Air Force, Kutztown Into Final Of D!A 7s Qualifier

Kutztown University and the Air Force Academy will face off this evening in Las Vegas in the final of the D1A 7s open qualifier.

Both teams survived very close semifinals to get there.

In pool play, Kutztown shut out New Mexico and Colorado and were pushed by Utah 26-14. Overall, though, outscoring pool opponents 120-14 sent a message.

That set up the semifinal with St. Bonaventure, which had finished 2nd in the other pol by virtue of a 19-17 loss to Air Force. Kutztown prevailed 19-10 to reach today’s championship game.

Air Force had similar success, albeit in a less dominant fashion. The Zoomies defeated Utah 19-7, Bonnies 19-17, and then Utah Valley’s 2nd side 14-0 (which is a forfeit score).

On to the quarterfinals. Kutztown took a forfeit over Utah Valley 2nds, while SBU beat Colorado 20-7. Utah Valley’s 1sts beat Utah 31-7, and Air Force shut out New Mexico 41-0 behind CJ Gabriel’s four tries. 

Special guests watching the Zommie Blue in Vegas! Thanks for coming out and rooting on the gents. pic.twitter.com/6Kqh68MdmQ

— Zoomie Men's Rugby (@ZoomieMensRugby) February 14, 2020

In the semis, KU got a huge game from Tai Kauwe and held off SBU.

Air Force got tries from Gabriel, Ben Bollinger, and Connell Swenson, with Koby Hinnant kicking two key conversions for the 19-14 win over UVU.

UVU went on to beat St. Bonaventure 29-24 to take 3rd.

The final will be played today, Saturday, Feb 15 at 2PM PT, 5PM ET in Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.