Spalding wins its first MIAA rugby championship since 2014
Cavaliers top Calvert Hall as title match goes to kicks for the first time ever
by Derek Toney
Archbishop Spalding got redemption and, along the way, made history Wednesday evening. The Cavaliers won the MIAA rugby championship, defeating Calvert Hall at Mount St. Joseph’s Pleyvak Field in Southwest Baltimore.
After playing to a deadlock (20-20) through regulation play for the first time in MIAA rugby finals history, the match was settled by kicks. Spalding won 3-1, earning its first championship since 2014.
The Cavaliers lost in the 2023 and 2022 title games.
The third time was the charm Wednesday evening for Spalding, which completed a perfect season (8-0) and denied Calvert Hall a second straight title.
“It’s so nice to work all season just for this moment and finally get the job done,” said Cavalier senior Andy Hunyh.
Reid Gerber, Dylan Thomas and Paul Plauger sent their kicks over the crossbar for Spalding, which never led in regulation. The Cavaliers got a 30-yard run from senior Max Haynes for a 5-point try, tying the game in the 28th minute.
Gerber, whose penalty kick missed wide left near the end of regulation, atoned to start the overtime. Thomas and Plauger, both juniors, successfully followed in order while Calvert Hall missed on their first two attempts.
When the Cardinals’ final attempt went awry, Spalding’s players stormed the field in celebration.
The Cavaliers return this spring majority of a roster that lost to Calvert Hall, 24-7, in last year’s final at Whittles Field.
The Cardinals (4-5-1), who lost twice to Spalding during the regular season (26-25 and 19-5), led 8-0, Wednesday after a penalty kick from Shane Langway and senior Jacob Cage’s try. Ben Williams’ try and Gerber’s conversion kick got the Cavaliers on the board in the 23rd minute of the opening half.
Calvert Hall advanced the lead to 15-7 in the 29th minute following Kanye Otto’s try and Langway’s conversion kick. Gerber’s penalty kick in the closing seconds pulled Spalding to within 15-10 before halftime.
Gerber opened the second half scoring with a try, tying the match at 15. Moses Njorogue regained the lead for Calvert Hall in the 15th minute with his try, but the Cardinals failed to score in the final 20 minutes of regulation.
Calvert Hall was able to convert one of its five kicks in overtime.
“The boys battled. Senior leadership got us here, senior leadership got us all the way until the end until we missed the kicks we needed to make,” said Cardinals coach JR Elliott.
Spalding, who started eight seniors Wednesday, traveled to Ireland for spring break. Cavaliers second-year coach Chad Newcomb credited his predecessor, Kevin Ruddy, for laying the foundation.
“We worked with these kids for two hours a day, five days a week for three months, and it’s great to see them grow up,” said Newcomb, in his 13th season with the program. “They come in as 13-, 14-year olds and leave four years later as men.”
“Most of this team has been playing two years and the relationships we’ve built is unlike any other team,” said Spalding senior Matt Ford. “It’s a brotherhood. It’s not just a sport for us, it’s family.”
