COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Kutztown University men's rugby continued its terrific spring sevens season, Saturday, April 23, blowing through five worthy opponents on its way to winning the Gavin Gill Memorial Sevens Tournament at Ohio State University.

The Golden Bears packed their rented SUVs on Friday and drove to Columbus, Ohio. On Saturday, they were up against their sternest competition of the season. Of course the intention was to win the tournament, but the competition level was the main attraction for the coaches and players. With the Collegiate Rugby Championship looming in the not too distant future, Kutztown had to test its mettle against excellent sevens programs such as Indiana, Davenport and Notre Dame College. Indiana was undefeated on the season and a clear favorite to clinch the Big Ten title from their counterparts in the conference. Notre Dame College and Davenport are two traditional sevens powerhouses in the Midwest. Then you have to include the likes of the other Big Ten universities, and don't leave out the host Buckeyes from Ohio State.
 
The tournament was played on the Lincoln Tower Fields, adjacent to the famous Horseshoe (Ohio Stadium) that houses the Buckeye football team on those illustrious Saturdays every autumn. What a magnificent backdrop for rugby, the sport that is the great granddaddy of American gridiron. The sun was high and there wasn't a cloud in the sky when the Golden Bears opened up against the Michigan State Spartans. That's more like David versus Goliath when you consider that MSU has more than 40,000 students. No worries, the Golden Bears are certainly used to that scenario and relish their role as giant killers. So it came to pass, Kutztown rolled up a 54-5 victory. Logan Bachman (Kutztown, Pa./Central Catholic) was a physical force to reckon with, as he not only scored two tries but was responsible for several vicious counter rucks that left a few Spartans dazed and confused. Kobie Tuckson (Washington, D.C./Bishop McNamara) scored two tries and did what Kobie does best, out-stepped and outran every Spartan that tried to lay hands on him. Blake Andrews (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown Area)  simply took the rock and ran it where they weren't, straight up the middle and in their grill. P.J. O'Reilly (Springfield, Pa./Cardinal O'Hara) and Christian Tanner (Crescent, Pa./Moon Area) were solid with one try apiece.  
 
The next contest brought Davenport University onto the pitch to face Kutztown. The Golden Bears knew the importance of this one, not only to win the tournament but to grade were they stood in the national pecking order for collegiate sevens. This was a must win for Kutztown and how the outcome would effect their progress, time would tell. Davenport opened the contest with a try but Kutztown came right back and made their presence felt when they scored a clinical try, marching down the field in command of their attack. Mate Kvirikashvili (Kutaisi, Ga./Monroe Woodbury) took sight of the try zone, ran a hard line of a ruck and streaked in to dot down untouched.  It was tied at halftime and in the second half Bachman continued to play outstanding rugby, daring anyone to stop him near the try line and placing the pill under the posts.

Davenport wasn't to be denied, either, as their big backs passed the ball outside off of a broken play to respond with a score. They converted and the game was tied at 14 each. The clock was winding down and Kutztown had the ball near their own 22-meter line. They got the ball out quickly and just as the final horn blew to end the game, Kvirikashvili took a pass and looked downfield at the white jerseys converging on him for the tackle. However, Mate showed everyone why he will be playing for his native Georgia U-20 national side this summer. With all of the fight that he could summon, he rifled his patented stiff arm into the chest of a Davenport defender and threw him off like he was a rag doll. There wasn't anyone or anything that was going to stop Kvirikashvili from reaching that opposite try zone. He raced down field and outran every Davenport defender to place the ball in the center of the post and seal the victory for Kutztown, 21-14. This win was a monumental effort by everyone wearing the KU logo.
 
The next matchup saw Kutztown face the Davenport second side, as that team was strong enough to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament. Kutztown had to overcome the mental challenge of playing what was considered a strong side but obviously not as ominous as the Davenport's top side the Bears faced in the previous round. The challenge was not to relax or take this game for granted, but to remain ruthless by playing every game like it was the finals. This was not an easy task after the thrill of the last match. The Golden Bears battled that mindset and lessons were learned as they cruised to a 19-0 win, at times playing down to the level of competition. It's interesting how good judgement comes from experience, but experience is often gained from bad judgement. Thorne O'Connell (Johannesburg, South Africa/Jeppe), Kekoa Kauwe (Orem, Utah/Pleasant Grove) and Tanner were instrumental in keeping the team's winning momentum intact, each finding their way into the try zone.
 
