GRR: Okapi Wanderers
Jacksonville capped off a nice improvement arc with a 29-12 win over Tampa to make next week's Florida final.
The Wolverines had opened the league season with a shutout loss and remained in a battle with Key Biscayne and Tampa, and even Gibbons, for a playoff spot. But their April 6 win over Tampa put them at 4-2, and this week the victory over Tampa was more emphatic.
Okapi remains atop the Florida HS league and by a fairly convincing margin after their 27-7 defeat fo Tampa.
While Tampa battled, Okapi held a lead throughout their game to move to 4-0.
Okapi ed 22-0 in the first half and controlled the lineout and the scrum and were in control. Tampa struggled to get into scoring position.
Okapi capped off an excellent season, beating Boca Raton 38-5 to win the Florida U19 league.
"Our defense showed up again to have full control against last year's champion and our attacking system closed the game in the second half with three tries from our backs," said Okapi Head Coach Juan Orfila.
Perhaps the biggest game of the weekend was just a little touring matchup.
Florida-based Okapi Wanderers, ranked #11 among HS clubs, defeated Woodlands, ranked #1, in Texas. The scoreline was close, 15-10, but close or not it was a remarkable achievement for Okapi.
The Okapi Wanderers made a big statement this weekend in Florida's HS league, shutting out Cardinal Gibbons 36-0.
Gibbons was the runner-up team in the state in 2022. Okapi beat the state winners, Boca Raton, last week 18-3, meaning they played the top two teams from last season and didn't allow a try.