STANFORD, Calif. – California won the PAC 7s Championship on Sunday for the seventh time in the past eight years, overcoming injuries to edge UCLA in the semifinal and barrel past Arizona in the championship.
 
After going 3-0 to sweep pool play on Saturday, the Bears entered Sunday with a tough challenge against the Bruins in the cup semifinal. Cal got off to a quick start with a try in the first minute by junior Marcus Shankland, but lost sophomore Sam Walsh two minutes later to an injury from a questionably high tackle at midfield. Walsh was replaced by Seth Purdey as the Bears came back from a 12-10 halftime deficit to win, 20-19, on a try by Purdey in the final minute.
 
Having lost freshman Alex Brundage to injury prior to Walsh, Cal was forced to rethink its strategy for the final against Arizona, which advanced to the final over Utah. Facing the Wildcats in the PAC 7s final for the third straight year, the Bears started three forwards to play to their physical strengths, and the scheme succeeded. Senior Keanu Andrade pinballed through the Arizona defense for a first-half hat trick while other Bears, including junior Sam Golla, added to the game's physicality.
 
"One of the biggest things that helped us win this tournament was the inexperienced guys' stepping up and getting comfortable in their roles," said Golla. "In the final, we were able to outmuscle Arizona."
 
Shankland added another try in the 10th minute and the Bears kept the Wildcats off the board until UA scored a lone try late in the second frame. Cal went on to win the match 24-7 and exit the tournament with a perfect, 5-0 record.
 
"It was a gutsy second day for us," said head coach Jack Clark. "Because of our injuries, we needed to field a different team and play differently. The team was excellent in adapting. It was a good way to finish the fall competition."
 
The Bears' scoring at the PAC 7s was led by Shankland, with four tries, followed by five players with three each in sophomore Nick Bloom, junior Oliver Sharpe, Brundage, Andrade and Walsh. Three players registered minutes in all five games, including Andrade, Sharpe and freshman Max Schumacher. Schumacher also scored four conversions in 19 attempts while sophomore Jack Gallagher was 8-for-12 in his attempts.
 
Having closed its autumn 7s slate with a 15-4 overall record, Cal now turns its focus to end-of-semester academic responsibilities and preparations for the spring 2020 15-a-side season. The 138th year for the University's oldest intercollegiate sport will be followed by the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, where the United States has qualified for medal contention in Rugby 7s.
 
Scoring Timelines:
 
Cal 20, UCLA 19
 
01:00 Marcus Shankland 5
04:00 Max Schumacher 5
05:00 UCLA John David Finch 5, Eric Naposki 2
07:00 UCLA Shane Barry 5, Shane Barry 2
 
Halftime Score: California 10, UCLA 12
 
10:00 Sam Golla 5
12:00 UCLA Lucas Lacamp 5, Shane Barry 2
14:00 Seth Purdey 5
 
The Team vs. UCLA: Nathan Zylstra, Keanu Andrade, Sam Golla, Max Schumacher, Sam Walsh, Nick Bloom, Marcus Shankland
Replacements: Seth Purdey, Oliver Sharpe
 
Cal 24, Arizona 7
 
02:00 Keanu Andrade 5, Max Schumacher 2
04:00 Keanu Andrade 5
07:00 Keanu Andrade 5
 
Halftime Score: California 17, Arizona 0
 
10:00 Marcus Shankland 5, Max Schumacher 2
14:00 Arizona 5, 2
 
The Team vs. Arizona:  Thomas Spradling, Nathan Zylstra, Sam Golla, Keanu Andrade, Nate Salter, Max Schumacher, Marcus Shankland
Replacements: Oliver Sharpe