Arizona men's club rugby head coach Dave Sitton and his squad did not back down Saturday in the face of losing a 20-year winning streak, as the Ruggers overcame ASU 22-21 at Estevan Park.
The win was Arizona's 21st straight against ASU, dating back to 1985.
With less than five minutes to go in the game, senior wing Aaron Land scampered into the end zone from 15 yards out to score the winning try.
While holding the ball for several minutes in ASU territory, Land found the opportunity and headed straight for pay dirt.
"I just saw some daylight," he said. "I just wouldn't let it happen. There was no way our senior class was going to be the one that lost to ASU."
Sitton agreed, saying the win brought more than its share of suspense.
"I'm not sure which is tougher, chemotherapy or watching today's game," said Sitton, who is being treated for prostate cancer. "But it's a great thing for our guys to finish on an up note. It's been a strange, hard season. But we finished it out 6-6, and now it's just time to start the building process once again."
Arizona made use of the breeze headed toward the ASU end zone in the second half as an advantage in kicking game. Fullbacks, including senior Justin Kunz, began to kick out of the backfield, floating balls into ASU territory with help from the pressuring Arizona forwards.
"This game is all about pressure, and it is very difficult to play defense forever," Sitton said.
After Arizona crept back within four points, several of the rugger seniors used their emotional drive to keep the game within reach - and eventually get the win.
"It's been both a quick and enjoyable four years with a bunch of great guys," said Kunz, the team captain. "This was just the best way to go out."
Arizona (6-6, 4-3 Southern California Conference) struggled early, as the Sun Devils jumped out to a 3-0 lead early in the first half.
Eventually, the Ruggers began to find their niche, as ASU was forced to play defensively itself.
After a kick downfield by Arizona senior Mark Gallo, two ASU defenders collided, springing the ball lose, leaving senior
Nate Eggman uncontested entry into the ASU end zone to give Arizona a 12-3 lead.
After a line out gave possession to the Sun Devils late in the half, ASU managed to switch the field themselves and creep back at the Ruggers, taking a 16-12 lead into halftime.