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Cowboys surge for rugby win
Massillon Perry outscored 19-10 in 2nd half
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
The Chaney High School rugby team rallied for a 34-24 victory over Massillon Perry on Thursday.
The Cowboys outscored the Panthers 19-10 in the second half to earn their third consecutive victory after an 0-2 start.
“We made a lot of mistakes and had some unnecessary penalties, which got us in a bad mindset,” Chaney head coach Bill Burton said. “The kids, however, were able to play through that so credit them.
“We were able to put together a victory despite that adversity and that makes me so very proud of their effort.”
Shawn Rollins staked the Cowboys to the early 5-0 advantage just 2:53 into the game when he touched the ball down for a try.
Adam Luster touched the ball down for a try at the 9:59 mark for Perry (1-3). Jakob Doyle added the conversion kick for a 7-5 lead for the Panthers.
It was their only lead of the game.
“It was a very physical game, but we know how Chaney plays and expected this type of game,” Perry head coach Jason Doyle said. “Our coaching staff played against their coaching staff during our playing days and we knew that this would be a hard-fought, physical game.
“I told my team at the intermission to rely on our conditioning, but we let two easy scores at the outset of the second half get by us and just couldn’t get over the hump after that.”
Anthony West’s 20-yard dash and a Rashawn Perkins score extended the lead to 15-7.
With time running down in the opening half, Jakob Doyle touched it down for a score, adding the conversion kick as well to cut the Chaney lead to 15-14 at the intermission.
“We practice hard every day and you saw how focused we were as a team today,” Perkins said. “We have excellent communication out on the field and are making great strides as a first-year program. We’re having a lot of fun right now.”
Two scores just 2:31 into the second half gave Chaney a 27-14 lead before Luster’s second score cut the Cowboys’ margin to 27-19.
“Working together has been the key to this three-game win streak,” said Jason Jackson, who nailed two conversion tries.
A J.R. Tellington 35-yard score increased the Cowboys lead to 34-19 at the 18:12 mark.
“Coach Burton told us at the half to just keep doing what we were doing and we would be alright,” Tellington said. “We eliminated costly mistakes that hurt us in the opening half.”
Doyle rounded out the scoring when he touched the ball down for a try from 20-yards out, but the failed conversion left the Cowboys with a 10-point victory.
“The key today was perseverance,” Burton said. “We made some mistakes but never gave up and continued to play hard. I love where my guys are at right now.
“If they pull together and do what they’re supposed to do, keep believing in themselves and block out any outside influences during the game then I think the sky is the limit.”