Into championships time in Arizona, Maryland IAA, Kansas, and Pennsylvania, we also welcome the opening of the season for the Massachusetts IAA.'

That MIAA (you see we have two) starts up with the two best teams of the past eight years or so, BC High and Belmont Shore, facing off. Those two teams have won every state championships since 2014. MIAA will be playing with some COVID adjustments—exploded scrums, limits on mauls, and refs ensuring rucks happen quickly—but they're playing.

The Maryland IAA we preview here: Maryland Interscholastic Final Brings Longtime Rivals Back Together

It's heating up in Connecticut also where we're seeing a possible coalescing of the teams. Is Greenwich (who lost to Staples 10-5 last week) down, or just starting slowly, or is Staples that good? We'll see as they face Fairfield Prep. 

Staples Makes History With Win Over Greenwich

Staples, meanwhile, takes on a Fairfield Pegasi team that feels pretty good about itself. 

Head Coach Gennaro Gelsi credits the local youth program with feeding his high school team.

"We have a group of seniors who have been playing since 6th grade," he said. Where have we heard that before? Actually a lot of places, with successful teams everywhere. This group of winged horses is basically the same group that made the state freshmen final and won D2 as sophomores.

"They are really clicking this year," said Gelsi. "The leaders are taking initiative. I feel like they get it."

We mentioned Corbin Smith's play in our Gamebreakers column but Gelsi said it's not been a one-man show. Hooker Jack Reidy has also been a standout in the set piece and in open play. He's a key linebreaker for them, and we'll see how they battle through a staunch Staples defense.

Greenwich, meanwhile, is scheduled to take on Aspetuck, another team bruised after a close loss.

It seems to be rivalry time all over. Cathedral Catholic plays St. Augustine in SCIRF. That's always a big clash and this one basically decided who's top dog in that Southern California varsity league. Budd Bay takes on Liberty in a game that is always interesting in Washington. Budd Bay's young Head Coach Malachi Jones led his squad to a big win over Rainier last week.

Budd Bay lost to Eastside 17-12 after seeing a player get red-carded three minutes into the game. (Wait 14 months to play again and get red-carded three minutes in ... that hurts.) Knox coaches football at Timberline HS, one of six high schools that feeds Budd Bay. He has pro-rugby football connections throughout the region. 

"We played touch rugby during the fall—we got the local government approval to do that—and that was big for us," said Jones. "My kids actually watch rugby. They learn the game. We make sure everyone plays, and has a good time, and they're enjoying it. Budd Bay and Liberty kids have been playing against each other for state titles since elementary school. They know each other. They're rivals. They're friends. They've played for EIRA and the Washington Wolverines together. They go play hard against each other but we still respect each other. That's what the game is about."

No argument here.

We have 20 games in which both teams involved are ranked. This includes a Tempe vs Red Mountain Arizona final that could be a monster barnburner if their U16 final (38-36 for Tempe) is any indication. 

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