December 10 - Indiana University of Pennsylvania claimed the first 15s national championship in program history Sunday, coming back to beat the University of Memphis, 27-19, at SaberCat Stadium in Houston, TX. In the third-place match, Vermont defeated the University of Northern Iowa, 32-12.
For IUP, the win marks the third national championship in two years. The Crimson Hawks claimed the last two 7s national titles and were 15s runners-up in 2022.
Memphis raced to an early 12-0 lead on the back of two Conor Dempsey tries. The Tiger flyhalf finished off a long team score in the corner, and created the next one all by himself, grubbering and regathering in the try zone from just five meters out.
IUP retorted with two scores of their own to draw level just before halftime. Lucas Maasikas dotted down the first, and the second came after multiple efforts were rebuffed. A few phases after the second penalty in the attacking end, loosehead prop Cam Taylor smashed over from short range to draw level going into halftime.
Memphis fought through misfortune and injury woes in the second half, with Dempsey going out with injury very early. Shortly after the sub, the Tigers regained the lead through a long-range try from wing Tyler Rogers.
He was shown a yellow card for leaving his feet in the ruck, the first of three Memphis cards in the last 40 minutes. Tiger No. 8 Harry Hagan was sent off a few minutes later for a high tackle, leaving Memphis down two men.
IUP capitalized on the power play, scoring two tries in quick succession. IUP fullback Dom Holmes, awarded finals MVP, dotted down the first off a short pick-and-go. Trent Stalling scored the second in the 63rd minute, capping off a long drive from IUP. Tighthead prop Hayden Kovalick punched in the final score before picking up a yellow card in the waning minutes.
