Middle Tennessee State took control of the South Independent Rugby Conference North with a 44-24 defeat of previously-unbeaten Georgia Southern.
MTSU struck first with a try from Adam Fairchild with the conversion from Coty Baker. Just minutes later Georgia Southern replied to make it 7-5.
In a tense first half it seemed every point would be crucial, MTSU opted for posts on a penalty and inched further ahead 10-5. Then MTSU came right back with a try from Josh Pentecost to make it 15-5.
But Georgia Southern replied again, testing the MTSU defense with some straight-ahead running and exploiting some missed tackles to score and make it 15-12 at the break.
But the second half was MTSU’s, as they made some adjustments and scored three early second-half tries.
Midway through the second period Georgia Southern scored to make it 32-19, but once again MTSU pulled away, scoring two more to make it 44-19.
Georgia Southern got a bonus point by scoring their fourth try, but the five points for the bonus-point win went to MTSU, which now sits at 4-0 in the SIRC North.
The teams in the SIRC South were idle this weekend. Florida International has won four games and is in first place, but it’s likely their 82-7 win over Florida Atlantic will be overturned because FIU used an ineligible player.
That forfeit loss can open the door for Central Florida. The two-time DIAA national champs were upset by FIU earlier in the fall but will be in a better position to catch their rivals if the FAU game is ruled a forfeit.
| South Independent (DIAA) | |||||||||
| North | W | L | T | Pf | Pa | Pd | BT | BL | Pts |
| Middle Tennessee | 4 | 0 | 0 | 168 | 73 | 95 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| Georgia Southern | 2 | 1 | 0 | 111 | 75 | 36 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| Memphis | 1 | 2 | 0 | 67 | 103 | -36 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Kennesaw State | 1 | 2 | 0 | 90 | 78 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Georgia Tech | 0 | 3 | 0 | 54 | 167 | -113 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| South | W | L | T | Pf | Pa | Pd | BT | BL | Pts |
| Florida International | 3 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 29 | 79 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| Central Florida | 2 | 1 | 0 | 122 | 27 | 95 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Florida Atlantic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Florida State | 1 | 2 | 0 | 44 | 63 | -19 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| South Florida | 0 | 4 | 0 | 32 | 197 | -165 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
(FIU over FAU game is under review and not listed in these standings)
