In a dramatic and somewhat surprising result, a depth-challenged Thomas More defeated Principia in the Big Rivers semifinals Friday night in Chicago.
Dealing with injuries, Thomas More came into the game with only 17 available players because, in addition to the injuries, they had five players on suspension after the Rio Grande brouhaha two weeks ago. NCR had issued punishments for both teams, with Rio being dismissed from the playoffs. TMU saw three players suspended, but the university had already suspended those three, plus two more, from the team as their own internal punishment.
The result was that they arrived in Chicago with only two reserves and, in fact, used neither, as all 15 starters played the entire game.
Assistant Head Coach Corey Momsen (who was running the team as Head Coach John Fox was unable to be there) said he expected his team to start slowly as they paced themselves, but it didn't work that way.
Thomas More pressured early and it was Principia which saw a couple of their players take a knee—little innocuous knocks on an ankle or knee can be really painful in brittle, cold weather. TMU were stopped just short of the line, and then held up, but the Saints kept coming and finally, off a scrum, scrumhalf Luca Matassini, usually a fullback, sold an outrageous dummy and was in under the sticks.
Up 7-0 TMU held onto that lead. Principia had a couple of good chances but were unable to finish, and both teams missed shots at goal. Then, seemingly out of nothing, Thomas More burst through for a second try. Principia added a penalty but the first half ended with the Saints up 14-3.
It was a very different second half. Principia was better in the breakdown and cleaned up their connections. They used their pace to score, and then went right down to add a penalty and make it 14-13
