mustangs coming away with a dramatic 22-17 victory. The difference? Maybe it was the use of a video camera.

“We peaked at the right time,” said Head Coach Aaron Sweeney. “We were tough, but not quite clicking through the regular season. Part of it was personnel changes.  I think part of it was seeing how poorly we were playing defensively on tape.  You can tell a kid they're not doing something.  But, showing them and having them see with their own eyes what they weren't doing, ushered in a renewed commitment to defense.  Something happened on the eve of the playoffs and we came out more physical on defense than before.”

The first half of the final was a disaster for Morton, as they made several mistakes and fell behind 12-0. The two teams traded tries near the end of the first half to make it 17-5 New Trier.

“I’ve got to admit,  I had doubts myself,” said Sweeney. “But, our guys showed they could weather the storm. “

A try just before halftime inched Morton closer 17-10. And then in the second half they seemed to take control. A converted try tied the game, and it looked like that’s how it would end. “I was already thinking about our lineup if it went to kicks, but our guys had other plans,” said Sweeney. 

Cesar Garcia, with a little help from some friends, battered through the New Trier line and scored the winner just before full time.

“I was so proud of our guys and how much grit they showed physically as well as mentally,” said Sweeney.

The key to our season was our focus on the team mantra  ‘the next minute,’” said Assistant Coach Adrian Gannon. “Nothing else mattered except the decision and actions in the next minute of the game.” The Morton defense certainly came together, and after they shocked Fox Valley, who went into the quarterfinals 5-1 in league play, they knew that perhaps they had a shot. Then they held off a Brother Rice team that, to their credit, have been playing all over the country and perhaps were in a tournament too far.

“We have a hard-working team,” said Gannon. “We’ve been challenged, but the kids work really hard.”

Morton HS is one of the first public high schools to get USA Rugby’s special Varsity Designation. The school, just west of Chicago, is in a relatively low-income area with most of the kids on reduced- or no-cost lunch. The contrast with New Trier is stark, as that district is one of the more affluent in Chicagoland. But the rivalry stays on the field, as many of the players know each other from select-side play.

“These are kids who would never know each other were it not for rugby,” said Gannon. “The kids have a lot of respect for each other.”

Morton also won the JV state championship, again beating New Trier, so the future looks bright, too.

 

Illinois Playoff Scores:

Final Morton 22 New Trier 17

3rd/4th Arlington 31 Brother Rice 15

 

Semifinal New Trier 22 Arlington 17

Semifinal Morton 15 Brother Rice 12

 

Quarterfinal New Trier 22 Mount Carmel 19

Quarterfinal Morton 29 Fox Valley 17

Quarterfinal Arlington 33 Neuqua 26

Quarterfinal Brother Rice 45 Fenwick 19

 

DII

Final West Suburban 41 Predators 0