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Maryland Wins Chesapeake 7s at JMU

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Maryland Wins Chesapeake 7s at JMU

The Maryland team after a long day at JMU.

The University of Maryland won the 2nd Chesapeake Collegiate Conference tournament this past weekend, defeating tournament hosts James Madison in the final.

The Terps opened pool play with a 29-5 victory over Towson University. Debutant Cole Wilson paced the Terps with four tries, while Terps 7s veteran Brandon Drummond added a try and two conversions. Next up, the Terps were challenged by a physical Virginia Tech side. After a first half spent mostly defending, UMD was able to control the ball and the game in the second. Wilson, although slowed by a quad injury, scored a try, while Drummond added another two tries and two conversions. 

That put Maryland in the semifinals along with Mount Saint Mary's (2-0 in Pool C), JMU (2-0 in Pool A), and South Carolina (best of the 1-1 teams).

Against MSM in the semis, the Terps overcame an early deficit to cruise to the 19-7 victory. With Wilson sidelined, captain Erik Tack and Eric Fruchtbaum were able to chip in a try apiece, with Drummond again adding a try and two conversions. 

JMU, which defeated Virginia 27-5 and Mary Washington 28-5 in pool play, defeated South Carolina 19-12 in the semis. 

In the final, Maryland was able to come back twice to win. Drummond started the scoring off for the Terps, and was followed by a chase down try by Jan Safranke, which cost him a shoulder injury. Fruchtbaum was able to tiptoe the sideline to tie the game with 30 seconds remaining 17-17. 

Maryland retained possession of the restart, and Maryland prop Andrew Butler showed great patience by setting up ruck after getting held out of the try zone. Tack then found space on the edge of the ruck and dove in for the winning try. 

South Carolina defeated Mount Saint Mary's 24-7 to take 3rd.

JMU now leads the Chesapeake Sevens Series with 10 points over two events. Maryland took 9 points from this week's win. 

Chesapeake Conference 7s Series Standings
  Tnmnts GP W L T PF PA Pd Pts
James Madison 2 8 5 3 0 175 101 74 10
Maryland 1 4 4 0 0 89 41 48 9
Mount St. Mary's 2 9 5 3 0 212 174 38 7
Virginia Tech 1 4 3 1 0 102 48 54 5
Mary Washington 1 4 2 2 0 76 106 -30 4
Georgetown 2 8 4 4 0 150 132 18 3
Salisbury 1 5 3 2 0 95 93 2 3
Virginia 1 5 1 4 0 53 129 -76 2
Towson 2 7 2 5 0 92 153 -61 1