 "Photo: Jarad Reddekopp")
For four months, the U rugby team scrummed and scratched its way through a tough schedule, a handful of devastating injuries and, lately, general disrespect from the national media.
Yet, the Utes can hardly contain their excitement. That's because the USA Rugby/National Guard Division I playoffs -- the driving goal behind Utah's 13-4 season thus far -- are finally here.
Utah's hard-fought record and second-place finish in the Pacific Coast region earned them the third seed in today's opening Round of 16 against Colorado, winner of the West region. However, starting today, records go out the window and one-game elimination becomes king.
"It doesn't get any better than this," said captain Jake Anderson, who feels that his team is rounding into peak form. "We're all really excited to get going, and it's our time to show what we've got."
The Utes checked out of the regular season ranked No. 5 in the nation, yet many pundits list them as the underdogs against the Buffaloes, who upset No. 2 BYU in February and recently dispatched No. 3 Air Force.
"Colorado is actually considered the favorites according to most publications, but that's fine with us," assistant coach Blake Burdette said. "I think some of our guys thrive with that underdog mentality because they want to go down and prove they can knock off two top teams."
Anderson said he and his team have zero doubts whether they can handle No. 6 Colorado.
"This is absolutely a great position for us to be in," Anderson said. "We're going to thump them. We know their strengths and weaknesses, and we're gonna get crazy on them."
If Utah takes down Colorado this afternoon, it will face the winner of Penn State and Minnesota on Saturday. The higher-seeded Lions are favored to beat the Gophers.
"We're hoping to get Penn State," Anderson said. "Last year, they beat us in the Elite Eight and, yeah, I guess you can say we're a little bitter about it."
Last season, the Lions, playing on their home field in Pennsylvania, outlasted the Utes 33-25, and went on to the Final Four.
"We came out a little bit flat, and it all came down to a few kicks that we missed," Anderson said. "They had home field advantage, and, for Penn State, that's huge. But we want to give them a taste of their own medicine."
Anderson added that playing on a neutral field this weekend -- Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque, N.M. -- should level the competition for all sides.
Utah has enjoyed plenty of success in recent tournament runs, including runner-up to perennial champions Cal in 2002 and 2005 as well as a Final Four appearance in 2006. The only trick this time, Anderson said, is that Utah must avoid looking too far ahead to a possible showdown with BYU in the Final Four in Palo Alto, Calif.
"Don't get me wrong, we're not looking past Colorado," Anderson said. "We know we still have some business to take care of, and we'll get it done."
The Utes will have to do so without All-Americans Andrew Swindle (torn ACL) and Cam Kiser (broken fibula) as well as 6-foot-5, 250-lb. lock Chase Jardine (torn meniscus).
On the bright side, Chance Fivas will be returning to action after spraining both ankles six weeks ago. Utah's bench -- including the stellar play of wing Redge Benheim, lock Nate Morgan, hooker Greg Klc and center Kave Lauti -- has stepped up to keep the Utes from missing a beat.
"Matt Byrd, Mike Harman and Scott Cowley are also making everything happen for us in the middle," Anderson said. "Our back line is really coming together. We've improved our scrum, and Matt Wunderli is doing an amazing job filling in for Cam."
It's no wonder that the short-handed Utes enter the playoffs with as much confidence as anyone.
"People don't think we're going to make any noise in Albuquerque," Anderson said. "But they don't know how much heart we've got."
j.peterson@chronicle.utah.edu
