It’s been a long time coming since the dreadful day when the San Diego Legion held a lead going into the final seconds of their first – and only – MLR championship, but gave up a game-winning try to the Seattle Seawolves.

But finally, after 1,477 days, another playoff loss to the Seawolves, and a new SoCal rival come and gone later, the Legion took down their mighty rival at Snapdragon Stadium, finishing a 9-0 season at home.

“I’ve been counting the days since 2019 when we were in the final so to get back there, it means a lot. We’ve still got a job to do,” Nate Augspurger said.

The Legion did it in a commanding way, defeating the Seawolves, 32-10, while seemingly always on the attack against Seattle’s top-of-the-league defense.

“It was a pretty comprehending effort to be able to put some points on the board when it counted. Defensively, really strong at times as well to hold them to the one try late in the game. We knew it was going to come. We knew they would come with the force and the power. It was just about us mentally sticking it up (and) making sure that we get into good position,” head coach Danny Lee said.

Following multiple failed attacks early on, Ma’a Nonu opened the game’s scoring with a drop goal in the 12th minute. Will Hooley doubled the San Diego lead with a penalty kick in the 23rd minute. Three minutes later, loose-head prop Faka’osi Pifeleti notched the game’s first try to give the Legion a 13-0 lead.

Jordan Chait put the Seawolves on the board to end the first half with a penalty kick.

Tomas Aoake scored two tries in the second half with a Marcel Brache try in between his two for a three-try second half that eventually led to a 22-point victory in the Conference Final. Aoake’s second try came less than a minute after a Seawolves try effectively ending any chance the Seawolves had after Seattle’s Ben Landry ran for their first (and only) try in the 66th minute.

Will Hooley went 2-for-3 on conversion kicks and made his only penalty kick attempt.

The win brings the Legion the closest they’ve been in their quest for the first MLR championship since 2019, and they have dominated opponents all season long.

“This is just another stepping stone to getting into the final and we did enough today to get there and give ourselves (the) chance to get to the final next week in Chicago,” Danny Lee said.