Kutztown University got a last-second try to beat Notre Dame College 26-24 and win the Battle For The Border 7s on Saturday in Youngstown, New York. In doing so, the Bears have now won qualifiers to compete in both the USA Rugby College 7s National Championship in May and the CRC Invitational in June.

A repeat competitor at the CRC, Kutztown would likely have been invited again anyway before winning the CRC qualifier at the Las Vegas Invitational in March. KU head coach Gregg Jones then stated his goal to also play at the USA Rugby event in Glendale, CO, and received no objection from CRC organizers.

“We’re playing well," Jones said. "We’re looking forward to playing at USA Rugby nationals and the CRC, and we’re always looking for more challenges."

• Qualified For USA College 7s Championships So Far: Nevada, Arkansas, Western Washington, Arizona, Florida International, Kutztown, South Carolina.

• Number of Men D1 Qualifiers Remaining: 5

• At-Large Spots Remaining: 4 

But all of that was in some doubt since Vegas, because Dmontae Noble, Kutztown’s most dangerous attacking player, broke his hand in the LVI was told he might be out for six weeks.

Three weeks later, Noble was asking his coaches to participate in practices ahead of the Battle For The Border, hosted by the South Buffalo Rugby Club at Fort Niagara State Park.

After getting the OK from his surgeon, the sophomore resumed practicing with the Bears and clinched the tournament title for them with the game-winning try against NDC. Altogether, Noble led all players with seven tries in five games.

Kutztown actually lost a pool game against Notre Dame College—naturally also on the final play—but dispatched Buffalo, Michigan State, St. Bonaventure 2nds, and Michigan to make the final on a brutally cold day.

Led by the expressive Noble and the tenacious Keegan Barnes, who scored five tries on the day, the Bears earned a little bit of payback to edge out the Falcons for the win, making it 11 tournament victories in the last 12 for Kutztown.

“We’ve won a lot of sevens tournaments, but we haven’t won the big one yet," Jones said. "And that’s what we want to do.”