The University of Buffalo and Notre Dame College met up this weekend in a warmup for both teams.

Notre Dame, a still-new varsity program playing in DII, is coming off a loss to Wheeling Jesuit, while UB beat Niagara last week. In an exciting, back-and-forth game, Notre Dame overcame some early penalty trouble to turn an 8-0 deficit into a 14-8 lead. Buffalo came with two tries to lead 20-14, but Notre Dame scored once more to make it 20-19 UB with a couple of minutes remaining.

UB held Notre Dame College out, though, and held on to win 20-19.

Leading the way for Buffalo was lock and captain Colin Tucker, who was stalwart in the tight five, and outside center John Grasso, who scored a try and kept up the tempo even when he was drafted in to play scrumhalf late in the game.

“I think we were good in the contact area, and we did well to capitalize on their penalties,” said UB Head Coach Mike Hodgins. Buffalo’s first try, scored by wing Ike Onwukanjo, came from a tap penalty move after Notre Dame had been given a yellow card. Later in the first half, a penalty out of kicking range was put into kicking range thanks to some Notre Dame backchat.

Falcons Head Coach Brian McCue will want to see that penalty count drop as his team heads into league play. Notre Dame faces West Virginia next week, while Buffalo, having moved up to the Rugby East, plays Ohio State in a non-conference game.

Meanwhile, Ohio State visited Navy in what is now becoming an annual football/rugby doubleheader between the schools. OSU football won 34-17, but Navy won the rugby half of the weekend, 48-10.

Dan Page scored two tries and flyhalf Jack McAuliffe and No. 8 Nick Marmareanu were standouts for the Midshipmen. It was a close game early, but the Navy forwards took control as the game wore on.