Rugby took on the Baton Rouge Catahoulas this weekend in the state semifinal matchup and wasted no time asserting themselves in a 54-22 victory.

The Jays came out sharp and purposeful, driving deep into Catahoulas territory and setting up a powerful maul that pushed to the edge of the goal line just five minutes into the game. Though initially stopped just short, the Jays quickly reformed and banged ahead. A quick pass from senior Sebastian Fernandez to senior Conor Vargas saw Vargas dot down for the opening try.

From there, the momentum never slowed. Though the Catahoulas remained determined throughout, wave after wave of blue found the try zone. Senior flyhalf Putty Peterman and senior fullback Ford Frischhertz each recorded hat tricks to lead the attack. Seniors Matt Scalise and Fernandez added tries, while sophomore halfback Code Brown also dotted down in the semifinal win.

Next up, the rugby team will face Brother Martin in a rematch of last year’s state championship. Brother Martin took last year’s title, and the rivalry has become a fixture on the state’s biggest stage in recent seasons, with the two sides meeting repeatedly in championship matchups.

The title match is set for Saturday, April 25 at 6 p.m. at Pan American Stadium.