Here's the latest in Boys HS action from Maryland, including the Maryland Area Varsity Rugby Conference (MACRC), All-Maryland club season, and Maryland Independent Athletic Association (MIAA).

Club

In a battle of the unbeaten teams in the Maryland HS Club league, West Carroll bested the Maryland Exiles, 27-24 this past weekend.  

In an intense game, the Exiles scored at the end of the first half taking a 11-5 lead into the break.  The Exiles also came out firing, punching in an unconverted try in the first minute of the second half to go up 16-5.  West Carroll never wavered and landed 13 unanswered points over the next 22 minutes including a penalty try.  The game ended with a flurry with Exile Nathaniel Turak scoring one of three penalty kicks at the 30-minute mark to bring the Exiles within one. West Carroll scored a try and a conversion four minutes later for a commanding eight-point lead.  The Exiles charged right back with a try as time expired.  

West Carroll is tops in the Club league and will look for a win over 4th place Baltimore Poly to finish the season undefeated.  That could be a preview of the semifinal matchup.  Marlyand Exiles look like they have a solid grasp on second place having notched a win over North Bay, who sits in third.

MIAA

Loyola-Blakefield and Calvert Hall played in a real barn-burner in the second week of play in the MIAA.  Loyola rode three penalties to a slim 9-7 lead at the half, with Calvert Hall scoring the only try in the first half on a strong run from No. 8 Jim Pessegno.  Loyola extended the lead in the second frame, but then Calvert Hall slipped ahead on a penalty kick with just minutes left in the game.  Loyola stormed back and scored with less then a minute left to take the lead for good, 19-16 final score.  Calvert Hall's junior center, Brendon Murphy was 3-4 on penalty kicks to keep Calvert Hall in touch in the second half.

Facing off with rival Mount St. Joseph, and down 7-5 at the break, Archbishop Spalding poured it on in the second half scoring six unanswered tries and finishing with a convincing 39-7 win.  Spalding got a pair of tries each from flanker Dan O’Neil and flyhalf Jake Davis.  Spalding’s mauling lineout was tough for MSJ to stop and kept the Gaels on their heels in the second half.  Spalding Coach Kevin Ruddy noted the work rate of both O'Neil and Davis who not only produced try scoring but also did the gritty work on defense and in the breakdown area.  He also was pleased with the resiliency of this squad, "in the last 3 games we have been down or tied at halftime and in each instance, they band together and have had a fantastic second half to win."

Spalding and Loyola sit atop the table at 2-0 and will meet on Wednesday. While both MSJ and Calvert Hall will both be looking for that first league win at Calvert Hall on Tuesday.

MAVRC

On Monday St. John's grabbed their first league win of the season, outlasting Dematha 30-29.  A see-saw battle, lock Thomas Canary hit a 30meter penalty kick with no time on the clock to win the game for St. John's.  High marks from SJC head coach Peter Waltz for his senior flyhalf, Mike Jasinski, who scored all the SJC tries on the day and led the team. 

St. John's turned around to face undefeated Georgetown Prep on Friday but were unable to maintain the momentum.  Prep were firing on all cylinders with scoring from both the backs and the forwards finishing off SJC 66-5.  Junior forward Michael Shenk grabbed the lone try for St. John's, while Prep was buoyed by two pairs of first half tries from James Lyons and winger Rob Ward.

On Wednesday, two teams with playoff aspirations squared off when Salesianum hosted Good Counsel.  

On Wednesday, two teams with playoff aspirations squared off when Salesianum hosted Good Counsel.  The two sides looked pretty evenly matched throughout the game, with Good Counsel nudging the Sallies 14-7. Sallies got on the board with a great individual try from center Dominick Saldutti, followed by a long conversion from Marek Easton.  Sallies pressed the Good Counsel defense in the last 10 minutes, but GC made multiple goal line stands to hold on for the win.  Good Counsel flanker Kevin Budock, and centers CJ Costigan and Mikey Joseph earned praise from head coach James Aitken for their defensive efforts containing the Sallies midfield.

Good Counsel got a nice boost from this win and took some momentum in the Jesuit Tournament this past weekend.  Sallies looked to rebound at home against Georgetown Prep on Sunday, but the visitors were uncompromising and Prep notched a 36-5 win in a competitive match.  

This week should clear up some of the playoff questions in MAVRC.  The Sallies need a win over St. John's next weekend to keep their playoff hopes alive.  Good Counsel will face DeMatha looking for a win that will seal a semifinal spot for the Falcons. The two undefeated teams at the top of the table, Prep and Gonzaga, are locked in for the top two spots and will square off at Prep on Thursday.