🏉Torrey Pines Edges Orange Lutheran in a Tight Contest.

Torrey Pines 27 - 17 Orange Lutheran

Valentine’s Day… chocolates, cards, flowers…?

Nope. Not even close.

Instead, this blustery Valentine’s night at La Jolla High School delivered a full-throttle battle between two of Southern California’s best high school rugby teams.

Both Torrey Pines and Orange Lutheran came into the match undefeated, bringing physical forward packs, electric playmakers, and a hunger to prove they belong at the top of SoCal rugby.

At the start of the match, Orange Lutheran controlled possession, keeping the ball in hand and pressing deep into Torrey Pines’ half. Their twin brothers at prop, David and Devin Tonumaipea, anchored a dominant forward pack, with 8-man Keelan Tagoai and scrum-half Noah Tuiolosega dictating the early phases.

Orange Lutheran struck first, finding a 60-meter break down the touchline before being stopped just 10 meters out. A few phases later, they powered over the try line to take a 5-0 lead after the conversion missed.

Torrey Pines responded with a multi-phase possession, methodically working their way into Orange Lutheran territory. Flanker Shay Farkash eventually crashed over from close range to level the score at 5-5 after a missed conversion.

Orange Lutheran added another try shortly after to take a 10-5 lead, but Torrey Pines evened the score before halftime with a well-executed backline move that found speedster Gunner Paul in space. His try in the corner sent the teams into the break tied at 10-10.

Second Half

The second half saw Torrey Pines unload a barrage of well-placed box kicks to pin Orange Lutheran in their own half. The wind made clearing kicks difficult for Orange, and Torrey Pines also stole several lineouts, regaining possession off errant throws. Side note: Do you even want to kick for touch against Torrey Pines? Their lineouts are damn near flawless.

That pressure finally paid off when second-row Jacob Herman fielded a low exit kick, weaved his way through defenders, and scored from 35 meters out. The conversion was good, giving Torrey Pines a 17-10 lead.

But Orange Lutheran refused to go quietly.

Scrumhalf Noah Tuiolosega, a shrewd and slippery character, shot through a gap off a lineout and raced 40 meters to the try zone. With the conversion, the game was once again level at 17-17.

Torrey Pines answered next, kicking their way back into Orange Lutheran’s half and winning a penalty deep in opposition territory. They kicked to touch, secured the lineout, and mauled over the try line to retake the lead, 22-17.

Orange Lutheran ramped up the pressure, controlling the midfield and pushing hard for a late comeback. But just as momentum started swinging their way, crucial handling errors handed possession back to Torrey Pines, disrupting their rhythm and stalling their attack.

The game’s final dagger came from Torrey Pines winger Gabe Gonzalez, who tore down the sideline on a sensational run. Though he was tackled, the Orange Lutheran defense struggled to reorganize. Moments later, Farkash scored his second try of the night, sealing the win at 27-17 with just over two minutes left.

Final Score: Torrey Pines 27 — 17 Orange Lutheran

Coach’s Quote

Torrey Pines head coach, Matty Sandoval, acknowledged the challenge Orange Lutheran posed and expects a rematch down the road:

Bottom Line:

Torrey Pines stays perfect, but Orange Lutheran isn’t done yet. If these two meet again, expect a banger.

Final Thoughts:

• Torrey Pines’ depth has been tested big time lately (this game featured 3 freshmen starters, taking over for injured players). They’re missing key players all over their roster. It’s a testament to their resiliency that they keep finding ways to win. And once they do get some of their starters back—look out.

• Orange Lutheran is the real deal. We were curious how they would fare against an opponent like Torrey Pines after running roughshod over their previous three opponents. Well…those games were no fluke. They’re good and they are definitely in contention for the SoCal title.