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Life 17 Arkansas State 13 (Ht: 10-0 ASU)

(Jonesboro, AK) Fullback Joe Cowley notched a last-minute penalty kick to cap a narrow 17-13 victory, as #3 Life rallied to edge #4 Arkansas State for first place in the DI-A Mid-South.

ASU dominated the first half with aggressive, consistent play from their forwards. Life suffered from a diminished lineout, as All-American no. 8 Cam Dolan was injured in practice and lock Paul Bester had to be subbed out just minutes in. Deep in the visitors' half, the Red Wolves seized a set piece from the Eagles and spun the ball wide to flyhalf Pat Sullivan for seven points. Life incurred numerous penalties, leading to another kick on goal from Sullivan. ASU won consistently at the breakdown and the set piece, entering halftime with a 10-0 lead.

The Red Wolves buffered their lead with another penalty from Sullivan in the 53rd minute. But Life was resurgent in the second half, taking advantage of ASU's weary pack to set up tries for center Darrian Woodson and Calvin Nell. Joe Cowley slotted both conversions to give the Running Eagles their first lead at 14-13. With twenty minutes to go, Life kept ball in hand to hold the Red Wolves from scoring again - as time expired, Cowley booted a final penalty to give the Running Eagles a 17-13 win.

Five weeks prior, Life (8-0 Mid-South) had defeated ASU (5-2 Mid-South) 30-14 at home. The two teams enter the playoffs as the #1 and #2 conference seeds, respectively. On May 5th, the Running Eagles host #7 Penn State (5-1 East) in the DI-A quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Arkansas State travels to West Point to take on #6 Army (6-0 East.)

Life Running Eagles

Tries: Darrian Woodson, Calvin Nell
Conversions: Joe Cowley (2)
Penalty goal: Joe Cowley

Joe Cowley, Kyle Grossheider (Taku Tela), Darrian Woodson, Colton Cariaga, Calvin Nell; Jake McFadden, Cornelius Dirksen; OJ Auimatagi, Glen Maricelli, Zach Walker (Mike Mastermaker), Tyler Salamon, Paul Bester (Mark Humphries, Drew Ohmann), Paris Hollis, Andrew McNeil, Jimmy Lynch. 
Reserves: Mike Sapp, Zach Miller, Vershawn Burke.

Arkansas State Red Wolves

Try: Pat Sullivan
Conversion: Pat Sullivan
Penalty goal: Pat Sullivan (2)

Danie Swanepoel, Trey Cobble, Zac Mizell, Dean Gericke, James Ritenour; Pat Sullivan (Dylan Carrion, Sullivan), Yoshiyasu Abe; Jake Mizell (Tom Haussrer), Nardus Wessels, Nick Wayne Thompson, Rob Hayslip (Alex Goff), Connor Cook, Shaun Paterson (JC Le Fleur), Paul Steyn Benade, Shaun Potgieter. 

Referee: Gareth Morgan (Southeast, USA Rugby)
Attendance: Unavailable

UCLA 39 Cal Poly 13 (Ht: UCLA 10-3)

(Los Angeles) Led by a brace from center Sam Sirell, #11 UCLA swept aside #13 Cal Poly 39-13 on North Athletic Field, laying claim to the remaining playoff seed in the D1-A Pacific Conference.

Tight defense in the first half limited scoring to a penalty goal each from the opposing halfbacks. Seven minutes before the split, Bruins outside center Sam Sirell scored the first of his two tries, with a conversion from scrumhalf Grant Penney, to put UCLA up 10-3 at halftime.

The Bruins refocused in the second to run in four unanswered tries, with two scorers coming off the bench. The Mustangs managed to score twice in the final minutes, with a try each from flyhalf Matt Verga and flanker Matt Ryan, but the point differential was insurmountable and UCLA closed with a 39-13 win.

With Saturday's victory, UCLA (3-1 Pacific) advances to the first round of May's D1-A playoffs as the second seed from the conference, behind #3 St. Mary's. Both teams' playoff chances hinged on a win - Cal Poly needed to defeat UCLA, then #14 Central Washington in order to secure the remaining berth. The Mustangs play the Wildcats (both 1-2 Pacific) to conclude their D1-A season April 21st, in San Luis Opisbo, CA.

UCLA Bruins

Tries: Sam Sirell (2), James Faccinto, Andrew Bailey, Tanner Heaphy, Stanton Sharpe
Conversions: Grant Penney (2), Tanner Heaphy
Penalty goal: Grant Penney

Ben Francis (Tanner Heaphy); Martial Chaput, Samuel Sirell (Stanton Sharpe), Race Noedlner, Edwin de Dios; James Faccinto (Tyler Pritchard), Grant Penney (Conrad Paxton); Andrew Bailey, Jackson Brown, William Murphy, Neboysa Omcikus (Jonathan Warren), Pierre Courpron, Aaron Elman, David Anders-Richards (Matthew Frederickson), Stephen Yoshida (Joshua Parr, Yoshida.)

