Chicago Lions Sevens CCS Las Vegas 2011
Las Vegas, NV- Lions storm to Challenge Cup Series Championship
The Chicago Lions Sevens program traveled to Las Vegas with redemption of a 31-7 final loss last year on their minds. Their on-field performance showed that they would not suffer 2 straight finals losses in Vegas.
Contributions came from every member of the squad, as stellar defense led them to a title. With an aggregate score of 162-21, the Lions team defense separated them from their opponents. In fact, it took till the semi finals for anybody to breakthrough the Lion’s wall and score a try. Led by team captain Eddie “Serious Cat” Bluemel, the Lions defense was organized, aggressive and virtually error free over 5 games.
Pool play started with a familiar opponent, 1823 of Columbus Ohio. The Lions offense started slow, but the defense prevented 1823 from leaving their half of the field for all of the first half and most of the 2nd. Stout defense would lead to a brace of tries apiece for Mark Roberts and Matthew DeGutes, and a try each to Scott Peterson and Lucas Thiem(playing in his first-ever sevens tournament). All the tries were converted save a lone miss from Peterson, Lions win 40-0.
Due to a last minute cancellation by the Dallas Harlequins RFC, the Lions would be without a 2nd pool game and awaited OMBAC, who played 1823 first. The theme against OMBAC would again be defense, as the Lions kept their score sheet clean and would again limit the amount of time their opponents would have the ball across the halfway line. Once again DeGutes and Roberts would cross the whitewash, followed by Jeremy Nash and Lucas Thiem. All the tries were converted to leave the tally at 28-0 in favor of the Lions.
The second day brought the knockout rounds, with the Lions opening their day with a quarterfinal matchup against the East Palo Alto Razorbacks. Despite a rocky offensive start, the Lions would prevent EPA from getting any real moment. The Lions definitely left a few tries on the field in the first half, but an early try by Mickey Franco and yet another try by Mark Roberts would see the Lions leading 14-0 in the second half. An excellent quick hands pass under pressure by Tommy Dolan put the ball at Nash’s feet who scooped the ball up and coasted to the try zone for the nail in the coffin. The Lions would advance to the Semis without having given up a try, defeating EPA 21-0.
In the semi-finals, the Lions would meet a familiar foe in the Denver Barbarians. During the qualification process, the Lions and Barbos met up in the final of the Heartland 7s tournament in Kansas City. That day in KC the lions ran away from the Barbos in the second half to win the qualifier and bring home a $1000.00 dollar check.
The game started poorly for the Lions. While the Lions were busy arguing a call with the referee(shocking since Patrick “Boomer” Twardak was not yet on the field), the Barbarians quick tapped a penalty and executed a simple kick and chase, leading to the first try the Lions gave up in the tournament.
However, the Lions response would be swift and severe. After a quick refocusing, Mark Roberts tallied another try, and another, then Nash. With a lead going into the second half, the Lions kept the pedal to the metal. Another try by Peterson, followed by Nash dotting down twice more to close out the game. Final score 40-7.
As in the semi final, the Lions would face a familiar opponent in the final in Belmont Shore. The history between the 2 teams up to this point had been one sided, with Shore winning recent matchups in a national quarter final as well as defeating the Lions last year in this same tournament.
In the early going, Nash opened up the Lions scoring account with an excellent run, slicing through a gap in the line, beating the sweeper and outpacing another Shore defender to the line. Shore would respond with a side to side movement that would lead them to dot down between the posts and equalize the score. Roberts soon found the corner of the try zone after a blistering run down the sideline by Degutes. Roberts followed his score with a tough conversion from the sideline. Halftime would see the Lions leading 14-7, hardly a comfortable margin given their history versus Belmont.
Not satisfied with his unfinished run in the first half, DeGutes would once again find space on the sideline and turn on the gas. This time there was no stopping him as he centered the ball between the posts.
Goose & the Speed Bump
Soon after, a period of sustained defensive pressure led to a Belmont turnover. The Lions worked the ball up the field, side to side in a methodical fashion leading to an overload well executed by Dolan and Nash, with Nash scoring under the posts to extend the lead.
With victory at hand, the Lions perhaps let off the gas a bit allowing Belmont to close the gap with a long try. Determined to finish strong, the Lions took the ensuing kickoff and moved the ball upfield. A seam in the Shore defense was then exploited by Boomer, who with some smart dummying drew in his defenders and put Thiem away, raising the final score to 33-14. Also of note in the final, and throughout the weekend, was the consistent contribution of Jordan Highberger. He regularly broke the line on offense and kept opponents’ speedsters in check on both days.
A big thanks goes out from the Lions squad to their management team, Coach Aaron Manheimer, Team Manager Patrick O’Reilly, Team Trainer Jeff Farnsworth, whose time was generously donated by Athletico, one of the Lions premier sponsors, and most importantly the Lions supporters on the side line in Vegas!
Lions Squad: Tommy Dolan, Jeremy Nash, Scott Peterson, Eddie Bluemel(c), Mark Roberts, Matthew Degutes, Mickey Franco, Lucas Thiem, Jordan Highberger, Patrick “Boomer” Twardak, Austin Britts, Alistair Miller
