First Two Weeks of UMRFC’s Intrasquad Sevens, Ross in the Lead

Jordan Ulmer sucks in defenders before offloading to CJ Stock for the score

On January 17 the first round of UMRFC’s intrasquad sevens games was played. The games were certainly exciting and powerhouses are emerging. Please check our YouTube channel if you want to watch the games for yourself, we even have 2 different views for Games 2-6 on Week 2.

Week 1

Game 1: Mary Sue Coleman 20 – James Earl Jones 19
The Mary Sue’s were coming off of a tough, winless season last year. Their prop-heavy team just didn’t have the speed to match their opponents. But with excellent draft picks such as Tohy Rakotovololona, MSC meant business. Rakotovololona and Sequoyah Burke-Combs were able to get points on the board but James Earl Jones would fight back through Kenny Andutan and sophomore Zack Burns. Burns hit two of three conversions while MSC struggled with the two pointers. However, a fourth try by Mary Sue got them their first victory since 2012.

Game 2: Stephen M. Ross 57 – Bennie Oosterbaan 0
A matchup of past champions turned into a blowout as it was soon realized that Oosterbaan is rebuilding while Ross is in their prime. Pressuring runs by Christian Mentzer have been a hallmark of Ross recently. He bulldozed his way to more than one try. Joel Conzelmann would make six of nine conversions. Conzelmann also hung up great restarts that Cole Van Harn often won. Oosterbaan, short on possession and experience, battled but were outclassed. Shoroush Labuf and Jeff Krasnow participated in their first games as Oosterbaan looks to the future.

Game 3: James J. Duderstadt 28 – Don Canham 12
Game 3 saw a matchup of contenders. Both teams looking to build for a shot at Ross’s title. Duderstadt brings back a full team from last year’s second place finish. Their depth played well, keeping fresh bodies on the field against a Canham team missing CJ Stock. Ulmer and Etheart played well but it wasn’t enough to keep up with Duderstadt’s new addition, Andre Cargill. Cargill attacked well for the Dudes who pulled away late for the win.

Game 4: Mary Sue Coleman 7 – Stephen M. Ross 43
After Mary Sue’s first win, they took their momentum up against the champions. But Ross would score early and remove any doubt of who is the team to beat. Jared Bosma moved the ball well and Mentzer again had powerful runs. Conzelmann and Van Harn were lethal once again with the restarts. MSC wouldn’t go without a fight though. The crowd was definitely on their side and they were able to put in a try late. A good morale booster heading into week two for the Mary Sues.

Game 5: Bennie Oosterbaan 14 – James J. Duderstadt 33
After Oosterbaan’s rough first game, they looked to bounce back against the Dudes. They performed better, winning their fair share of kickoffs and getting a few attacking opportunities. Mark Borowski did his best with the young squad and they were able to put in two scores. Duderstadt put in five though. The Dudes are consistent if not flashy. They communicate well and possess the ball smartly. Showing signs of growth, the Dudes distributed across the squad with John Palladino being a steady hand. Max Arevuo and Cooper Smart also worked well in the backs.

Game 6: Don Canham 37 – James Earl Jones 12
Canham hoped to make up for their earlier loss against the James Earl Jones team looking for an identity. Jordan Ulmer got the Canham’s started with powerful runs and offloads. Albert Foo being a recipient at one point. JEJ got back on the board but were inconsistent throughout. No strong threat emerged and Canham continued to score. The Jones boys will need to find some answers as they are seemingly in a battle for the fourth place playoff spot.

Cole Van Harn brings down CJ Stock

Week 2

Game 1: Stephen M. Ross 33 – James Earl Jones 0

The first half saw a great effort by Jones to keep the ball in Ross territory. Strong Jones possessions and a penalty here and there kept Ross at bay, until fifth-year Christian Mentzer recovered a lost lineout for a try (converted). That remained the only score of the half, despite great play by sophomore Zack Burns who brought the ball deep into Ross territory early and then again when Ross kicked away a turnover. Not one minute into the second half, Chris Padmos found a hole so big that not even speedsters Matt Kasten and Andre McGill could catch him on his 80-meter trip to try city. Following the successful conversion, Jones continued to show promise, but Christian Mentzer capitalized on a loose ball and sent it into Chening Duker’s hands for a try, to be converted by Joel Conzelmann. Mentzer showed his value in sloppy play, later stumbling into the try zone after a disorganized scrum. Jones kept up with excellent defensive pressure, forcing Ross knock-ons, but Chening Duker still managed to flail skillfully into the try zone in the last minute. The try was converted, and the final score was 33-0 Ross.

Game 2: Don Canham 40 – Bennie Oosterbaan 0

The first half proceeded mostly in Oosterbaan territory as they struggled to string together any fruitful possessions. Canham’s defensive press was stifling and forced several errant passes and ruck turnovers, one of which resulted in a Canham try after Jordan Ulmer broke a tackle. For the remainder of the half, Oosterbaan succeeded in keeping play in enemy territory, but still couldn’t find a groove during possession. As the halftime buzzer sounded, Jared Bosma sent the ball to Cooper Smart for a (converted) Canham try, setting the score at 12-0. A minute into the second half, Oosterbaan was unable to stop CJ Stock on a 70-meter run to score, and slippery sophomore Chening Duker soon followed for a try of his own. With the score at 24-0, the Oosterbaan defense continued to bunch up around the rucks, resulting in another Stock try and conversion after Jordan Ulmer drew in two defenders. Oosterbaan’s last-ditch effort in the final minute forced a Canham knock-on at the try line, which was followed by a penalty in Oosterbaan’s favor. Even so, possession was lost to CJ Stock, whose try was ushered in by the buzzer. The final score was 40-0 Canham.

