On a rainy Saturday night in Salt Lake City, the University of Utah defeated the University of Arizona 36-14 to advance to the DIA semifinals.

Arizona broke out with a try and a penalty to lead 8-0, and while Taylor Thomas put in a try for the Utes, Arizona stayed ahead with another penalty to make it 11-5 at halftime. 

But Utah continued to pressure and a  try nudged them ahead. Another made it 19-11, and two late tries finished it off.

“We were picking and feeling our way through the first half and Arizona made us pay,” said Utah Assistant Head Coach Jon Law. “I believe our most successful attacking sequence in the first half produce just three consecutive phases. In the second, we made just one small adjustment, but all credit to the boys - they simply came out with a better minded and chose to play quality rugby.”

Getting their first support player through the contact line changed the game, as Utah was able to complete offloads and keep moving forward. Arizona started to have trouble absorbing the pressure, and the Utes started to open up the game.

And so Utah will face the winner of Air Force and St. Mary’s, two teams they’ve battled to close games already this season. That opponent will be decided Sunday.