Student Ruggers Upset Alumni Team

New Mexico Tech's student rugby team spotted the institute's alumni team a 17-5 halftime lead before storming back in the second spell to score a rare victory, 29-22 in the annual 49ers celebration classic. Prior to Friday evening's match, the Ancestors' average margin of victory against the Pygmies was 67 points to 14 over the prior four years. The Tech underclassmen had not defeated an alumni team since 1997.

A customarily sizable 49ers crowd provided a festive atmosphere for the 4:30 p.m. kickoff under perfect playing conditions. The alumni team was once again graced with a diverse group of players returning from points as far-flung as New York to California, and Georgia to Alberta, Canada.

Pygmies (striped shoulders) and Ancestors post-match.

At 14 minutes Karl Grassl drew first blood for the Ancestors with a nifty kick ahead off his knee. The cunning wing stormed ahead to down the ball for an unconverted try and a 5-0 old boy lead. Ten minutes later Ellis looped around the defense for another try and the Ancestors went ahead 10-0.

Soon after the resultant kickoff Pygmy captain Patrick Simons scored a spectacular try from his own 25-yard line. The big center took a pass and sprinted and swerved 50 yards before high-stepping over the last defender and touching down for five points. Seth Daly's conversion attempt went wide and the students trailed 10-5.

Shortly before the halftime break, Ellis fed his Santa Fe teammate James Napier slicing through a gap in the defense. While the ease of the score demonstrated the talent in the alumni side, the young Pygmy starters had succeeded in keeping their team within reach at 17-5.

The students kicked off the second half bolstered by the injection of several rested veterans. David Yazzie, Matt Nelson, and Josh Ulbricht joined the forward pack and Michael Bauer came in at outside center.

President Lopez mysteriously showed up for the shot of the student team

The Pygmies seemed energized and lock Phillip Turner was rewarded for his tireless efforts six minutes after the kickoff with a close-range try near the posts which Simons easily converted to bring the students within 22-12.

The Pygmies continued to build momentum and pressed their Ancestors into a penalty after 11 minutes. Daly tap-kicked the ball and passed to the backs where Harrison found Simons eyeing a gap in the defense. Simons scored easily, converted his own try, and the Pygmies nosed ahead, 19-17.

Midway through the 40-minute half, the Ancestors' big number eight forward, Bruce Denouden of Medicine Hat, Alberta smashed over the Pygmies' line after a powerful buildup by his scrum partners. The kick was missed but the graduates were back on top, 22-19.

Onlookers were treated to a thrilling last quarter as the proud but tiring Ancestors battled a young team sensing the upset. At 35 minutes a Pygmy charge was stopped just short of the line, but Paul Quintana carried on the attack to put the students back into the lead, 24-22.

From an Ancestor scrum at midfield with three minutes to play, Rob Harrison made a near-miraculous catch of a rifled alumni kick, and started a counterattack involving several Pygmy backs. Hanson found himself clear once again and the compact speedster went over in the corner to set the crowd alight. Moments later the student team joined in with the sound of the final whistle.

Pat Simons, awarded man of the match honors by his teammates, will lead NMT to St. Pius Field in Albuquerque Saturday to meet Adams State University, who defeated the Pygmies 19-15 in Alamosa last March 27.