Spice up an already intense rivalry by ranking both teams in the GRR HS Club Top 10, and you get Saturday’s thrilling see-saw affair that saw the #7 San Diego Mustangs defeat the #10 Coastal Dragons, 26-17.

The Dragons kicked off, and within three minutes took advantage of a Mustang penalty to drive deep and put lock Tre Stigall over for the try. Scrumhalf Nico Gilli made the conversion.

The 7-0 score meant the Mustangs were trailing for the first time in five matches this season.

A missed penalty kick by the Dragons nearly 20 minutes in let the Mustangs off the hook a little bit, especially as they were dealing with the first of two yellow cards on the day. When the game was done, San Diego would have six times (36:6) the penalties called on the Dragons. 

Down a man, the Mustangs got the back line rolling and spun it out to wing Ian Slack, who scored in the corner. The angle tested No. 8 Jackson Baere, but he nailed the conversion, 7-7.

After the re-start, the sides exchanged kicks, and the Dragon backline was working the ball out left when Mustang wing Adam Eastwood — back on the pitch after four seasons focused on football — stole a pass. No one was going to catch the SDSU-bound fullback, and with Baere’s conversion the Mustangs led 14-7.

As time expired in the first half, the Dragons pounded away at the Mustangs' tryline. They kept at it well after time was up, and finally Gabe Bonilla broke through for the Dragons. The conversion was wide, and the half ended with San Diego up, 14-12.

Soon after the second half started, Mustang hooker Nick Zimmer received a yellow card, and the short-handed Mustangs looked to be in trouble.

The Dragons sent a booming kick out of their defensive end, deep over the head of Mustang flyhalf Matthew Goena (back in the fullback position on defense). Goena turned like a center fielder and made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch, then spun, dodged a tackle, and went on a 50-meter run that changed the momentum of the play.  His teammates then proceeded to pick-and-jam and scored.  The conversion was good, and the Mustangs were up, 21-12.

But, the Dragons weren’t done. Their pack pounded away at the Mustangs, who were whistled for three more penalties under their own posts, before the Dragons spun the ball out to Curran Castro for the try. That made it 21-17.

In recent seasons, the Mustangs occasionally wilted against the Dragons in these situations, and had the scars from several last minute losses to show for it. But, scrumhalf Beau Morgans went on a nifty run, and directed the pick-and-jam offense before center Jack Lewis picked it up and scored. That made it 26-17, and the Mustangs held off the Dragons for one more attack before Morgans picked up a turnover on the Mustang tryline and kicked the ball out for the final whistle.

“The Dragons have had our number for what seems like years,” said Mustang Head Coach Ramon Samaniego. “Today our boys showed their grit in overcoming a distinct penalty disadvantage and two yellow cards.  I couldn’t be more proud of them.”

Going forward, the Mustangs will want to look at that penalty count and figure out how to reduce it, but overall it was a huge win for th San Diego team.