Utah Slams Arizona in PAC Finale
The University of Utah handed the University of Arizona a startling loss in PAC Rugby Conference play, defeating the Wildcats 53-3.
Arizona was looking solid in the conference, standing at 3-1 in conference games that include USC, and 2-1 in conference standings that count. Utah had been up and down, and with one of their wins being a forfeit against Arizona State, it was never really clear how good they were. On Saturday we found out. Arizona did not handle the rain well, and Utah simplified their game plan and pummeled the Wildcats.
Two from Sousley Put IU Past Penn State
Indiana defeated Penn State in a pre-playoff clash between two of the strongest DIA performers in the fall.
As reporter on Goff Rugby Report, both teams were looking to kick-start the meat of their season with this game. Penn State was coming off a 3-0 trip to Scotland, while Indiana had been not playing much of late, but did have their Eagle, Bryce Campbell, back in the lineup. In fact, IU had an all-Royal Irish midfield as Campbell suited up with former Royal Irish flyhalf Brian Hannon, who was at outside center.
Army Comes Back to Defeat Navy
Two late tries from freshman Bailey Abercombie sparked Wast Point in a comeback victory over arch rivals Navy at Army’s Anderson Rugby Complex Saturday.
In a typically physical and tense encounter between the two teams, played before a packed house on a chilly afternoon at the US Military Academy, Army trailed 18-7 at on point, but finally solved the Navy defense lat to win it 24-18. Navy had the ball and the momentum at the end of the gam, and worked their way slowly through close to 20 phases after time was up, but some indecision between two Navy players produced a knock-on, and the game ended.
SCRC 7s Called Off
Severe weather is expected in Tuscaloosa, Ala. for Saturday, and as a result the SCRC Qualifying Sevens Tournament has been canceled.
Organizers said that the likelihood of significant delays due to lightning protocol along with the eventual deterioration of the playing surface is simply too big of a risk for teams to spend significant amounts of money to travel for the event.
The SCRC will continue with the qualifying event next weekend in Columbia, SC with that lone event being used to seed the final tournament in Knoxville, Tenn.
Men DI College Games Mar 25-26
Here are the men's DI college games for the weekend.
We preview Saint Mary's v Cal (Massive Rivalry Clash - Cal Hosts Saint Mary's), and we also preview Army v. Navy (Players Laud Army-Navy Rugby History ), and Penn State v Indiana (Classic Matchup - Indiana v Penn State).
Massive Rivalry Clash - Cal Hosts Saint Mary's
It has to be rivalry weekend as one of the longest-standing college rugby matchups meets up this weekend.
Cal hosts Saint Mary’s, and the game will be on the Pac-12 Networks, live for some and on delay for others. If you’ve got access to any Pac-12 network you can watch online using the Pac-12 Now app. Kickoff is 5pm at Witter Rugby Field at Cal.
Cal comes into the game having won the PAC Rugby Conference with a 5-0 record, but also having lost two games against their other massive rivals, UBC. The Bears have been moving their lineup around and will be without No. 8 Thomas Robles and fullback Troy Lockyear, who are out for the season with injuries.
AIC Hosts Tackle Hunger 7s
This past Sunday, AIC Men’s Rugby hosted their first annual “Tackle Hunger 7s” tournament. This tournament, created to serve as a warm-up tournament for local teams kicking off their spring season, also served the greater Springfield community.
Competing in the tournament were A and B sides from AIC and Western New England University, as well as a side from the University of Hartford and a side from Central Connecticut State University. Rather than pay a tournament fee, each team was asked to collect and bring canned goods to the tournament. Their donations, coupled with the donations of spectators, alumni, and referees helped raise nearly 300 lbs of non perishable food items, or 113 full meals, which were donated to the Springfield Open Pantry which serves the emergency grocery needs of individuals within the Springfield area.
HOA 7s in KC
Eighteen college rugby teams will compete in the Heart of America Classic this weekend in Kansas City, Mo., an automatic qualifier for the CRC 7s invitational this coming June in Chester, Pa.
Of the teams involved, one, Lindenwood University, is already qualified having won the Las Vegas Invitational qualifier earlier this month. The rest are looking to get that golden ticket.
Players Laud Army-Navy Rugby History
There’s nothing like a traditional rivalry, and few rivalries in college rugby quite like West Point versus the US Naval Academy.