The semifinal game brought a large crowd to the sidelines and everyone was buzzing about this matchup. It was two of the well know juggernauts in the collegiate sevens universe. Undefeated Indiana and Kutztown, with only one loss for the spring campaign. The Hoosiers hadn't really been tested all season as they were cruising to tournament cup championships. Kutztown's lone loss was to Notre Dame College at the first qualifying tournament in the windswept, snow-filled grounds of South Bend, Ind., in March.

Despite those terrible conditions, Kutztown took home the Plate championship with a 4-1 record. Indiana went 5-0 in the same conditions and secured the Championship Cup trophy. The Hoosiers were battle tested and anxious to take on the Golden Bears. These two teams have a history as well. In three College Rugby Championship meetings in Chester, Pa., KU had taken down the Hoosiers and crushed their dreams of a championship, two out of three times. The third meeting went to Indiana when they were led by future USA Eagle captain Bryce Campbell.

This wasn't just some ordinary game taking place on a sunny afternoon in Columbus. No, this was Kutztown and Indiana. The Hoosiers showed why they were a force to be reckoned with, jumping out to the lead with two manufactured textbook tries to the corner of the try zone. Kutztown fought back in the first half, proving why they deserved to be in this contest. Kvirikashvili once again stiff-armed and willed his way into the try zone. Kauwe stood up and challenged the Hoosiers to stop him, as he went off the side of a ruck and streaked into the try zone. The score was 17-14 in favor of Indiana at half.

The Golden Bear coaches left their original starting lineup in place for the few minutes of the second stanza, hoping to maintain synergy and strategically made calculated substitutions along the way. Kvirikashvili struck again but the conversion was wide right. Kutztown had the lead, 19-17, with two minutes remaining. The Hoosiers had their tails up and weren't going to be denied. They scratched and clawed to keep possession. Then, to no one's surprise, they found that wide channel once again. It was their bread and butter. It paid off and they jumped back into the lead, 24-19, with a conversion.

Give Kutztown credit for not panicking. With a minute to play, the Maroon and Gold put together several flawless phases of possession. Then with 45 seconds left on the clock, Aidan Smith was running through a gap that was sure to close on him but he caught everyone off guard, when he kicked through the startled Indiana defenders and raced to scope up the ball in front of the try line and slammed it down for the score. The conversion was good and Kutztown was back in front 26-24. Indiana took the restart and everyone on the sidelines held their breath as the Hoosiers passed the ball wide, setting off for the try line. This time, Smith and his teammates tackled that red and white jersey out of bounds. The game was over and Indiana had suffered its first loss of the season. This was Kutztown's best performance of the spring and the Bears will likely see Indiana once again at the Collegiate Rugby Championship in suburban New Orleans over Memorial Day weekend. Will it be for the CRC championship? Only time will tell.
 
The championship matchup of the Gavin Gill Memorial Sevens Tournament was set after host Ohio State come out on top of their bracket. The Buckeyes were a formidable side with a host of road runners that would make Wile E. Coyote work for his dinner. Kutztown stuck to tradition and donned their classic varsity hoops for the finals. Could the Golden Bears maintain the same mindset that just brought them to the finals after that epic sevens match with Indiana? Ohio State was the home team and the Buckeye faithful were there to support them against all odds. KU met the challenge and put on a clinic, as the bigger, stronger Golden Bears were too much for the smaller Buckeyes to stop.

Kvirikashvili was dynamic as he scored two more tries and played the entire game. At one point he ran straight to the try zone, stiff-arming two Ohio State defenders along the way. Tuckson, Smith and Brock Stinson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Coronado) also touched down for Kutztown. 
The Golden Bears were near flawless as they bullied their way past Ohio State 29-7. It was a great day for Kutztown rugby, which will carry momentum into their training for the CRC Championship next month. It will be an exciting tournament in NOLA and a massive challenge for all of the participants scheduled to vie for a national title. Catch a flight and join the best collegiate sevens programs in the Big Easy! 
 
RUN WITH THE BEARS!