Cal Poly SLO Mustangs 

Tries: Matt Verga, Matt Ryan
Penalty goal: Matt Verga
Yellow cards: Philip Bezouska, Landis Nasser

Landis Nasser; Cody Perez, Jake Gersh, Michael Dumelle (Andy Early), Alex Frost; Matt Verga, Tommy Leecox; Aaron Bordenave, Pat McCreesh, Ben Crosby, Eric Parsons, Bobby McNeill (Philip Bezouska), Joe Saldana, Matt Ryan, Dave Schaefer.

Referee: Erasmus Kristoffersen Aruna Ranaweera (Southern California)
Attendance: Unavailable

BYU 38 Utah 22 (Ht: BYU 16-15)

(Provo, UT) With the deft kicking of scrumhalf Shaun Davies and a second-half rally, #1 BYU defeated #5 Utah 38-22 to capture their seventh consecutive Wasatch Cup at South Field. 

Davies slotted an penalty kick just minutes in, while Utah flyhalf Danny Christensen missed two early penalties. The Cougars bolstered their lead to 13-0 with another penalty from Davies and a try from outside center Paul Lasike. But the visitors soon found a rhythm - utility back Tonata Lauti, playing at wing, set up no. 8 Les Saloai for a score, and and counterpart Winston Harris had a breakaway run for 40 meters and a visit to the try line. All-American prop Nick Mostyn burst through for Utah's third unconverted try, but a third Davies penalty, in injury time, put the Cougars ahead 16-15 at halftime. 

The second stanza began with a BYU try, as wing Malosi Te'o intercepted a pass from Harris, his Utah opposite, racing 80 meters to touch down. Lauti was yellow-carded and Davies went four for four on the ensuing penalty kick. The shorthanded Utes pressed into BYU's 22, forcing multiple penalties - after the Cougars collapsed a scrum five meters out from the posts, referee Paul Bretz awarded a penalty try to Saloai. An easy conversion from Christensen made it 24-22, Utah trailing.

BYU made a critical kick for touch, using a penalty to set up a lineout deep in Utah's half. The Cougars turned over the ball on a crooked throw - Utah elected to scrum, but BYU won the engagement, allowing All-American no. 8 Ryan Roundy to muscle in for a short-range try. Freshman fullback Tua Laei sealed the game in the 64th minute on an off-load from wing Will Taylor, sprinting 30 meters to the try line. Davies converted, making the final score 38-22.

Of note was the presence (and absence) of several football crossovers. Wing Malosi Te'o, a senior, was a former running back for BYU, while sophomore Paul Lasike, moving in the other direction, is currently learning to play that same position. Utah was without former US Eagle Thretton Palamo, who spearheaded the Utes to victory in the 2010 CRC 7s. The center, of Samoan heritage, is now playing as a defensive end for Utah's football program.

With Saturday's win, unbeaten BYU (6-0 West) is assured a place in the DI-A postseason - a victory against Colorado on April 21st would mean a second Western Conference championship, as well as a quarterfinal match at home May 5th. Utah (3-0 West) travels north this weekend for back-to-back matches against #12 CU and #7 Air Force - all three teams remain in playoff contention. The Utes must return from Colorado with two wins to secure a playoff berth: should Utah lose to Air Force (2-2 West), the Zoomies become the frontrunners for the remaining Western playoff seed. 

BYU Cougars 

Tries: Paul Lasike, Malosi Te'o, Ryan Roundy, Tua Laei
Conversions: Shaun Davies (3/4)
Penalties: Shaun Davies (4/4)

Tua Leai; Will Taylor, Paul Lasike, Seki Kofe, Malosi Te'o; Dylan Lubbe, Shaun Davies; Mikey Su'a, Chad Harker, Ray Forrester, TJ Allred (Braden Bair), Mark Bonham (Hynie Leaatoa), Kyle Sumsion, Kumi Tua'one, Ryan Roundy ©.

Utah Utes 

Tries: Les Saloai, Winston Harris, Nick Mostyn
Penalty try: Les Saloai
Conversion: Danny Christensen (1/4)

Lopeti Lauti; Tonata Lauti, Trevor Trowbridge, Timote Houma, Winston Harris, Danny Christensen, Don Pati; Nick Mostyn ©, Michael Shepherd, Ty Peterson, Shawn Quigley, Spencer Vickery, Mike Juszczak, Danny James, Les Soloai.
Reserves: Kaleb Hogan, Bridger Walzer, Spencer Vickery, Madison Wilding, Samson Kaloni, Austin Taylor.

