The ACRC Bowl Series games are done.

 

On Friday, Boston College, led by Danny Schatzman and Joey D’Antonio pulled away from a tough Iona team to win 29-19. The game was 22-19 until late. More here.

 

Texas State faced off with NC State and the Wolfpack, sparked by scrumhalf Garrett Murphy, won 63-7. More here.

 

On Saturday, the day began with Life University’s JV team defeating Western Michigan 42-10. 

 

The highest-scoring and perhaps most thrilling game of the day was AIC v. Bowling Green. In a game that AIC led the entire way, Bowling Green turned a 24-0 deficit into a game that was as close as 41-40 late. AIC got the last word, and held off the Falcons 46-40. More here.

 

Kutztown put in an impressive performance to down Michigan 43-17. And then in the closest game of the day, West Virginia’s inability to kick conversions and Stony Brook’s tenacity made for a 21-20 Stony Brook win.

 

West Virginia scored early to lead 5-0 but Stony Brook came back when they pressured the Mountaineers and then ran a quick tap. Dan Lyons went over and PJ Abelein’s kick was good to make it 7-5.

 

WVU scored once more to take the lead 10-7. But then Abelein intercepted a bobbled pass and raced the length of the field to score. He converted the try as well and Stony Brook led 14-10.

 

West Virginia punched it ahead once more. The broke through on the left, got a penalty, took the lineout, and mauled it over. Then Logan Reece scored to make it 20-14. WVU scored out wide on every try and it hurt them, ultimately, as the field at the Charlotte Rugby Athletic Center is very wide. 

 

WVU led late, but only by six, and it wasn’t enough. After a long period of pressure, the Seawolves kept bashing at the WVU line. Eventually they earned a penalty and Phil Salter tapped and squirmed over. Abelein added the extras, and Stony Brook won 21-20.

 

Following that game was a bit of a blowout. UMass, led by outstanding performances from Devin Ibanez, Alphonsus Preza, and Todd Theodat, shut out North Texas 46-0.

 

And then in the two top-ranked games, Life University outpaced a hard-hitting Army team 53-19 with wings Harley Davidson and Duncan Van Schalkwyk coring twice each. 

 

And in the last game of the day, an intense in-state rivalry match between ACRL winners Clemson and SCRC winners South Carolina was as physical as you’d expect. But Clemson played a wider, faster game, and once they fell behind, USC had trouble working their way out of their own end.

 

Sophomore fullback Aaron Keers was excellent with his goalkicking, converting all four tries and adding four penalty goals as Clemson won 40-14.

 

 

ACRC Bowl Results

Boton College 29 Iona 19

North Carolina State 63 Texas State 7

Life University JV 42 Western Michigan 10

AIC 46 Bowling Green 40

Kutztown 43 Michigan 17

Stony Brook 21 West Virginia 20

UMass 46 North Texas 0

Life University 53 Army 19

Clemson 40 South Carolina 14