With a 39-10 victory over Phillip O. Berry Academy Monday night, North Mecklenburg secured the #2 seed in the North Carolina single-school playoffs, behind Charlotte Catholic.

“We focused on disciplined attack and defense during recent practice sessions and it paid off,” said Head Coach Brent Pasko, who is also a teacher at the school. 

North Meck is led by a solid inside back combination, with flyhalf Brandon Aruta relatively new to the game but learning quickly and showing terrific athleticism. Meanwhile, inside center Corey Patton “has been a game-changer,” said Pasko, noting his speed and agility.

Flanker Marcos Hernandez is a force in tackles and rucks and shows excellent rugby instincts.

All of that has resulted in a season with a single blemish, a tough 5-0 loss to Hough, a team they beat earlier 19-10. It’s likely those two teams will meet again in the playoffs. North Meck and Charlotte Catholic now have byes to the second row.

Pasko said the team has continued to grow in part because he has scheduled tough opponents, such as Phoenix Alpharetta, Mill Creek (both from Georgia), and the Charlotte Tigers, early in the season.

“We lost in the state finals last year to Charlotte Catholic, so our goal this season is to get back to the state championship match and come out on top,” said Pasko. “Second place doesn't sit well with our boys.”

It has been a quick improvement for North Meck. The team won zero games in 2012 and under Pasko improved to a .500 record in 2013 and then became state finalists last year.