CARY, N.C. The American International College men's rugby squad was inches away from capturing a National Championship this weekend as they fell to Saint Mary's College, 7-5, in the USA Rugby Collegiate Sevens National Championships on Sunday afternoon.
In an unlikely turn events the AIC defense stole the show this weekend allowing just 47 points (7.83 per game) including just 12 points during the championship rounds. Their 7-5 loss in the National Final game was just the second time all season the Jackets were held to a single try, the other was a 12-5 setback to Utah in the semifinals of the Las Vegas Invitational in March.
THE NATIONAL FINAL: In the Championship it was obvious both teams were gassed as two of the most explosive offenses in the country were each held to a solo try. AIC's strong defense led to the opening score as sophomore Jacob Ponder (Orlando, Fla.) stripped the ball away and if fell right into the hands of junior Christian Adams (Washington, D.C.) who spun the ball the entire width of the field with the help of junior Kurtis Werner (Centennial, Colo.).
Senior Gavan-D'Amore-Morrison (Boston, Mass.) then offloaded the ball to junior Adrian Ray (Washington, D.C.) who used speed and agility to touch the ball down in the corner for the 5-0 edge.
"We played the best defense we ever have in this game," commented head coach Josh Macy. "The commitment to tackling and alignment was just impressive."
For the remaining portion of the opening half St. Mary's pressured the AIC line and even with some determined tackling by the Jackets they were able to slip through and center the ball in the try zone and the chip shot conversion ultimately determined the outcome.
The second half saw both teams pressuring each other and moving the ball through the middle of the field with neither team threatening to score until D'Amore-Morrison found himself with the ball racing through midfield and toward the near sideline.
He then offloaded to Adams who fought through multiple tackles through the middle of the field and was tackled into the try zone with what seemed to be the winning score. However, the ref determined the ball was never placed down as a Saint Mary's player slid in keeping the ball from being grounded, thus securing the victory for his team.
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HOW THEY GOT THERE: AIC blanked Central Washington 15-0 in the Quarterfinals on Saturday as defense was again the focus. Central controlled most of the possession, but some solid tackling led by senior Deshae Edwards (Las Vegas, Nev.) halted their possessions.
Ponder again picked the pocket of a Central player causing a turnover which resulted in the opening try by Adams and on the ensuing kick AIC stole the ball and sophomore Jihad Khabir (Washington, D.C.) raced for the next try and a 10-0 edge.
Then on the opening possession of the second half Edwards secured the ball at midfield and juked his way all the way home for the 15-0 final.
In the semifinals the following day the skies opened up slowing down a speedy AIC team with a slick and muddy field against Davenport. However, Edwards found himself on the sidelines and slipped his way through from about 60 meters out for the opening try.
A few minutes later freshman Lui Sitama (Olympia, Wash.) knocked a kick through and Edwards scooped it up again and he touched it down in the corner for the 10-0 margin. Davenport then gained possession and controlled most of the remaining half working their way to the only try they could muster in the late stages of the half.
The Jackets shut the door in the second half as Ray found Werner who dished to Khabir after an aggressive run and the speedy sophomore snuck into the middle of the field to ground the ball and seal the 17-5 victory setting up the Championship match.
POOL PLAY: In the opening game on the tournament against Bowling Green, AIC started slow, but ended up racing away for a 42-14 victory. Sophomore Matthew Jones (Liverpool, England) secured the first try of the game while setting up the second try as Adams punched it in for the 10-0 lead.
Bowling Green cut the deficit in half heading into the break, but the second half became a track meet as Khabir raced to a pair of early tries while Edwards and Ray also rumbled home for the final score.
The second game against Oklahoma started quick as D'Amore-Morrison ripped down the right sideline for the early 5-0 lead. The Sooners tied the score after a long possession, but it was again D'Amore-Morrison who used physicality for the second try of the game as he stiff-armed an Oklahoma player at the goal line for the 10-7 lead. In the second half Khabir and Edwards added single tries a-piece for the 22-7 final.
On Saturday in their final pool play match, the Jackets knocked off San Diego State, 20-14, as D'Amore-Morrison touched the ball down for the opening try and added a second a few minute later taking advantage of an errant SDSU kick. Ponder then added a third try before the first half expired for the 15-0 edge.
San Diego State made things a game in the second half hurting AIC's final seed as they finished pool play ranked fifth out of eight.
Khabir led the way over the weekend with five tries while Edwards and D'Amore-Morrison added four each. Ray and Jones were the only other multiple-try scorers for AIC with three and two, respectively. Werner knocked home six conversions.
