skip navigation

Rugby Cats Fall to Archbishop Moeller on Beautiful Day at Wasmer Field

By Joe Ginley, 05/13/17, 5:00PM EDT

Share

The Wildcats have a 16-3 mark heading into the postseason.

The regular season concluded on Saturday afternoon for the Rugby Cats, unfortunately not on a winning note.

The Wildcats dropped a tough one to the visiting Archbishop Moeller Crusaders, 19-12. The Crusaders played a tough, physical game and kept the Wildcats out of the try zone at final moments of the contest.

A comeback looked imminent in the waning moments, but it fell just short in the end for the hosts. 

The contest started out well for the visitors. The Crusaders notched an early try less than three minutes into the contest, and a successful conversion set the score at 7-0. 

The Wildcats came within a meter of the try zone on an ensuing possession, but could not push the ball in for a try due to a slight miscommunication. 

But after controlling much of the play for the next 10 minutes, the Wildcats earned a try. Nick Zolikoff notched a try as a successful maul led him into the try zone. The wind negates a potential conversion, allowing the Crusaders to keep a 7-5 lead.

The Wildcats and Crusaders exchanged possessions before the Crusaders' prop carried a few Wildcats down the field deep into Wildcats' territory. Moeller nearly touched it down for a try, but the Rugby Cats held it up, leading to a Moeller scrumdown with five minutes left in the half. 

The same situation ensured another minute and a half later, as the Wildcats again turned away the Crusaders. But the visitors finally touched it down with 2:28 remaining in the first. The conversion sailed through, granting the Crusaders a 14-5 advantage.

The score remained that way for the last two minutes of the half, sending the Crusaders into the break with a 9-point advantage.

The second started out with some back-and-forth play. The Crusaders managed to score at the 22-minute mark after a pass went awry, as a Crusader galloped about 25 yards for a try. The conversion missed, keeping the contest within two scores, 19-5. 

The Wildcats nearly scored with 19 minutes left in the second, but the Crusaders held up the visitors deep in Moeller territory. A turnover then allowed the Crusaders to take possession, albeit briefly, to clear the ball and prevent a Wildcats' try. 

Missed passes and dropped balls, along with some ill-timed penalties, hurt the Wildcats in the second, as the Crusaders hung onto the lead for dear life. The Wildcats fought until the end, driving the ball into Crusaders' territory with 6 minutes left.

Unfortunately, an ill-timed knock on hurt the Wildcats, keeping them out of the try zone with just under six minutes left. The Rugby Cats came within inches of the try zone with three minutes left, but a knock-on was called, leading to a scrum down. 

With just 1:42 remaining, the Wildcats' pack touched down a try in heroic fashion. A Chris Fedor conversion kept the Wildcats' hopes alive, as the hosts trailed, 19-12.

Three minutes of extra time was added to the clock, giving the Wildcats one last chance to tie it up in the last few moments. The Rugby Cats nearly did tie it, as Zolikoff galloped down the far-side sideline with only a couple men to beat. Unfortunately, the Crusaders knocked the ball out of the Wildcats' grasp on an ensuing play, ending the game.

The Wildcats end the regular season with a 16-3 record following the 19-12 loss. 

The Rugby Cats will now prepare for the Rugby Ohio State Championship on June 3 at Rocky River High School. St. Xavier has officially forfeited the semifinal match, automatically granting the Wildcats a berth in the state title game versus the winner of Moeller and St. Edward.