Los Alamitos HS scored at the last second to defeat University City and win the Southern California Varsity White championship this weekend.

Varsity White is for single-school teams that are allowed to use players from other schools as long as a) the other school doesn't have a rugby team, and b) at least 75% of the team is from one school.

Los Al and University City both played some inspired rugby this season. University City went 7-0 in the regular season in the Varsity White San Diego South, averaging 52 points scored per game and 12 ppg allowed. The Honey Badgers then beat Tritons 40-26 in the quarterfinals and Wilson HS 17-10 in overtime in the semis. For Los Alamitos, the season was very compacted. They were unable to start early and squeezed their league season into three weeks. They did get a win over Wilson HS in preseason, an indication of how strong they were. And overall, Los Al got two forfeit wins and beat Dana Hills and Tritons in league play. Overall going into the playoffs Los Al was 7-0, scoring 47 points per game (not counting the forfeit wins) and allowing 12.

In the playoffs, Los Alamitos defeated La Jolla 66-26 in the quarters, and San Pasqual 53-31, putting UC on notice that this was not going to be a low-scoring game.

And so it went. Los Al ran out to a 24-5 lead in the first half. But in the second half, their discipline left them, and two players received red cards, and three yellows. With Los Al down to 12 players for much of the second half, University City mounted a stirring comeback.

"We knew we had our work cut out for us," said UC Head Coach Jason Lee. "They're a big team that has skills."

Los Alamitos tried to keep control of the ball and play keepaway. But University City got enough possession and space to score, putting in four tries in the second half to Los Al's one to make it 33-29. That's when Los Alamitos got the ball back for one more shot, and scored to win the game 34-33.

"The remaining boys didn't let up," said Los Alamitos Dayna Faupusa. "They fought with heart until the final whistle. What a game to end an epic season."

"They couldn't deny us, even with two red cards and three yellow cards in the 2nd half," said Los Alamitos Coach Tevita Aholelei.

Forwards, Mavaeganailetai Roberts, Matthew Faupusa, Anthony Leomiti, Eli Kasiano, AJ Moala, Kaenaan Ropati, Seleve Tuisalo'o, and Joey Noble all played well and set the tone in a physical game. Roberts, only a sophomore, was named the game's MVP and no wonder since he scored four tries. Noble and Dylan Ramirez both scored a tries, also.

This was the first year of competition for Los Alamitos, and they used it to win a championship.