Anthem Falls In Final Home Game To Chicago Hounds

CHARLOTTE, NC (May 24, 2025) – Chicago Hounds scored 28 unanswered points in the first half and held off Anthem RC Saturday night, 19-33.

Mitch Wilson, Mikey Grandy, and Makeen Alikhan scored the tries for Anthem RC.

It was a strong start from the home side. Alex Hernandez thought he had his first Anthem try in the third minute, but the TRO had other ideas, signaling a forward pass in the process and waiving off the score.

Anthem responded to the infraction with a great defensive stop, preventing Chicago from touching down once they entered Anthem’s try zone.

In the 10th minute, Anthem officially got on the board. Pretty passing from Anthem led to Corbin Smith passing to Mitch Wilson who hit pay dirt to make it 5-0.

Anthem’s defense showed great physicality at their own try line in the 14th minute, pushing back a Chicago attack. However, the Hounds finally did muster a score through Jason Higgins. The kick was knocked through to give Chicago a 7-5 lead.

Chicago took advantage of a couple of Anthem penalties and in the 18th minute, scored their second try of the match through Dylan Fawsitt to make it 14-5 Chicago.

Chicago scored their third try of the first half in the 29th minute. Chicago’s Tim Swiel received an Anthem kick, made a man miss, and sprinted down the sideline. He dished it off to Noah Flesch who finished off the stunning score and the Hounds suddenly had scored 21 unanswered.

Chicago added another right before the break and led 28-5 at the half.

It was a positive beginning to the second half for Anthem. A strong attack was finished off with Mikey Grandy getting into the try zone. Wilson added on the conversion and the score was cut the lead.

The stanza involved plenty of changes of possession as both teams kicked to change fields. Neither team could buy a score until the 67th minute.

It was Anthem that scored their second consecutive try of the half. Strong running from Junior Gafa and Grandy set up Makeen Alikhan to power in and cut the lead to nine.

However, Chicago scored the dagger in the 80th minute and the final score finished 19-33.

QUOTES:

Sam Golla and Mitch Wilson on fan support throughout the home season-

Golla: “I really enjoy having everyone on the field after the game. It’s nice being able to connect with the fans and especially family too. It means everythig, that’s why we play the game.”

Wilson: “It’s really special to have the fans stick with us throughout the whole season. It hasn’t been easy to be a fan this year, but to see them come out week in, week out, and to see them in high spirits today is really special to us.”