The two favored teams in the Varsity Cup did what they needed to do Saturday, as BYU beat a tenacious UCLA team and Cal just steamrolled Texas.

Cal ran in 16 tries, with Jake Anderson scoring three of them, as they beat the Longhorns 100-7 to make the Varsity Cup semis, where they will host Navy.

“With due respect to Texas and what the Longhorns are building, the single-elimination postseason format leaves precious little time to spend on this outcome,” Cal Head Coach Jack Clark. “The United States of America Naval Academy and a bunch of well-coached stud guys are visiting Strawberry Canyon next Saturday. Needless to say, they have our respect and they demand our focus."

The lone Texas try came from an an interception by UT co-captain Taylor Hayes and was converted by Steve Taylor.

The intercepted pass was one of a few handling errors that Cal made, but overall it was all Cal.

“That’s what this trip was all about, to come out and play with focus,” said double try-scorer Lucas Dunne. “It was also good for a lot of guys to get minutes under their belt. Now it starts tomorrow with Navy. That’s our next objective.”

Meanwhile, BYU defeated UCLA 45-16. Led by their forwards, the Cougars ran out to an early 14-0 lead, saw UCLA score a penalty, and then scored two more tries to enter the halftime break up 26-8. 

Jordan Lowry scored two tries for BYU. 

“Thanks to my teammates, I was able to score at crucial times,” Lowry told BYURugby.com. “I’m looking forward to Varsity Cup Championship with my teammates. It’s what we’ve been working for all season.”

Also scoring for BYU was scrumhalf Joseph Nicholls, prop Kody Thompson, hooker Alex Vorster, flanker Ara Elkington, and flanker Matt Jensen.

The Cougars host Central Washington April 18 at BYU’s South Field. They are expected to be without captain Kyle Sumsion, who will be with the USA Selects team going to South America.