Champions once more

Freshman DuBois and Elken rally Gamecocks to SCRC title.

With less than two minutes to play in the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference 7s Championship Game, the prospects for South Carolina capturing its second consecutive title were dim.

While the Gamecocks took a 14-7 lead into halftime against the University of Tennessee, nothing went right for USC in the opening minutes of the second half.

Very quickly, the Volunteers scored a try to cut the advantage to 14-12. Then another to go ahead 19-14. A minute later, the turnover prone Gamecocks surrendered another try. Ahead 24-14 with two minutes remaining, the UT sidelined roared.

But 7s is a fast and fickle game. And momentum can shift like the wind.

On the ensuing kick-off, freshman Nick DuBois found a sliver of space on the sideline and dashed 40 meters to dot down a try in the corner. The conversion failed, but hope was alive with 30 seconds remaining.

The Gamecocks kicked off to the Volunteers and rushed their offense, trying desperately to force a turnover. Under pressure and scrambling to run a few phases and kick the ball out of bounds, Tennessee cracked.

A knock on.

USC, on the UT 20-meter line, had their chance. A won scrum, several phases and a few broken tackles later, the ball sat firmly at the back of Gamecock ruck two meters from the posts.

That’s when Erik Elken, USC’s massive 6-4, 230-pound freshman lock, picked up the ball and bullied into the try zone to knot the game at 24. Jack Chelly, the Gamecock’s Scottish fly-half, cooly knocked through the conversion and sealed the championship.

The thrilling game echoed last year’s championship contest when the Gamecocks scored on the final play to defeat rival Clemson.

Saturday’s road to the championship game had plenty of potholes.

After dispatching LSU 29-7, the Gamecocks faced a feisty and upstart Georgia team that had twice fallen to USC at the Gamecock Invitational. While Carolina led 7-5, the Bulldogs seized control of the contest after the break and raced to a 19-7 victory.

In the other pool, Clemson smashed through their competition, beating Kennesaw State 48-0, South Carolina B 31-0 and Tennessee 33-0.

After taking care of Alabama 28-0, the stage was set. The Gamecocks were set to face their rival, a squad that bested USC twice this spring (by convincing scores of 17-0 and 27-5) with everything on the line. A win would mean an automatic berth to the Collegiate Rugby Championships (CRC). The loser would likely see their post-season aspirations dashed.

Against the Tigers, the Gamecock offense hummed. Sophomores Peter Blackburn and Quinn Lafferty scored first half trys to help USC to a 12-5 advantage. Clemson answered in the second half to cut the lead to 12-10. But the Gamecocks found an extra gear late. Senior captain Dan Golden and junior Jack van Vliet put the Tigers away late with scores. The final tally: 24-10.

For their part, the Gamecock B-side played exemplary. USC’s reserves dropped games to Clemson and UT (31-7) before rebounding with victories over Kennesaw State (26—21) and LSU (25-5). The Gamecocks tied Alabama 25-25 to finish the day tied with the Crimson Tide for fifth place. All scores are posted here.

“All in all, it was the best day we could have expected,” said head coach John Roberts. “Clemson, Tennessee, and Georgia all have great sides, and the tournament championship was up for grabs. We found a little magic at the end, a great testament to our squad’s perseverance and grit.”

Next up for the Gamecocks (17-4), the CRC tournament, where USC will be placed in the Premiere bracket, which includes many varsity teams.

“We will definitely be punching above our weight class,” said Roberts. “But we enter the tournament knowing that we can compete.”