TRAVERSE CITY -- No better time for a first state championship than now.
The Traverse City Alliance will play for the Division 2 rugby state title on Saturday, facing Grand Blanc in a 1 p.m. matchup at Davenport University.
The Alliance has been in the state championship games twice before in its nine-year history, but hasn't brought back a crown -- yet.
This year's team features what could be the highest-scoring player in the state in Matthew Benson, who had 101 points in the regular season, a team single-season record.
"From our records, we can't find anyone else in the state of Michigan with 100 points," said coach Chuck Benson of his son, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound tight end who will be playing football at Butler next fall.
But the team isn't a one-man show for the state's West Division champions.
Inside center Jack Gallagher and fellow St. Francis football player Jared Preston are also standouts on the team that features players from St. Francis, Central and West, plus one athlete from Glen Lake (Tim Hubbell).
"(Gallagher) is a crash ball tackler," coach Benson said.
Preston is the only player on the team to win the Man of the Match award two times this season.
Benson -- who is assisted by Cornel Olivier and Dan Rickart for the 7-3 Alliance -- said he is hoping to get an intramural rugby program started throughout the Traverse City Area Public Schools next season.
The Alliance defeated Perrysburg 15-0 and St. Clair Shores Lakeview 10-3 to advance to the finals.
Grand Blance defeated Kenowa Hills 22-0 to advance to the title game.
Finals countdown
What: Division 2 state rugby championships
WhEN: Saturday, 1 p.m.
WhERE: Davenport University, Grand Rapids
WhO: Traverse City Alliance vs. Grand Blanc
ADMISSION: $5
OTHER GAMES: Division 4: Battle Creek vs. Brighton, 9 a.m.; Division 3: Rockford vs. Dearborn, 11 a.m.; Division 1: Grandville vs. West Ottawa, 3 p.m.
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