Thriller Semi Helps Decide Who Makes the SCRC Final

Le Comeback

In the second half it was LSU putting on the pressure. They got close to scoring only to lose possession, but when LSU forced a penalty in the ensuing scrum, they were able to tap quickly and drive over.

The forwards got to work once more for LSU and worked it into scoring position before a hard cutback line from McGoldrick put him in for his second on a nice team try.

Conversion good from Wesey LeBeau and we had a one-score ballgame all of a sudden at 24-19.

LSU wasn't done. A nifty backline move started by No. 8 Ben Farrow at first receiver set up outside center Tyler Anclade to carve through for a long-range score. LeBeau was good on the kick, as well, and now LSU was in the lead at 26-24.

With a restart error from Tennessee LSU was immediately able to build on that slim lead.

Farrow picked up and was able to go deep into the Tennessee half before offloading to reserve scrumalf Xander White on his outside. Try in the corner and LSU now had scored 33 points without an answer from Tennessee.

The answer was probably the same solution LSU had sought in the first half—we need some possession and some continuity.

They got it. Midway through the second half it came from an unlikely situation. LSU was working their way down to the tryine and ready to score again. But fullback Vince Keller stepped in and intercepted a pass.

He took off, evaded some attention, and went the full 99 meters to score. It was a huge momentum shift. Not only was Keller able to kick the conversion as well, but now Tennessee culd receive the ball and try to build something.

Which is what they did. Scrumhalf Zach O'Reilly snaked through a gap and looked good to take it over. He was stopped just short, but his halfback partner Brendan O'Neill was there to pick up and finish it off.

Now Tennessee was back in the lead at 36-33.

Had LSU one more chance? Tennessee didn't let them take it. From a lineout in the middle of the field the Vols ran Squirlock up the gut and he was gone.

Try Tennessee and, with the conversion, a 43-33 lead.

LSU wasn't done. They got a penalty in their own 22, tapped, and kept going, sending it out to wing Blake Cordove, who had a ot of work to do but charged on for 60 meters.

Now within a score again at 43-38, LSU looked to make another improbably comeback. Instead Tennessee sealed it, playing smart rugby, working the forwards down to the line before Funkhouser crashed over.

The Finalists

In the end, 48-38, and it was every bit as entertaining as the score might indicate, and perhaps more so. Tennessee could easily have thrown up their hands when they lost the lead. They needed perhaps a bit of magic to get that mojo back, but they got it, and they used it.

The Volunteers will meet Kentucky, who beat Clemson 39-10 in the other semifinal. This was nowhere near as dramatic a game, but it carried its own story. Kentucky, two-time defending NCR D1AA champs, have had their issues this year, including a tie vs LSU.

A little struggle might be good for the soul, however, and Kentucky certainly weren't taking anything for granted in this game.