Knoxville Rugby Football Club

MTSU tops rival Nashville in 7s final

December 4, 1994

Water and December weather in East Tennessee don’t mix.

A Middle Tennessee State University player found that out the hard way at the third annual Santa Claus 7s on Dec. 3, 1994.

Seems the poor fellow drank a gallon of water trying to make the necessary 200-pound weight requirement.

He didn’t – and felt miserable the rest of the day. His teammates ended up feeling fine, dispatching Nashville in the championship.

Prelims

Nashville emerged from pool play as the top seed, going 3-0 and outscoring its opponents 97-5. MTSU was seeded No. 2 after going 2-0 in the prelims.

Nashville had a quarterfinal bye and then dropped the University of Tennessee in semifinal play by a 29-12 count. MTSU slugged Knoxville’s first side 26-7 in the other semi.

Final

MTSU struck first when prop Jay Johnson fed hooker Brandon Sentell off a loose ball to go up 5-0.

Moments later, MTSU center T.J. Westerman exploited an overload and put wing Brian Savasta away for a 40-meter try. Flyhalf Clete Ledford converted for a 12-nil lead.

Westerman chipped ahead following the kickoff, allowing Sentell to beat the cover and touch down his second try. Ledford converted as MTSU led 19-0 at the break. Savasta later added his second score and Ledford converted to end the final in MTSU’s favor at 26-0.

MTSU                      Nashville

Johnson         1       Caviness

Sentell            2       Johnson

Lee                  3       Gregory

Hensley           4       Huffstickler

Ledford           5        Haverstick

Westerman      6        Craig

Savasta            7        Brooks

Ref: Rick Knowles

Johnson City tripped up Knoxville’s second side in the consolation final.