BERKELEY - The California rugby team defeated the Brigham Young Cougars 96-12 Saturday in the quarterfinals of the D1A National Collegiate Championships. The Bears scored 14 tries from nine different players as junior Nate Comiskey led the way with his second straight hat trick. Sophomore Filip Edstrom returned from injury, scoring two tries and going 13-for-13 on conversions.
 
Cal struck first in the fourth minute as sophomore Masi Koi passed the ball wide to captain Rand Santos. Santos found Edstrom, who ran in for the try, his eighth of the season, and made the conversion.
 
The Cougars answered back in the eighth minute, threatening on the goal line, and passed the ball wide to Will Pugmire. Pugmire broke two tackles, running ahead for the try. Eli Palmer made the conversion to tie the game at 7-7.
 
The Bears capitalized off a BYU turnover in the 10th minute as Solomon Williams kicked a pass to Comiskey. Comiskey dove ahead for the try, putting the Bears back in front. Quick moves from Santos gave the Bears another try and just like that Cal built a 14-point lead.
 
Comiskey added his second try of the game in the 16th minute and the Bears continued to add to the lead with tries from Seamus Deely, Max Threlkeld, and Comiskey's third try of the game put them ahead 49-12 heading into the half.
 
At the half, the Bears subbed off starters Cade Crist, Brice Muller, Oliver Teague, and Solomon Williams for Jayden Flores, Elliott Lewis, Elias Smith, and Cormac Saint.
 
The Bears scored seven more tries in the second half, highlighted by excellent passing, finding space wide in the BYU defense. Quinn Spieker, who came in for Masi Koi, scored his first varsity try of the season, while Oliver Newall scored a try as time expired giving the Bears the victory.
 
After the game, captain Rand Santos shared his thoughts.
 
"I'm proud of the team for how we performed, but the business is unfinished," Santos shared.
 
I think a lot of guys played well today," vice captain Max Threlkeld added. "It means a lot to get the victory because we put in a lot of effort, and it's always good to win as a group."

"Cal came out and took it to us for 80 minutes," BYU head coach Steven St. Pierre said. "Hopefully our guys will learn from it and come back better next year. But, all the credit to Cal for how they played today."
 
Scoring Timeline:
Cal vs. BYU
4:00 – Filip Edstrom, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
8:00 – Will Pugmire, 5, Eli Palmer, 2 (BYU)
10:00 – Nate Comiskey, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
12:00 – Rand Santos, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
16:00 - Nate Comiskey, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
25:00 – Seamus Deely, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
27:00 – Max Threlkeld, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
30:00 – Will Pugmire, 5 (BYU)
37:00 – Nate Comiskey, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
Half: Cal, 49, BYU, 12
45:00 – Ryan Wenstrom, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
48:00 – Max Threlkeld, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
56:00 – Filip Edstrom, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
61:00 – Oliver Newall, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
63:00 – Elias Smith, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
67:00 – Quinn Spieker, 5, Filip Edstrom, 2
80:00 – Oliver Newall, 5
Final: Cal, 96, BYU, 12
 
Starting XV:
1. Talae Tuimaunei (Tommy Rainsford 54') 2. Cade Crist (Jayden Flores 40') 3. William Schreckengaust (Kimani Laumoli 54') 4. Byron Finley 5. Seamus Deely 6. Brice Muller (Elliott Lewis 40') 7. Ryan Wenstrom 8. Oliver Teague (Elias Smith 40') 9. Solomon Williams (Cormac Saint 40') 10. Rand Santos (Michál de Beer 46') 11. Masi Koi (Quinn Spieker 57') 12. Filip Edstrom 13. Max Threlkeld 14. Nate Comiskey 15. Oliver Newall