Referee: Paul Bretz (USA Rugby)
Attendance: 3,833 (official; standing room only after halftime)

 

Dartmouth 45 AIC 0 (Ht: Dartmouth 17-0)

Dartmouth scrumhalf Derek Fish tackles AIC opposite number Corey Newton during pool play. March 31 2012. (Photo: Bing Guan)

(Durham, NH) With a focused, efficient performance from the First VII, Dartmouth dispatched American International College 45-0 to win the Lt. Scott F. Milley Memorial 7s Tournament, hosted by UNH. 

Prop Nate Brakeley set the tone of the match by scoring on a early possession, just moments into the first half. AIC was stuck on the defensive as Dartmouth's offense roared to life - wing Kevin Clark scored his first try off a feed from center Clark Judge, while flyhalf Bill Lehmann ran in another to make it 17-0 at halftime. Both would score again in the second, with a streak of conversions from scrumhalf Derek Fish. Prop Paul Jarvis twice powered his way through to the try line to end the final, 45-0. 

The Big Green had previously defeated the Yellow Jackets in pool play, 33-5. 

Dartmouth's squad featured three All-Americans: Brakeley was selected in 2011 for both sevens and fifteens (as a lock), while Jarvis and Fish were 2011 Honorable Mentions in fifteens. Jarvis was also selected as a flanker in 2010, but did not play due to academic commitments.

In the semi-finals, AIC defeated hosts UNH 21-7, while Dartmouth's First VII beat a undefeated Dartmouth Second VII 33-5. Several teams fielded multiple sides - UNH and AIC had two each, and Dartmouth brought four. UConn, Albany and Norwich University were also present.  

The tournament is named in honor of Lt. Scott Milley, an Army Ranger and former UNH flanker who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. Two UNH alumni teams, the Love Guns and the Show Ponies, were in attendance as part of the men's club division.

Dartmouth has two weeks to gear back into fifteens before the Ivy Wildcard Tournament April 14-15th, hosted by Princeton University. The tournament will determine which team from the conference receives a berth in the DI-AA playoffs. AIC will also be occupied on the 14th - the Yellow Jackets will continue their season at the Capital Cup 7s Tournament in Latham, NY.

The 2011 CRC 7s champions remain without head coach Alexander Magleby. Matt Long of New Zealand, the team's strength and conditioning coach and previously an assistant, has stepped into the role of interim head coach while Magleby leads the US Eagles on the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Dartmouth Big Green 

Tries: Nate Brakeley, Kevin Clark (2), Bill Lehmann (2), Paul Jarvis (2)
Conversions: Derek Fish (5)

Kevin Clark (Wilson Chockley), Clark Judge (Justin Ciambella), Bill Lehmann, Derek Fish; Nate Brakeley (Michael Burbank), Will Mueller, Paul Jarvis (c.) 

AIC Yellow Jackets

Jason Dennis (Justin Waring), Bryce Neff, Michael Martinez, Corey Newton (c); John Jackson (c), Alexander Lavruk (Gavan D'Amore), Samuel Seumaala.

Referee: Chris Schuyler (New England)
Attendance: 250, including teams (estimate)

Utah 68 Arizona 15 (Ht: Utah 17-10)

(Tucson) #5 Led by scrumhalf Don Pati's four tries, #5 Utah tore through #10 Arizona, 68-15 at Murphey Stadium.

Utah conceded an early penalty to Arizona just minutes in, booted by center Jack Arnold. The visitors soon scored two tries in five minutes - the first grounded by center Trevor Trowbridge, and the second Don Pati. WIldcat wing Jacob Haebe dashed the length of the pitch for Arizona's first try, but his Ute counterpart Winston Harris responded with one of his own, putting Utah up 17-10 at halftime.

In the second half, the Wildcats wilted against the Utes' aggressive attack. Utah exploited Arizona turnovers for a pair of quick scores, and Arizona's response - an unconverted try from flanker Cameron Hudson - would be their last statement of the game. An efficient Utah backline delivered seven consecutive tries to finish the match 68-15, with two from Pati to raise his tally for the day to four.

Arizona head coach Dave Sitton expressed disappointment: "We stopped playing in the second half [and] we need to determine why." The Wildcats were shorthanded stepping onto the field, with several starters out for the season due to injuries and illness. 3-time All-American center (and team captain) Peter Tiberio was also absent, due to commitments with the US Eagles at the Hong Kong Sevens tournament. 

