The University of Utah Utes win big over the California Bears!

Thretton Palamo Scores for Utah (photos by Ed Hagerty)

With teams from all over the country and playing on national television, NBC, the Utah Rugby 7′s team won the inaugural Collegiate Championship Invitational.

Utah defeated Cal for the CCI 7s title in an overtime thriller that could only do good things to sell 7s rugby, college rugby, and the athletes who played.

Don Pati scored in sudden death to seal a surprising 31-26 win.

Cal kicked off and immediately pressured, forcing a turnover . After moving hard up the left sideline, they spun it to Keegan Engelbrecht, who had lined up as second receiver, and the flyhalf took a gap, pulling out of a shirt-grab, to score one minute into the game. Engelbrecht slotted the conversion to make it 7-0.

Engelbrecht’s kicking had been key to Cal’s fortunes all day and his high restart allowed Cal to retain possession and go on the attack again. Only some quick tackling from Naki Angilau and Don Pati halted the charge.

Utah forced a scrum in their own 22 and worked it wide to Angilau, who wrong-footed one Cal defense, shrugged off Colin Hawley, and weaved around two more as the Bears scrambled to contain him. At midfield Angilau popped to Blake Miller, who pinned his ears back and went in under the sticks. Mike Wunderli’s conversion tied the game at 7-7 with five minutes gone in the 10-minute half.

A deep restart from Utah held Cal in their end,  and while Cal started to run out, a thumping tackle from Pati pushed Blaine Scully into touch.

Utah had the lineout near midfield, but the throw went long and Cal retained. Off a ruck Dustin Muhn faked infield, drawing both Utah fringe defenders that way, and then zipped back weak to score a true scrumhalf’s try. Engelbrecht added two more to make it 14-7.

But Utah got one back immediately. Palamo won the ball and then took the return pass from Zach Taylor to go all the way for the score. 14-12 with a minute left in the first half.

Utah forced a turnover in Cal’s end near the end of the half, but Palamo – seemingly with a gap to run through – grubbered for Angilau. The ball went into touch and the half ended.

In the second half, Utah clearly looked unperturbed by the presence of the intimidating Cal Bears. They took the attack to Cal and forced a dropped ball in Cal’s half. That led to a scrum, from which Palamo sold a dummy and then sidestepped his way under the posts. Wunderli hit the conversion for the 19-14 Utah lead.

Cal worked hard to get that one back and two minutes later, a big break on the outside from Colin Hawley drew enough attention that he was able to offload – despite a huge tackle on him – to Engelbrecht for the flyhalf’s second try and a 21-19 Cal lead.

Four minutes to go and it came down to who had more energy left. Utah were stuck in their own 22 but a sweet give-and-go between Pati and Palamo allowed Ryan Bailey to get the pass with 80 meters to go. The sub Utah player had enough pace and endurance to make it count, though, and he was in under the posts. 26-21 Utah.

With time winding down, Utah seemed to have it all sewn up. They had a lineout in their half and really only had to win the lineout and kick to touch. But the throw was not straight. Cal chose the scrum and worked it left to Dustin Muhn. He was corralled, spun it back right, and Connor Ring just got in at the right. Engelbrecht lined up the difficult conversion and just missed. 26-26. Overtime.

Cal kicked off in overtime and for once their kicking caused trouble, as Engelbrecht sent the ball directly into touch. Utah still looked spry despite the long final and took the free kick. Cal was penalized for coming in from the side and the Utes sent the ball left. Pati had two players outside him, but spotted the tiniest of gaps, took it, hopped past the final grasp of the final Cal defender and a minute into OT ran in under the posts. No need for a conversion in Sudden Death, and Utah, amazingly, improbably, and beautifully, had clinched the CCI 7s Championship.

Cal immediately hugged and applauded their conquerors, and Utah are champs in a brilliant advertisement for 7s.

I have not yet seen a team from the Soccer World Cup Applaud their conquerors as is common in rugby and why the fraternity/sorority of rugby keeps on growing for a lifetime.

The bruises will disappear but the memories and friendships will last a lifetime.

Participate in the poll to the left.

Utah 31
Tries: Miller, Palamo2, Bailey, Pati
Convs: Wunderli 3

Cal 26
Tries: Engelbrecht 2, Muhn, Ring
Convs: Engelbrecht 3

Sunday Results

Challenger Quarterfinals
Notre Dame 22, Florida 17 OT
Indiana 12, Harvard 0
ASU 24, Penn State 12
Bowling Green 15, Army 12

Championship Quarterfinals
California 36, Tennessee 0
San Diego State 17, Dartmouth 7
Arizona 21, Ohio State 10
Utah 24,Navy 0

Challenger Semifinals
ASU 17, Notre Dame 7
Bowling Green 27, Indiana 0

Championship Semifinals
California 33, Arizona 0
Utah 17, San Diego State 10

Challenger Final
Bowling Green 32, ASU 12

Championship Final
Utah 31, California 26

Special thanks to U of U Rugby.