Aztec's Remain Undefeated

The Aztec rugby team continued its winning ways in the feature matches of Southern California Rugby last weekend. The team hosted both the University of Arizona and Arizona State University in their last home games of the season and won big in both games.

The first game occurred on Friday night with the team facing off against the #16th ranked Arizona Wildcats. The Friday night crowd was the biggest of the year with over 500 students, parents and alumni in attendance. The team did not let the crowd down with a commitment to defense that was superb. Arizona started the game with a series of over 8 possessions and in all of them failed to achieve any measurable difference past the gain line. More often then not big hits were levied out by the Aztecs to set the tone for what was to be a long night for the Wildcats.

After ten minutes the Aztecs finally secured possession and utilizing what has been the team's trademark of repeated possessions, struck first with a try underneath the posts. Shortly there after another try game boosting the score to 14-0. The lone score of the first half from Arizona came when an ill placed ball was scooped up by their speedy winger and had clear distance to the goal line from 50 meters out. The Aztecs rebounded quickly though and worked the ball from side to side in repeated attempts to break the gain line. After a set line out play the forwards worked a rolling maul in from ten meters out to finish off the half. At half time the score stood at 21-7.

Head coach Dan Payne stressed commitment to the win at half and had the team charged for the second half kickoff. The rally worked as the Aztecs quickly moving down field and a nice dummy and scamper over the try line from five meters out by scrumhalf Rudy Salazar moved the Aztec's further ahead. This try occurred at the 1:47 mark of the second half. Arizona regrouped once again though and was able to work a series of plays down the sideline for a try in the corner.

Realizing the Arizona was not going to let down the team rallied for two more trys midway through the game and never looked back. After a series of substitutions and too late to make a real difference Arizona scored their final try. Final score SDSU 42 - UOA 21.

This match was probably the best of the year in Southern California and the best I have witnessed in College Rugby in a long time. Both teams gave it their all. The Aztecs came out ahead though with stellar defense that caused no fewer than 5 Arizona players to head to the sidelines with injuries. Hats off to the entire foward pack and the centers play of Matt Rose & Kenny McKenzie for a job well done.

The second match of the weekend saw the Aztecs take the field on senior day against the 21st ranked Arizona State Sun Devils. This match was over billed though as ASU failed to bring the goods and was overpowered in every aspect of the game. Weak defense by ASU created gaps across the field with the Aztecs taking advantage of them. Needing no second invitation to open prairie the team reeled off 10 trys in a one way track meet. Final Score Aztecs 69 - ASU 0.

The team now stands at 7-0 and is the only team in SCRFU that is undefeated. Along with the record and impressive wins comes an additional movement upward in the Collegiate National rankings to #7.