It was an interesting Day One at the CRAA D1AA 7s, with teams from the Heart of America enjoying a solid showing, and the favorites coming through with the type of performances fans expected.
Played at the University of Kansas's very picturesque Westwick Rugby Complex in Lawrence, Ks., The tournament produced some tight games and some surprises.
Pool A
Western Washington unleashed Elijah Ashmann and got a powerful game from George Pritchard to shut out Texas 38-0. Sho Sekyia was very shifty for WWU as well. Against Minnesota the defending CRAA D1AA 7s champs were stymied a bit by a solid Gopher defense, but a try from Ashmann and another turned a nailbiter into a 17-0 shutout.
Meanwhile, Iowa looked strong, as well. Ren Heimer was brilliant on the day, scoring multiple tries in each game. He was ably assisted by half back Michael Johnson and speedster Amass Kemokai as the Hawkeyes blew through Minnesota and Texas.
In the final pool match, Heimer was electric, scoring and converting two tries to shock WWU with a 14-0 lead. Western responded with Ashmann leading the way. He scored a try just before halftime and one just after the break to make it 15-14 for Western.
But two brilliant scored from Heimer, both of which he converted, made it 28-15. Western Washington didn't have enough time; they scored one, but that was it. Iowa 28, Western Washington 22. The consolation for Western was that they had a points difference of +49, and that might be enough to see them to the semifinals as the best 2nd-place team.
Pool B
The crucial game may have been the first. Oregon came out of the blocks a little slow and Iowa State led by Ian Kleim and Zach English. The Cyclones raced out to a 19-7 lead and seemed in control in the second half.
Not so fast. Tino Mahafee and Taishi Konoike tested ISU and a late Konoike try made it 19-14. Iowa State, though, held on.
With Klein continuing to play well and with Jack Cahill and Braden Miller moving the ball well, the Cyclones blew by Texas State. Oregon, meanwhile, had to face a Millenia Atlantic side that had a distinctly South American flavor. Experienced and physical, MAU were likely to go to the boot, as well and did well to beat Texas State.
MAU vs UO was a back-and-forth clash. Konoike scored two breakaway tries to stake the Ducks to a 14-0 lead. Bruno Tavanti was excellent for MAU and he scored his team's first try. But MAU played too clustered in the middle of the field and Konoike scored yet again to make it 19-5. Maximo Le Donne powered over for MAU, and then scored on a kick-and-chase to make it 19-17. There was time for the restart, but Oregon held on.
So all of that set up the last two matches. Iowa State stood up to MAU's physical play but were tested, and found themselves down 10-5. With time winding down the Cyclones broke through with English getting his one good run to charge in under the posts. Miller converted, and that was the difference—Iowa State was 3-0 by virtue of a 12-10 defeat of MAU.
For their part, Oregon knew they had a shot. They needed to beat Texas State by 53 to bypass Western Washington for the #4 seed. What followed was some brilliant 7s against a Bobcats side that did not want to give them the satisfaction. The Ducks played some inspired 7s with Mahafee scoring a piled of tries. Brooks Fisher and Liam Weir were strong, too, and Oregon led 31-7 at halftime. They kept it up and eventually led 57-7.
But that one try they gave up, on a defensive breakdown on a restart, came back to haunt them. Winning by 50 points made them the #5 seed, not #4, as is gave the Ducks a points difference of +47, behind the +49 off WWU.
