GRR: St. Ignatius
Six boys state champions were crowns Saturday at Rugby Ohio's Finals Day at Fortess Obetz just outside Columbus, with some impressive showings, and two very dramatic finishes.
(Analysis Column by Alex Goff)—It is a rare thing that I as a journalist get a front-row seat to a championship team throughout the season.
Having been ranked #1 for much of the season, St. Ignatius rolled into Elkhart, Ind. with a massive target on their backs and even more massive expectations.
In a bit of a statement result #1-ranked school team St. Ignatius defeated #7 club team Aspetuck 45-14 Saturday.
Aspetuck provided a stern test for the Wildcats and got two spectacular tries from flyhalf Pearson Hill, but found difficult exerting control over Ignatius in tight.
St. Ignatius won their big rivalry game with St. Edward in Cleveland, with the #1-ranked Wildcats taking on the #20 Eagles.
The game was played in front of a crowd of at least 2,000 as this is the big high school sports rivalry in the city, with these two teams carrying a proud rugby tradition and being only a short drive from each other.