Utah (2-0 West) has shown impressive form this season, with high-scoring wins against Colorado State and Arizona, as well as a narrow 23-22 loss to newly DI-AA Cal in Salt Lake City. Arizona (1-2 West) plays another tough match against BYU next weekend, with Utah following suit on April 7th. 

Utah Utes

Tries: Trevor Trowbridge (2), Don Pati (4), Winston Harris, Danny James, Lopeti Lauti, Kyle Brennon, Ty Peterson, Madison WIlding
Conversions: Danny Christensen (4)

Lopeti Lauti; Ryan Snyder, Trevor Trowbridge, Timote Houma, Winston Harris, Danny Christensen, Don Pati; Nick Mostyn (captain), Michael Shepherd, Ty Peterson, Shawn Quigley, Spencer Vickery, Mike Juszczak, Danny James, Les Soloai. Reserves: Unavailable.

Arizona Wildcats

Tries: Jacob Haebe, Cameron Hudson
Conversion: Trent Fischer
Penalty: Jack Arnold

Referee: Unavailable (USA Rugby)
Attendance: 107

Air Force 55 Colorado 44 (Ht: Air Force 24-22)

(Glendale, CO) Late game tries from flanker Nicholas Lundin and prop Kebin Umodu closed a high-scoring dogfight between #9 Air Force and #11 Colorado with a Zoomies victory, 55-44 at Infinity Park. 

Colorado outside center Brendan Cox scored the first of his three tries just minutes in, and wing Stewart Cox (no relation) and flyhalf Tony Quattrini soon followed suit for a 17-3 lead. The Zoomies forced their way past Colorado's 22-meter, and a driving maul led to a try for lock John Nickerson. Fellow second-row Jackson Bristol intercepted an errant pass for a 60 meter run to the try line, and scrumhalf Reed Fleming's conversion made it 17-17. CU's Stewart Cox and Air Force center Richard Ollis would bring the tally to 24-22 for the visitors before halftime.

The Buffaloes stormed back in the second with three tries in ten minutes to make it 41-29, including two from Brendan Cox for a hat trick. Air Force countered with two more, both converted by the keen-eyed Fleming, to lead 43-41 with nine minutes to go. Colorado prop JC Trublet nailed a penalty kick for a three-point margin, but reserve flanker Nicolas Lundin dotted the posts to put the Zoomies ahead 50-44. In injury time, tighthead and man of the match Kebin Umodu barged through a wave of CU defenders to end the game 55-44, Air Force.

Friday's win signals that Air Force (2-1 West) is well-positioned to contend for a berth in the DI-A quarterfinals - to do so, they must best division rival Utah April 14th, at home. Colorado (2-2 West) has two weeks of rest before taking on Wyoming in Boulder on April 4th.

Air Force Academy Zoomies

Tries: John Nickerson, Jackson Bristol, Richard Ollis, Leroi Edwards, Samuel Roller, Taylor Roberts, Nicholas Lundin, Kebin Umodu
Penalties: Reed Fleming
Conversions: Reed Fleming (6)

*Jake Byorth; Aaron Schuetze, Eric Schrek, Austin Ollis, Taylor Roberts; Pat Murphy, Reed Fleming; LeRoi Edwards, Ryan Russomanno, Kebin Umadu, John Nickerson, Jack Bristol, Mack Griffin, Stewart Brandon, Sam Roller. Reserves: Chris Pole, Nick Lundin, Jeramy Warfield, DJ Foss, Ken Kinderwater, Austin Halle, Colby Browning, Trent Rodriguez.*

Colorado Buffaloes

Tries: Brendan Cox (3), Stewart Cox (2), Tony Quattrini, Chris Martin
Penalties: J.C. Trublet (3)
Conversions: J.C. Trublet (3)

*Chris Martin; Stewart Cox, Brendan Cox (Jordan Marquez), Zach Savage, Luke Lahman; Tony Quattrini, Sean Kilfoyle; Jean-Claude Trublet de Nermont, Dana Williams (Matt Markovetz), Alex Nitolli (Scott Annis), Brian Wanless, Adam Page, Michael Sangaline (Lance King, Annis), Kevin Barry (Annis, King), Charlie Barkmeier (Colin Bugge.)*

Referees: Kurt Weaver *Davey Ardrey*, Marc Nelson, Derek Summers
Attendance: Unavailable. 300 (estimate)

Army 30 Kutztown 25 (Ht: Kutztown 15-6)

(West Point, NY) Wing Kyle Ulses scored a hat trick to rally the Black Knights, as #6 Army beat back #14 Kutztown to win at Anderson Rugby Complex, 30-25. 

