The next day’s National Collegiate Rugby Division III quarterfinal against the Orediggers would be a different story. It was sure to be a tightly contested affair. The regular season match up between the two sides ended with a narrow seven-point victory for Tech, but that was at home and a full two months earlier. And the New Mexicans had lost a number of key players to injury: scrumhalf David Vaquera (concussion), flanker Leon Sutulov (concussion), and lock Ben Medve (ankle sprain). NMT would have to play with only two reserve players.

The match was deadlocked for the first twenty-eight minutes. NMT had most of the possession, but School of Mines’ defense seemed unbreakable. Then the Orediggers’ winger was sent off with a ten-minute yellow card for a high tackle. That left an opening in the defensive live for Cowan to weave his way to the try line.

Despite multiple promising attacking phases by the Techies, the half would end with School of Mines in the lead. The Coloradoans capitalized on poor discipline by NMT to kick two three-point penalty kicks (the sport’s version of a field goal).

The second half started with another yellow card, again for a high tackle. But this time it was Tech’s winger, Bishop Ortega, who would have to sit out. School of Mines then twisted the knife, scoring two tries during their ten minutes with an extra man advantage. The Coloradoans’ previous one-point lead now stretched out to thirteen.

Colorado School of Mines continued to smother the New Mexicans’ attack, but Tech’s veteran players grew emboldened and soon found the chinks in the Orediggers’ armor. NMT’s lineout had misfired most of the match, likely due to hooker Lucas Chavez having to throw the ball in while suffering from a broken finger. Inside center Nick Hutt smartly began opting for “quick tap” restarts after Colorado penalties, rather than kick for the sideline. He made several long breakaway runs before finally finding the try line in the 70^th minute.  

The final score came when prop and team captain Niko Crosato found himself in open space with speedy winger Akong Chungong on his outside. Sensing that he didn’t have enough gas in the tank to run it in himself, Crosato kicked a “grubber” along the ground to Chungong, who touched the ball down for five more points.

Although the New Mexicans were ahead in the try count, none of NMT’s conversion kicks made it between the uprights. Final score: 18-15. Colorado School of Mines clinched a semifinal spot in Houston. New Mexico Tech went home with the western regional second place trophy.

“We didn’t lose,” clarified head coach Jason Oliphant afterwards, “we ran out of time.” Such is sport. No matter which side is stronger in a game’s final minutes, there’s no arguing with the match clock. Oliphant further commended his players’ discipline in combining their rugby commitments with their scholastic demands. “We’re incredibly proud,” beamed Oliphant, “they maintained their academic excellence…we had guys doing homework and CAD drawings during team meetings.”

Sunday’s defeat to Colorado School of Mines was New Mexico Tech’s only loss for the fall season. The team will regroup in January to begin their preparations for the spring “sevens” campaign. This rugby variant features seven, rather than fifteen players, on each side and thrilling seven minute halves.