Midweek Classic as Aquinas Downs St. Martin's

03.07.2024

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St. Thomas Aquinas defeated St. Martin's Kingfishers in an almighty all-Kansas midweek clash Wednesday night.

Over and above the game, we now have a bona-fide rivalry. Kingfishers has been building and in fact beat Aquinas for the Kansas state championship last year. Of course, that's just one year, and if you want a rivalry, you need staying power.

"They are an unbelievable, quality side on and off the field," said Aquinas Head Coach Tim Kluempers. "They understand the ethos of rugby. They have been working hard. Tthey won the state last year—first time in our 14-year history we hadn't won it. I was happy for them because they did it the right way. John Prezzia, their coach, is a great coach. They are the opponent that we have begging for in Kansas."

This was a back-and-forth game and it seemed both teams were eager to answer when the other scored. Both teams have good kickers, which means a mistake in the red zone usually is a chance lost. Both teams played tactically smart rugby. Both teams brought a physical presence.

For Aquinas, this is a welcome change as often they have not been a most physically imposing side. But they have some beef up front this year and as a result their maul was very effective—Nathan Dreiling getting a try from one of those.

"We are finally getting the maul together," said Kluempers. "We went for about two-and-a-half years without scoring off our maul. Now we can."

Kingfishers got an early penalty goal from center Will VandeRyt. Aquinas equalized with No. 8 Max Doerfler slotting a penalty.

Doerfler, who attended Nelson College in New Zealand on a US Rugby Foundation scholarship, has come back a much-improved player, taking control of several aspects of the game. As the punter and placekicker for the STA football team, he has experience using his boot and so has taken on that role, also.

The Saints took the lead after taking a lineout just inside the St. Martin's half. The ball was shipped wide quickly and a nice dummy in the midfield opened the door and they were in at the corner. Some minutes later STA took a lineout after a Kingfishers penalty and from there Doerfler just accelerated through the defense to score and make it 13-3.

Kingfishers responded after a high tackle penalty from Aquinas. They took the lineout, set up a maul, and when Aquinas infringed they tapped quickly and put Sam Skinner in at the corner.

That 13-8 scoreline held until halftime.

In the second half Doerfler slotted another penalty, punishing a Kingfishers offside, to make it 16-8. Aquinas then used their big boys to truck it up the middle before scoring off a quick tap. Doerfler converted and it was 23-8.

Kingfishers responded with a very well-take try, sending the ball through the hands with skill and daring and put wing Berkeley Nordhus in at the corner. The kick was good from VanDeRyt and it was 23-15.

Aquinas, however, did well to keep St. Martin's at arm's length. Once again Kingfishers was penalized, and once again the lineout and maul set up a try. Once again Doerfler hit a difficult conversion, and it was 30-15.

The teams traded tries once more to finish it 37-22 (hooker Finn Maher getting over for St. Martin's).

This was one of the very best high school games in the country this season. It had rivalry and passion and good play. And it showed both teams in a good light. These two will meet up again in April and when they do St. Martin's will want to be careful of that offside line. If they are too eager on defense they will find themselves watching the ball sail through the posts. For Aquinas, more challenges await for a team that has a lot of weapons.

For St. Martin's Head Coach John Prezzia, the puzzle was finding a way to break STA's continuity.

"Tim’s boys came ready to play, and controlled the ball almost the whole game," said Prezzia. "Penalties were 15-2 in favor of whoever had the ball, and hats off to those boys: they made sure they got the ball and kept it. Awesome program at Thomas Aquinas, can’t say enough of about them. Also, that head coach over there is a handsome Devil."

Doerfler scored three tries on the night for STA, but, said the handsome Devile Kluempers himself, it was a full team effort, and it had to be.