Game 3: Mary Sue Coleman 21 – James J. Duderstadt 29

Most of the first half passed scoreless, until John Palladino punched one in from 25 meters out. The Dudes picked up the pace and soon broke the Coleman defense again, sending Andre Cargill weaving past would-be tacklers from 70 meters out. Both conversions were unsuccessful. The dominion continued with an offload from Max Arevuo to Cooper Smart, which after a successful conversion left the score 15-0 Dudes. Coleman finally got on the board with a try from Jackson Wagner off a 30-m penalty. The first half ended 15-7 Dudes. In the second half, the Dudes showed some spunk early on with a cheeky lineout overthrow to Travis Sawyer, who ran the length of the field and clowned on two tacklers before being stopped at the 5-meter line by Tohy Rakotovololona. Coleman yielded a penalty there, but Duderstadt squandered the opportunity and gave up a 60-meter try after a switch play from Rakotovololona to Joel Conzelmann (who converted).  Coleman had a promising kickoff, but Sawyer fielded a loose ball down the sideline for a well-earned 95-meter try. Andre Cargill’s conversion was good, leaving the score 22-14 Dudes. Coleman responded with a long run from Tohy who made the offload to Cole Van Harn look entirely too easy, resulting in a converted try. Not to be outdone, Duderstadt recycled an effective strategy and sent Cooper Smart on a long run down the sideline for a try. The conversion was successful, and the match ended 29-21 Duderstadt.

Game 4: James Earl Jones 40 – Bennie Oosterbaan 20

Oosterbaan, eager to redeem themselves after the shut-out against Canham, fired out of the starting gate with pace. Not one minute into the first half, sophomore Ryan McDonough scored on the wing following a bad Jones kickoff. As he returned to half-field, an embarrassing conversion attempt took place, leaving the score 5-0. Jones countered with a try from freshman Matt Kasten, whose feline agility duped 2 would-be tacklers. The conversion was good. Jones was quick to put up yet another try by Chris Dyer following a bad Oosterbaan pass, and this too was converted, leaving the score 14-5 Jones. Oosterbaan fielded the kickoff well, however, and veteran David Hiltzik slipped through for a 70-meter try after spotting a weakness in the Jones defense. He attempted the conversion, which was once again pitiful. Shortly afterwards, heated emotions ignited by a high tackle led to some unsportsmanlike conduct and a red card for Oosterbaan, spelling disaster as almost immediately a loose pass was taken by sophomore Zack Burns in the try zone. An impressive conversion brought the halftime score to 21-10 Jones. Oosterbaan’s performance in the beginning of the second half lacked luster, allowing two quick tries from Matt Kasten and one from Zack Burns, bringing the score to 40-10. Oosterbaan wasn’t quite finished, though, as David Hiltzik broke a tackle to meet Big Chris Byer in open field. Like a new wave crashing over a dampened sandcastle, Hiltzik nimbly recovered after contact to regain his footing and resume his course, setting off a series of offloads that ended with a try for rookie Soroush Labuf. The “oohs” and “ahs” of the inspiring show continued as senior CJ Stock (playing for Oosterbaan) cleaned up a stolen scrum with a well-placed boot for the final try of the match. The very same boot failed him for the conversion, and the match ended with a 40-20 victory for Jones.

Game 5: Mary Sue Coleman 0 – Don Canham 43

Canham scored a fierce and skillful try right off the whistle, with Jordan Ulmer offloading to CJ Stock, who also converted. The first half was characterized by strong play from both sides, but the heated battle was interrupted in the third minute when Stock broke the line for another try (this time unconverted). Stock’s third foray into the try zone (set up by Christian Mentzer) was thwarted by Drew Calcaterra and Joel Conzelman, who held him up, resulting in a 5-meter scrum that Canham failed to capitalize on. Canham had one more thread of crisp passing to end the half, but the ball was knocked on in the try zone by Christian Mentzer (leaving the score 12-0 Canham). The second half saw the same skillful open field play and several changes of possession before Matt Kasten turned on the wheels and burned the Coleman line around the wing for a 40-meter try. Coleman continued to fight vigorously, but a turnover in the ruck led to a try by sophomore sub Ryan McDonough, though the conversion failed. Coleman couldn’t seem to find footing and soon allowed Jordan Ulmer to violently jam himself through their defenses. CJ Stock converted the try, bumping the score up to 31-0. Canham’s momentum continued to increase with a try from CJ Stock around the weak side of lost Coleman scrum, and Albert Foo ended the match by sidestepping into the try zone after a turnover. The final score was 43-0 Canham.

Game 6: Stephen M. Ross 33 – James J. Duderstadt 14

The Dudes had a promising start off the Ross kickoff, but an interception at Ross’s 22 by the inscrutable Uygar Ozdemir led to a try for Joel Conzelmann, who successfully converted. Another sobering blow came to the Dudes when Jared Bosma fielded an incredibly bold grubber kickoff, and handed off to Joel for another try. In what was largely regarded as an even cockier move, Conzelmann made the difficult conversion to set the score at 14-nil. Duderstadt got their act together and responded with a try from Cooper Smart, who beat a defender on the wing for a 60-meter try. Though the conversion by Andre Cargill was good, Ross was quick to end the half on the high note with a try from Chris Padmos. The conversion was thankfully no good, leaving the score 19-7 at the half. Duderstadt impressed onlookers with a great start on the second half, quickly sending Andre Cargill crashing through the Ross defense for a 60-meter try. A successful conversion brought the Dudes within one try of the lead. To everyone’s dismay, however, Ross was able to put up two more converted tries (by Chris Padmos and Jared Bosma) before the end of the match making the end score 33-14.