The University of Central Florida swept all five games of the South Independent Rugby Conference, defeating Georgia Tech 19-12 in the final Sunday.

UCF won their pool and were seeded #1 coming out of pool play, with Florida International #2, Georgia Tech #3, and Florida State #4.

So, even though UCF and FSU had been in the same pool, they faced off again in the semis, with UCF winning 24-12. Georgia Tech had not lost a match in pool play, but two of those games were ties, putting them behind FIU, a team Tech had beaten 14-12 on Saturday. On Sunday, Tech won another close one, 12-7.

That set up the final, which UCF won 19-12. Central Florida club captain Scott Watters said UCF won because they stuck to the game plan.

“For a long time we were focused on 15s, but we spent the last couple of weeks preparing for this” Watters said. “We worked on our fitness, which is a strength of ours, and longer pass range and running lines. But I think the big thing was we kept to the game plan and played a good team game.”

Watters said his team came into the tournament with a bit of a chip on their shoulder because they were seeded #9, and played the first game of the weekend, against Middle Tennessee State, who were seeded #1. UCF won that game, setting the tone for the rest of the tournament. Central is known for their straight-ahead, physical 15s style, and they kept that in 7s.

“We have a lot of speedy players, but we used our big guys to draw in tacklers and give them space,” Watters said. “It went well.”

Christian Rossi was Watters’ pick for player of the tournament, and James Boozer had a “phenomenal” weekend as well. Daniel Irion complement their performance and super subs John Fick and Chris Dayao were strong coming off the bench.

The victory gives UCF a guaranteed spot in the USA Rugby Collegiate 7s Championships, and Georgia Tech’s performance might well earn them an at-large look, as well.

Now it’s back to 15s for Central Florida. They sit 3-1 in the South Division of the SIRC, with four games to go.

“It’s like flipping a switch,” said Watters. “We have to turn around and get back into 15s mode. We have Florida Atlantic coming up, and that’s what we have to focus on.”

On the horizon is 3-1 Florida International, the only team to beat UCF, which they did on the opening weekend. UCF gets the rematch on February 28.

SIRC 7s Order of Finish

1. Central Florida

2. Georgia Tech

3. Florida International

4. Florida State

5. South Florida

6. MTSU

7. Kennessaw State

8. Georgia Southern

9. Memphis

10. Florida Atlantic