CK McClatchy defeated Sierra Foothills 52-26 Wednesday night in a game that decide who was top dog in the Sacramento conference of Northern California’s DI HS league.

Both teams came into the game unbeaten. McClatchy was 4-0 in league play and also finished 2nd in the Fullerton International Tournament, behind Santa Monica. Sierra Foothills was also 4-0.

In the game itself, the teams were very close in the first half, with McClatchy leading 26-19 at the break. But in the second half, McClatchy’s speed in ball-handling and their counter-rucking ramped up, and Sierra was tested. The result was four tries to one and a 52-26 McClatchy win.

“We have a good team, a very diverse team,” said McClatchy Head Coach Inoke Waqavesi. “We’ve built a team around skills and character. We’ve been working with the guys since preseason in October, working on skills and fitness. There’s no way around it - those are the things you need to work on.”

Leading the way for McClatchy Inoke Waqavesi Jr., and his brother, Matai. No. 8 Will Christopherson has been a powerful runner, and prop Diego Damian has also shone for the club.

Sierra Foothills will have to rebound from this game, but they will have that chance. Flyhalf Logan Lambrechtsen has directed their attack nicely, while Alec Fushino is a prop who joined the team mid-season, but had played rugby in middle school, and somehow has jumped right onto the middle of the pack.

So the top teams in NorCal DI are settled. CK McClatchy is 5-0 in the Sac, and Sierra Foothills 4-1. Peninsula Green is 5-0 in the Bay Conference with SFGG 2nd at 3-2.