With a little time gone we take a look back at the Boys Single-School Championships.

Champion: St. Ignatius
Most Points Scores: Jesuit Sacramento, 82, Herrman 79
Fewest Points Allowed: St. Ignatius 46, Jesuit Sacramento 47
Games Decided by a Try or Less: 4 (plus one more going to overtime)

St. Ignatius’s run to their 2nd Single-School National Championship in four years was an interesting one.

It’s not so much that it was unexpected—in fact within the program is was very much expected—but how it all came together. Two years ago if coaches had speculated what the lineup would look like this past weekend they would have been surprised. Chief among those, perhaps, was Connor Gallagher, a not-particularly-big back who was battling for time as a scrumhalf, fullback, and, sometimes, flyhalf. But over the season it became clear that his ball handling and passing skills fit very nicely into the flyhalf role, he was fairly unflappable, and, as one coach put it, “for a player of his size he has a cannon for a boot.”

In a sport that needs good, consistent kickers, Gallagher’s ability to find territory and space was crucial. With him at 10 the pieces started to fall into place, with Hank McGowan showing more confidence at fullback and allowing the two to switch places when need be. Confidence allowed McGowan to take on goalkicking duties and nail some crucial kicks in the semis and the final.

Up front Ignatius moved players around. Having dealt with something like 16 or more forward injuries in 2024, six of them props, Ignatius Head Coach Dan Arbeznik resolved to have versatility in the pack. As a result, many players who you normally wouldn’t think were props were ready to play in the front row. Connor Bender, who really comes across as a loose forward, played No. 8, flanker, lock, and prop in crucial games. That’s just one example. The versatility in the pack allowed for some … interesting … substitution choices.

Versatility could also be used elsewhere. Gavin Vollmer started his time at Ignatius as a fullback, but became a lock. Rafe Gabrovzek was a loose forward who emerged in the fall 7s season as a player who could be a wing. Both jumped in the lineout … or the tall guys could life Marcello Woodberry, who was so good in the air Herriman stopped kicking for lineouts.

But the reason Ignatius won it all was mostly about a team ethos borne out of strong leadership. Captain Mark French just had that quiet confidence—he didn’t raise his voice, but he was always heard. Bender started the game on the bench and then laughingly said the player who started ahead of him, Charlie Worthington, was playing so well he might not see the field. Because of matchups and team need, Adam Bornhorst didn’t even play in the final, and was content, because the team needed a different combination.

And oh yes, those substitutions. Players coming off before 10 minutes, regular starters waiting to come on at 20 minutes, or in the second half. It was mostly because Arbeznik wanted his team to finish strong and, if needed, be ready for overtime. And they needed that versatility, too. When Andrew Morris came on at prop only to take a knock to his nose and have to come off, they had the players to fill in at the front row.

Herriman, meanwhile, had been through the wringer. They had played two of the best HS clubs in the nation in Cavemen and LCA, and lost. Their league in Utah is physically demanding even with the so-called easy games, and while they didn’t travel much, the Mustangs were expected to perform in Elkhart.

Their final weeks included a win at the Montana Invitational where they beat both Kahuku and Liberty—two teams that make you earn your meters. And then they took three weeks to train and play alumni 15s. Those alumni teams, which included college and professional players, were probably their most demanding of the year. Certainly Herriman wasn’t going to back down from anyone.

Like Ignatius, they needed a bit of good fortune to get to the final—the final moments of regulation against Gonzaga could have gone either way, with a very close call on a lineout not going five meters, and the confusion on the ensuing free kick, being the most obvious. They had to work for everything in a thrilling semi against Xavier and thanks to some powerful carries from flanker Cannon Brinton and a huge play from wing Ikaila Nau, they won it 24-14.

But fortune did not smile on Brinton in the opening minute of the final, as he was injured and could not continue. Perhaps their most tenacious forward, Brinton would be missed in the latter stages of the game. Everybody has injuries at this time in the season, but the timing of this one was cruel.

With the interior backs Ryker Syddall and MacRae Parker playing fast and elusive, and Lucky Fisiipeau slotting in as a playmaker from fullback, Herriman were a threat to score almost every time they had the ball. With the broad-shouldered front row of Mote Kinikini, TJ Tuia, and Braxton Pearson they had the ability to finish in close. They could defend, too. That late-game short-yardage sequence in which Ignatius went through 40 phases within two meters of the goalline, and Herriman defended, would probably be the stuff of legend if Ignatius had scored a try or Herriman stopped them. In the end, it resulted in a penalty goal by McGowan that was the difference.