Former Mira Costa football and rugby standout Harrison Morrow became a national champion Saturday as he helped UC Davis capture the Division 1AA rugby championship.
The Aggies rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit to overtake defending national champion Central Florida 18-15.
UC Davis completed the season with a 13-0 record and Morrow, a freshman, played an integral part in the win.
“Harrison really stepped up to the plate this year and managed to get a lot of playing time even though he is only a freshman on a senior dominated team,” UC Davis head coach Mike Purcell said. “He truly has the knack for being in the right place at the right time. He is an outstanding defender and is also very adept with the ball in hand. He has a great work ethic and was so valuable this season. It has been a pleasure being his coach and I expect great things from him in the future.”
Morrow acknowledged Mira Costa rugby coach Duke Dulgarian for introducing him to the sport.
“The efforts that Duke Dulgarian has made to bring rugby into the South Bay have been tremendous,” Morrow said. “My rugby career would never have started if not for him, and now I can’t imagine life without it.”
Dulgarian was proud of his former player who switched positions from fly-half to flanker this season.
“Harrison played his usual physical game punishing the much larger Central Florida side in sweltering humidity,” Dulgarian said. “He was instrumental in the final phases of the match which led to the winning Aggie Try. We are all very proud of him and his fellow national champs.”
