The Southern California Boys HS Varsity Red Division playoffs got going when the San Diego region #1 seed, La Costa Canyon, took on the LA region #2 St. John Bosco. 

Both teams were fortunate to have one of the nation's top referees, Nick Ricono, preside over the game.  It was clear from the beginning that St. John Bosco, who enjoyed a significant size advantage over LCC, intended using the big forwards as ball carriers as much as possible. The first ten minutes of the game was evenly balanced as both teams tested the opposition defense with hard straight running. It was LCC who struck first when Ian Tarr burst through the backline defense and scored under the polls (see highlight here). Nico Gilli made the conversion and LCC led 7-0.

From the restart, Bosco came out with renewed energy, stringing multiple phases together to advance the ball deep into LCC territory. Handling errors, and losing the ball in the tackle contest, meant numerous attacks fell apart inside the La Costa Canyon 22. When LCC got the ball in hand, it was Gilli and flyhalf Justin Petersen who drove Bosco back deep into their own half.  When LCC won a turnover deep in Bosco territory, Sean Lumkong powered over from a pick-and-drive from the base of the ruck. The conversion attempt bounced off the upright, so the score remained LCC 12- 0

The LCC pack, which was noticeably smaller that Bosco, began to put pressure on the bigger boys. LCC was able to win a Bosco scrum, and the resulting backline play saw the ball move quickly out wide to Curren Castro, who went around the defense and scored under the poles. Gilli made the conversion. LCC 19-0.

Ian Tarr powers through. Marcel Alauie photo.

Bosco had their best opportunity to add points with a penalty ten meters out in front of the poles. They opted to tap and go but knocked the ball on almost on the LCC try line, and the half ended.

From the restart, it was evident that Bosco was going to change tactics, and try to kick themselves into better field position. LCC lost Petersen to an injury, so Lumkong moved into flyhalf and Tarr into first center. LCC controlled the ball through multiple phases, and Victor Epstein found himself in the second center position.  He is a powerful ball carrier with a vicious fend, and he took the ball twenty-five meters and finished in the corner with a classic dive to make it 24-0 LCC, and the conversion was wide.

It was Epstein again who opened up the defense on the next scoring chance, this time offloading to Castro, who scored in the corner. Gilli made the difficult conversion and it 31-0 LCC.  Bosco was now visibly tired, and LCC kept them pinned in their own half.  Good ball movement by LCC with Castro running a good loop with Aidan Ryan resulted in the center scoring his hat-trick.  The kick went wide. LCC 36-0.  From an attacking scrum center field, Lumkong timed his pass beautifully to put Tarr in a hole.  Tarr was tackled one yard out, and Hitchcock picked from the base and dotted down.  The final score remained 41-0 to LCC.

St John Bosco battled hard, and up front Jalen Hooper, Dolton Tuscany, and Cyrille Cama were all dominant ballcarriers. Coach Spilkin gave his sophomore and juniors an extended run, and Aidan Ryan, Kyle Lynch and Quinn Hitchcock deserve credit for tireless work against a much larger opposition.

The SoCal Red division Final will be between LCC and Torrey Pines who managed to beat a determined Mira Costa in overtime.