💥Raptor Rugby Defeats 901 Rugby for back-to-back State Titles

Whenever the Raptors and 901 get together it's always a spirited affair, and this year was no different.

The Raptors knocked on the opening kickoff and 901 drove down near the try line, where the Raptor defense held them repeatedly (a theme that would bear out by match’s end). After several phases, the Raptors gave up a penalty, which 901 flyhalf Colby Shelton converted into 3 points for the lead.

The next few minutes were a battle of wills, with neither team able to take control—until junior flyhalf Jake Orefice intercepted a pass and ran twenty meters for a try, which he also converted. The Raptors took the lead, 7–3.

901 came straight back with some strong runs by senior prop Andrew Toy. Taking advantage of several Raptor penalties, 901 got their opposites on their heels, with Toy eventually dotting it down. Shelton’s conversion made it 10–7.

The Raptors regrouped and put together several long phases of play before junior flanker Jake Roberts scored from just two meters out with a leaping dive into the try zone. Orefice converted, making the score 14–10.

901 continued to battle but were stymied by the defensive pressure of senior forwards Chandler Romero (who replaced senior starter Owen Black due to injury), Jasper Quisenberry, Sarp Kundakci, and Bo Linstroth, along with juniors Grant Webber, Lucas McCollum, Jake Roberts, and Christian Logan. Their efforts led to a penalty, which Orefice converted from just inside the 22m. The score was now 17–10.

With a minute left in the first half, the Raptors took advantage of a 901 miscue and played the ball wide to junior fullback Wyatt Appleton, who placed it under the posts for an easy Orefice conversion. The Raptors, up 24–10, had all the momentum going into halftime.

The second half started much like the first, with stingy defense by the defending champions. The forwards were joined by the backline in defensive effort, all the way out to junior wingers Barron Lankford and Andrew Ryan, who were relentless in contact.

Senior scrum half Gavin Trussell got involved early and often, creating opportunities from 901 handling errors. The Raptors converted the first when senior centers Eli Baumann and Bishop Reilly connected with Lankford through quick backline play, releasing him down the touchline for a corner try. The lead extended to 29–10, as the conversion was missed.

From that point on, all the momentum was with the Raptors. Both teams played a man down in the second half at times from yellow cards, but only the Raptors capitalized—getting the ball wide once again with Reilly scoring from a 70m run. Orefice’s conversion made it 36–10.

Seniors Jackson Burgdorf and Brennan Rexrode, along with underclassmen Macager Sutherland and Quinn Shrauger, gave the Raptor forwards big minutes as finishers and helped set up the second-half shutout. Underclassmen backline finishers Charlie Goodson, Brady Griffith, Benjamin Eadie, and Max Baumann all contributed to set up the final try of the match.

Wyatt Appleton used his boot to counter down the pitch, which was dotted down by junior backline finisher Owen Stopforth for the final score of 41–10. This secured back-to-back state titles for the Raptors.

Jake Orefice was named the 2025 Division I State Finals MVP.

Coach Richard Boone expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in growing rugby in Tennessee, as exemplified by the level of play from both teams, and was heard telling Raptor parents that they could “expect 3 more high-level matches, just like what 901 brought on this day, at Nationals in Indiana.”

Coach Peter Tiberio added:

The Raptors will now head to Elkhart, IN to represent the state of Tennessee in the USA Rugby National Championships over Memorial Day weekend.