KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Clarksville Highlanders Rugby Club travelled to Knoxville to face off against McMinn County High School of the Smokey Mountain Athletic Conference (SMAC) to determine who would compete for the plate at the Tennessee Rugby Association (TRA) state final. While McMinn has competed numerous times for the title, this was Clarksville’s second appearance at the state semi-final.
Only six minutes into the first half, the more experienced McMinn ‘Tribe’ was able to capitalize on some Highlander mistakes and put three points on the board with a penalty kick from right in front of the Highlanders’ goal posts. After the ensuing kickoff, the Highlanders had the Tribe pinned deep inside their own territory.
Looking to push Clarksville back, the McMinn fly half kicked the ball which was cleanly fielded by Clarksville’s fullback Ty Bartlett (sophomore, West Creek H.S.). Bartlett broke a couple tackles, found open space to run, crossed the goal line, and touched the ball down nearly centered on the post for an easy conversion kick by Jackson Sewell (sophomore Ft. Campbell H.S.). Eight minutes later Clarksville’s captain, Jake Jorstad (senior, Ft. Campbell H.S.) would drive in another try. Another conversion by Sewell would put the Highlanders up 14-3 which would be the score at the end of the first half.
The physical intensity didn’t let up one bit at the start of the second half of play. With neither side wanting to give an inch, Clarksville was a little too aggressive at the breakdown and ultimately had North East H.S. senior Jeff Taua’i sent off on a yellow card for off sides. The extra man advantage for McMinn ultimately turned out to be too much and they were able to dive in at the corner for another five points at the 46th minute mark of the match, pushing the score to 14-8 Highlanders. That would be the last time McMinn would find the goal line. Clarksville would go on to score two more converted tries: Another by Jorstad at the 53rd minute and one by Palema ‘Nike’ Roberts (junior, Ft Campbell H.S.) four minutes later for a final score of 28-8 Clarksville.
Both sides showed incredible determination and sportsmanship throughout the match.
The Highlander victory sets up a re-match between Clarksville and the Harlequins from Harpeth High School for the state final. The two teams have only met one other time on the pitch when a last minute score put Harpeth ahead for a 15-12 victory in the regular season. Not a fond memory for the Highlanders.
The teams will meet again this Saturday, May 9 at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro in the Tennessee Rugby Association’s state finals tournament.
Clarksville point scorers: Jorstad; 10, Sewell; 8, Bartlett; 5, Roberts, P; 5.