🔥Gregory the Great takes down Gonzaga

Gregory the Great 24 — 17 Gonzaga

Well, that just happened.

Gregory the Great Academy(GGA) has been playing Gonzaga for years. And for years, this matchup has mostly gone the same way—Gonzaga rolling to big wins, barely letting GGA get a foothold.

But on a cool, sunny day in Washington DC this past weekend, Gregory the Great flipped the script and defeated the reigning National champs. And they did it while playing down a man for 20 full minutes due to two separate yellow cards.

There was phenomenal rugby played by both sides, and Gonzaga showed their class on multiple occasions, but today belonged to GGA—as the scrappy lads from Pennsylvania delivered an impressive win to start their season 3-0.

 Here’s how it went down:

The first 30 minutes was a fast-paced, defensive slugfest. Knock-ons were an early theme as both teams struggled to handle the ball cleanly.

Each side had massive defensive stands near the try line, highlighted by heavy tackles, well-timed poaches, and relentless line speed. GGA’s ferocious defensive press made it tough for Gonzaga to play in space, while Gonzaga’s physically imposing pack kept GGA’s forwards from gaining easy meters.

Finally, Gonzaga struck first.

After pounding away at the GGA try line, scrumhalf Axel Ries took a penalty tap and spun it wide for the first try of the game. Kick was good, 7-0 Gonzaga with four minutes left in the half.

GGA didn’t wait long to respond.

A penalty put them deep inside Gonzaga territory, and hooker George Burch saw an opening near the ruck, lunged through, and grounded the ball for a try.

Halftime score: 7-7.

Second Half

GGA opened the second half with a penalty kick from flyhalf Jack Nolan, putting them ahead 10-7.

Gonzaga fired back almost immediately.

A penalty kick to the corner, a clean lineout, and a few quick phases later, they crashed over the line. Conversion missed, but Gonzaga retook the lead 12-10.

Then Gonzaga stomped on the gas pedal again with a moment of brilliance from their flyhalf: A gorgeous cross-field kick dropped into the hands of their winger, who sprinted in for a try. The conversion missed again, but in just four minutes, Gonzaga turned a 10-7 deficit into a 17-10 lead. Quintessential Gonzaga rugby—they can blow the game wide open in a heartbeat.

To make things worse for GGA, they played down a prop for ten minutes due to a yellow card. But instead of unraveling, they held firm on defense and put together quality attacking phases.

They kept Gonzaga from spinning it wide, stayed disciplined at the breakdown, and absorbed phase after phase without breaking. Gonzaga had chances, but never quite pulled the trigger at the right moment.

Then, GGA found their opening.

With 18 minutes left, 8-man Will Seele broke through a couple tackles and grounded the ball. Tie game 17-17.

The middle of the field turned into a war zone for several tense minutes. Gonzaga had space and numbers out wide a few times but couldn’t capitalize. Meanwhile, GGA’s defense held Gonzaga’s forward pack to minimal gains and harassed their backline with relentless line speed. On attack, GGA’s forward pods were lethal—playing quick, precise rugby and staying on the front foot.

GGA captain Ari Fogelman was a menace at inside center, breaking tackles with every carry. The guy manufactures space out of thin air.

Then, just as they got their prop back on the field, GGA found themselves back down to 14 men—another yellow card, with 12 minutes left on the clock.

Not ideal. Especially with the game on the line—against Gonzaga, no less.

Despite playing down a man for the second time, they methodically worked their way down the field, eating up meters until 8-man Will Seele received the ball out wide, broke a tackle, and crashed in for his second try.

Kick good.

GGA on top 24-17. Four minutes left.

Final Moments

On the ensuing kickoff, GGA kept the ball in hand, trying to bleed the clock.

Then—a knock-on at midfield.

Gonzaga ball. 90 seconds left.

And every GGA fan in attendance had 2020 flashbacks.

That year, GGA had a late lead over Gonzaga, only to watch them drive the length of the field and snatch the win with a last-second try.

Gonzaga knew how to finish these kinds of games.

This time, GGA didn’t let them.

Gonzaga hammered away, trying to gain ground with their forwards. GGA didn’t give an inch.

Every carry was met with a bruising hit. Every attempt to go wide was shut down before it started.

With time expired, Gonzaga looked for one last opening—a grubber through the line.

It cruised out of bounds, right in front of the GGA crowd.

Whistle. Game over.

The Gregory the Great sideline erupted.

After years of coming up short, the little school of 60 students had finally earned their first victory over the vaunted Gonzaga Eagles.

Cue the celebratory hugs, the photos, and the long—but joyful—van ride back to freezing Northeast Pennsylvania.

Final Score: Gregory the Great 24 — 17 Gonzaga

Coach’s quote:

Final Thoughts

• Gonzaga will lament some missed opportunities and miscues in this one. The talent is there—they just need to dial things in…which they will. Woe to the team that thinks Gonzaga will be an easy outing. A month from now, this loss will barely register when they’re back to crushing opponents.

• Gregory the Great is rolling. They’ve stacked three impressive wins over top East Coast competition, and now all eyes are on Saturday’s matchup against Xavier (NY).