Army v Navy means everything to the sports teams of both academies. It doesn’t matter what sport, or when it’s played, or even why, it matters a lot. Beating the other can mean the difference between a good season and a bad one, and with this the 43rd (we think) meeting between the two in 15s, it’s worth noting.
The Rugby Channel will broadcast Saturday’s game live (kickoff around 2:15 pm ET) for free and will be available for servicemembers around the world. www.therugbychannel.tv
Classic Matchup - Indiana v Penn State
Two college rugby teams came out of the fall shining a little bit more than the rest.
That would be Penn State, which won the Rugby East, and Indiana, which won the Big Ten. Both teams are looking for some hardware this spring, with Penn State going into the Varsity Cup and Indiana thinking DIA playoffs. Both are hoping to unseat one of the favorites, and this weekend both play each other.
Their preparation for this non-conference playoff warmup has been different for the two. Penn State took a tour to Scotland and played three games against tough university competition there. Indiana, meanwhile, since their loss at Arkansas State, have been trying (and failing) to find games. The Wheeling Jesuit 7s was called off due to weather, which didn't help things.
UNC Charlotte Takes 2nd SoConn 7s
The Southern Conference held its second leg of its three part series at Wake Forest this past Saturday, with UNC Charlotte again walking away with the Cup.
Charlotte showed a dominant performance in the Cup Final, this time facing off against Furman. Forward Ryan Johns turned in a dominant performance and was hugely responsible for many of Charlotte’s scores. The final score was 24-10.
Appalachian State walked away with the Plate with a big win over Coastal Carolina, 27-5. Western Carolina won the Bowl with a win over Furman’s B side, 24-10. And Wingate beat UNCG 32-12 in the Shield Final.
Arizona v Utah a Must-Win?
Is this a must-win? Maybe, maybe not, but Arizona plays Utah this weekend in the PAC Rugby Conference, and this is a game that has significant DIA playoff ramifications.
Arizona has been playing the entire season with the idea that a 2nd-place finish in the PAC will get the Wildcats a spot in the DIA playoffs. This remains the case, however, with Utah's recent pullout of the Varsity Cup, now both teams are looking for a place in the DIAA playoffs.
So this weekend, Arizona plays Utah. Each needs to win to secure 2nd place, and an automatic place in the DIAA playoffs. But, the DIA rankings matter, too, and a good performance is needed by each team to ensure a good ranking.
So do they feel it's a must-win?
Varsity Cup Makes Changes
NEW YORK – The Varsity Cup has updated its bracket following the pullout of Utah, and the ongoing issues regarding Arizona State.
Both teams are now out of the VC, and will be replaced by Boston College and Utah Valley University.
BC joins the 2017 Varsity Cup after having completed one of their strongest seasons in recent history this past fall, finishing in a standings tie with atop the East Coast Rugby Conference (AIC won on points difference). Utah Valley won the Varsity Cup's DIAA-level bracket in 2015 and is the Mountain States Collegiate Rugby Conference champions.
UVU will take on UCLA, and BC will face Navy in the new bracket.
SIRC Playoff Matchups Set
The South Independent Rugby Conference is set for its playoffs this weekend.
MTSU has won the SIRC North and gone undefeated in the process. Kennesaw State won big this past weekend and had already clinched 2nd in the North anyway.
The big news came from the South, where Central Florida won big over Florida State to move up to 5-3. That would put UCF in at 3rd, except that Florida International, the South winners, fancy themselves that they have a shot at some 7s glory this spring. So FIU has pulled out of the SIRC playoffs to concentrate on 7s.
As a result, Florida State moves to the #1 seed, and UCF moves to the #2 seed.
That sets up the playoffs for this weekend, with Central Florida v Middle Tennessee State and Florida State v Kennesaw State.
Playoff Teams in Pac West Set
The Pacific Western Conference is almost done and the playoff teams have been confirmed.
UCSC defeated Stanford 59-31 to get to 4-3, the same record as Fresno State and Nevada - both winners on Saturday. Santa Cruz has more bonus points, however, and finishes ahead of those other two and clinches 3rd. Nevada defeated San Francisco State 59-31 to get a bonus-point win and finish 4th. Those seeds are set. What isn't set it 1st and 2nd. Those positions will be settled this weekend when UC Davis (6-0) takes on Chico State (also 6-0).
Then the conference will hold a two-day, semifinal-final weekend to determine the conference winner, which will move on to the DIAA playoffs.
