A week after being knocked out of the Varsity Cup, the University of Utah rebounds to try to move through the DIA playoffs.

It will be a tough job for the Utes as they take on Cal Poly in Salt Lake City, but Utah also feels as if they lost some very good scoring chances against Central Washington. 

“We were very disappointed,” said program director Mark Drown. “We knew what we wanted to do and how to do it, but we made mistakes and knock-ons. We have another shot at a post-season, and we’re going to regroup and ry again.”

Cal Poly is a bit more of a high. The Mustangs beat San Diego State soundly last week to confirm a spot in the playoffs, and Head Coach James Tesoriero doesn’t think it was a fluke.

“We installed a new attack shape and it’s different from what they did before, and it’s taken a while to click,” said Tesoriero. “But they really got it against San Diego State. Everyone knows his role. We were very happy with the performance.”

Cal Poly has some snappy backs who can score out wide, but the bread and butter against the Aztecs was the tight five, especially the scrum. They won several strikes against the head, and scored three tries by driving right over the goal line. That was impressive, but, said Tesoriero, “we don’t expect the same thing to happen against Utah.”

Still, the front row of Connor Cudeback, Eddie McFarland, and Nathan Sylvia are due some praise. Sylvia is a tough guy who does the dirty work in the rucks and mauls. McFarland is big for a hooker and was moved there by Tesoriero, who then told the new #2 that he wasn’t fit enough to get through 80 minutes. McFarland did the work, and now is putting in a strong full game. Cudeback, a former HS All American is a rarity on the Cal Poly team - a freshman standout in a pack that usually has some experienced heads (and bodies) on the field. Cudeback is just that strong.

Further back in the pack, captain and No. 8 John Joe Murphy has led the Mustangs effort well.

But will it be enough? Cal Poly has played some tough opposition this season, but so has Utah. Stung but not immobilized, Utah has spectacular counter-attacking ability, and plenty of strength and power up front, too.

The game may well be decided in the scrums, but both teams have exciting backlines, and if things get loose in this game, we could see a lot of scoring.