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Varsity Cup Round 1 Wrap

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Varsity Cup Round 1 Wrap

The final eight are set for the Varsity Cup.

 

BYU will take on UCLA as Seb Sharpe scored three tries, Zach Bonte scored one, and Ben Francis added two penalties and three conversions in the Bruins’ 32-12 defeat of Air Force. The Zoomies scored the first and last tries of the afternoon in Los Angeles, but Sharpe poked them for three in between. (BYU got a bye to the quarterfinals.)

 

Utah will visit Central Washington as CWU dominated possession and took care of Arizona State 72-10 in relentless fashion. This was the only true blowout of the weekend. (Utah got a bye after Oklahoma had to pull out.)

 

Cal will visit Texas after the Longhorns outlasted Notre Dame Friday night under the lights in Austin. The teams were deadlocked at 10-10 when Felix Olazaran and Matt Young burned the Irish on the outside for two important tries. Notre Dame mules over a score late, but Texas held on 22-17. (Cal got a bye to the quarterfinals.)

 

Clemson got some clutch goalkicking from Aaron Keers and a sterling effort from captain Jimmy Rippert to hold off Arkansas State 26-22. It was a tight game all the way through, with ASU coming back with two second-half tries to take the lead, only to see Keers take it back.

Clemson will travel to Annapolis, Md. next week to face Navy, who edged Dartmouth 23-22 in an event more tense game. Navy led 11-0 in the early going but Dartmouth came back to lead 12-11. and then 17-11. But a try through the forwards put the Midshipmen back on top. Dartmouth replied with a try, and Navy replied with one of their own. Navy had chances to extend their lead, and Dartmouth certainly had chances to get the lead back, but the game ended 23-22 for Navy.