All-American flyhalf Will Holder opened the scoring with an Army drop goal, but the Golden Bears' outsized forwards dominated the first half. Prop Zachary Jessell scored Kutztown's first try after powering his way past the try line - Army responded with a penalty kick from Holder at the 20th minute. Hooker Jamie Gregory and flanker Matthew Frederick combined for two more tries before time, putting the visitors up 15-6 at the half.

A renewed Army stepped onto the pitch on the second half, swinging the ball wide to wing Kyle Ulses and scoring twice to rebuild their lead. Kutztown center Bruce Dolan answered with a try of his own, but Army fullback Chad Vessell dove for the posts to put Army up 23-20. Ulses' third try, converted by Holder, put victory just out of reach for Kutztown, who nevertheless managed a final try from reserve winger Patrick Connolly.

The Black Knights (3-0) remain undefeated in the Rugby East Conference. Both sides have home games next weekend - Army is paired against #20 Ohio State, while Kutztown (1-1) prepares to take on #7 Navy in the Midshipmen's first match back from tour. The Golden Bears remain without the services of 7s All-American Tim Acker at halfback, currently sidelined with a torn ACL.

Army Black Knights 

Tries: Kyle Ulses (3), Chad Vessell
Conversions: Will Holder (2)
Penalty: Will Holder

Chad Vessell; Kyle Ulses, Karl Crist, Drake Fleming, Christopher Beck; Will Holder (captain), Trevor Mitchell; Alan Lutterman, Graham Warner, Brian Rowen, Chris Hardee, Aaron Retter, Joshua Bounds, Austin Laetsch, Sherman Pruit (reserves unavailable.)

Kutztown Golden Bears

Tries: Zack Jessel, Jamie Gregory, Matt Frederick, Bruce Dolan, Patrick Connolly

Devon Somma; Andrew Stinson, Robert Stortz, Bruce Dolan, Kerry Fryberger (Dillon Phillips, Patrick Connolly); Tom Domino, Andrew Abt; Zachary Jessell (Zachary French), Jamie Gregory (captain), Joseph Brady (Dyllyn Brown), Greg Conover, Mike Lawrenson, Casper Huizenga, Matthew Frederick , Michael Cress (Albert Metz.) Reserves: Cody Nugent, Dylan Wilson, Dan Callahan, Gareth Lourens. 

Referee: Scott Florance (Florida)

Attendance: Unavailable.

 

BYU 53 St. Mary's 17 (Ht: BYU 25-14)

by Bing Guan

(Provo, UT) Fueled by wingers Will Taylor and Tua Leai, #1 BYU overpowered #2 St. Mary's Saturday on South Field, 53-17.

The Cougars ran in four second-half tries to break open a 25-14 contest at half. The visiting Gaels had combined for 145 points in their last two D1-A wins over UCLA and Cal Poly, but failed to keep pace in the second stanza.

The non-conference match was pushed forward a week ahead of schedule, after Utah Valley University bowed out against Brigham Young due to injuries.

With Saturday's win, BYU extends an undefeated streak at home dating to 2009. Meanwhile, St. Mary's looks to next weekend's match against division rival Central Washington.

BYU Cougars
Tries: Will Taylor (2), Tua Leai (2), Dylan Lubbe, Ishmael Tilialo, Kumi Tua'one, Joey Mount
Conversions: Shaun Davies (5)
Penalty: Shaun Davies 

Tua Leai (Jordan Lowry); Will Taylor, Paul Lasike, Seki Kofe (Jeff Ott), Malosi Te'o (Austin Allred); Dylan Lubbe, Shaun Davies (Adam Kuchin); Mikey Su'a, Ishmael Tilialo (Joey Mount), Ray Forrester (Chad Harker), TJ Allred (Mark Bonham), Kyle Sumsion, Kumi Tua'one (Viliami Vimahi), Hynie Leaatoa, Ryan Roundy (c).

St. Mary's Gaels
Tries: Nick Wallace, Jimmy Wallace
Conversions: Augie Heath (2)
Penalty: Augie Heath

Kingsley McGowen; Tim Maupin, Steve Cassinelli (Bailey Hardwick), Mike Haley (Luke Sauser), Anthony Suzio (Matt Cardoza); Augie Heath (Kyle Peterson), Jimmy Wallace (Colby Stevens); Matt Crawford, Andre Cook (c), Jordan Bouey (Mike O'Neill), Huluholo Moungaloa (Niki Mihovilovic), Nick Wallace, Kelly Harris, Rob Carlson (Anthony Suzio), Jamie Borup. 

Referee: Kurt Weaver
Attendance: 1,126