NorCal Sacramento Valley and the Washington Loggers played to a 26-26 tie in the final of the Boys Varsity bracket at the Great Northwest Challenge, and maybe it should have ended there.

With no overtime as players had maxed out on game time, the tiebreaker was penalty kicks, about which no one was too pleased. After tying follwing the first three rounds, both teams missed twice before Jonah Wolfe put a kick over. Washington missed and Sac Valley won the GNC.

"It's a really lousy way to end it," said Sac Valley Head Coach Jason Divine. "But I was really pleased with how the guys fought back."

Washington led 12-7 at halftime, and got some good work from Ivan Pula at No. 8 and Will Dodds at flyhalf. Pula had started the weekend at prop, moved to flanker, and when Nate Scanlan was injured earlier in the day, took over at No. 8. While Pula was very good, and HS All Americans Jack Wendling and David Ainuu played well, they missed Scanlan.

Sac Valley came back in the second half. Inoke Waqavesi set up Benji Biutu for a try in the first half and Waqavesi then scored on his own in the second. Waqavesi added another on a quick tap and suddenly Sac Valley led 21-12. But Washington stormed back took the lead 26-21. Down a try, Biutu scored the game-tying try.

Then it went to kicks.

For Sac Valley, Chase Jones continued to play well as did prop Alex Evans and Kooper Mogan 

Sac Valley defeated Utah Cannibals 36-22 in the semis, while Washington edged Oregon 14-5.

In JV action, Washington was also in the final, losing to an outstanding Rhinos Academy team. Despite coming away with no trophies. Washington Head Coach Steve Brennan said the tournament was hugely beneficial to his players.

"I didn't quite know what we had but I was very happy with how the kids came together and started to play a system right from the beginning."