GRR: BYU
Salt Lake City, Utah - BYU retained the Wasatch Cup as the Cougars exploded for 76 points in defeating hosts Utah 76-31 Saturday.
“The score doesn’t tell the whole story of the game. We knew the Utes would be ready to play as they have in the past,” said BYU Head Coach David Smyth told BYURugby.com. “Our backs did a great job finding the holes leading to several tries.”
Technically there’s nothing at stake in Salt Lake City this weekend. Utah has a shot at finishing 2nd in the PAC Rugby Conference, and may well have already done enough to warrant a DIA playoff invitation.
BYU is already slated for the Varsity Cup, where they expect to go all the way to the final.
BYU rode a strong final 50 minutes to overcome an early deficit and beat visiting St. Mary’s 35-26 Saturday evening in Provo, Utah.
The Cougars were down 16-0 at one point - all of those St. Mary’s points coming courtesy of center Dylan Audsley - but rallied late in the first half, and had to rally again in the second half.
Friday opens up a big weekend for three major college teams, as St. Mary’s arrives in Utah to play the Utes on Friday and the BYU Cougars on Saturday.
New Mexico is a top-10 team, and that ranking hinged greatly on its one-point victory over Women’s Cougar Rugby (BYU) last November. Since then, the Lobos have remained relatively silent, while the Cougars have been active, and Saturday’s rematch looked nothing like the fall fixture. Host BYU dominated New Mexico during a 105-5 romp.