Kings Point, Stony Brook Dominate in EmpireStony Brook and Kings Point are on a collision course as both won big this weekend in Empire Conference play. Led by two tries from Josh Raines and tries from Tim Llull and Steve McQuire, Kings Point shut out Syracuse 24-0. It was a very rainy and wet day through much of the Northeast, which kept some scores low. But the Merchant Marine Academy did enough, shutting out a struggling Syracuse squad to go 4-0. Also 4-0 is Stony Brook after a 45-17 defeat of Brockport. Phil Salter scored three tries for the Seawolves and redoubtable prop Jimmy Sheridan as well as Bryan Michel also touched down.
Big Ten Latest - Bunched at TopWisconsin lost but held onto 1st in the Big Ten, but the Badgers have three tough teams bearing down on them now. In a tight, exciting game, Wisconsin were edged by Michigan 32-27. Michigan took an early lead 3-0 thanks to captain Joel Conzelmann, but Ross Heginbottom equalized. Then Jack Goss set up Jack McGinnity for the go-ahead try for the Badgers. But Michigan would answer through Channing Duker - converted by Conzelmann. Once against Wisconsin would take the lead, with captain Dan Gaenslen going over. Heginbottom converted once again and now it was 15-10 Wisconsin. The game went back and forth like that, with each team scoring in turn. The crucial moment came with the score 22-20 for Michigan.
KU, Penn State Win Big in Rugby EastThe top dogs howled a little louder Saturday in the Rugby East as Kutztown and Penn State won big. Kutztown defeated Iona 72-0. “There’s nothing to say except two completely different calibers of team,” said Iona Head Coach Bruce McLane. Kutztown club president Niku Kruger said his team was feeling confident going into the game especially after their defeat of Wheeling Jesuit. And while the Bears have been solid for some years, the addition of Nu’u Aiava and Vetekina Malafu has really helped. “Both of those guys are just electric and can beat you with just two or three meters of space,” said the scrumhalf. “They’ve really charged our offense.” Meanwhile, Penn State won big as well, beating St.
Clemson Powers On
Clemson moved to 3-0 in Atlantic Coast Rugby League play with a708-5 defeat of NC State.
The Tigers gave up their first points of the season, but still won convincingly.
Aaron Keers had a big day on the scoresheet, kicking seven conversions, two penalty goals, and scoring a try for 25 points all on his own.
Stuart Harr, Keers and Ben Goulding scored first-half tries for a 20-5 lead.
Then the floodgates opened with James Rippert scoring, and then Thomas Rippert scoring twice, before Jason Damm, Andrew Dommel, Nick Richards, and Ryan Sullivan finished it all off.
Clemson leads the ACRL with a 3-0 record, and wait to see if Maryland van beat 1-0 Virginia Tech to join the Tigers atop the ACRL.
Air Force Men Down Navy
Playing on the Terrazzo in the middle of the Air Force Academy campus, Air Force defeated Navy Friday afternoon in a non-conference clash between the rival service academies. Led by two tries from No. 8 Garrett Jameson and two from open side flanker Greg Search, the Zoomies were just a little more polished than the Midshipmen, who had not played as much of late. Air Force ran out 38-26 victors, setting them up for a possible sweep of the service academies as they face Army later this season. “What we wanted to do was work through the phases,” said AFA Head Coach Joe Muehlbauer. “We have been able to rely on our athleticism against some other opponents, but we knew that wouldn’t work against Navy.
OU, A&M, Texas, Baylor Face Off in Red River
Texas looks to its home opener in the Red River Conference this weekend, as they host Baylor following a workmanlike 27-0 shutout of TCU last week.
The longhorns were supposed to have opened up conference play a month ago, but Texas Tech canceled. Still the Longhorns should be in comfortable position this early in the fall.
“In Texas every game is a rivalry,” said Head Coach Chris Hopps. And certainly Baylor qualifies. “I think these teams are improving and this is a competitive conference.”
Leading the way for the Longhorns is senior captain Tyler Hayes, who has been getting a serious look from scouts at 7s.
“He makes us tick,” said Hopps. “It’s his commitment to fitness and how hard he works that is really the example.”
Men DI Weekend - Our Picks
Here are the Men's DI college games this weekend and out picks.
Links to previews will be posted, so check back.
We have a few more previews to post. Top matchups include Navy v Air Force, Texas A&M v Oklahoma, Iona v Kutztown, Wisconsin v Michigan, South Carolina v Florida, and one Sunday, Princeton against Dartmouth. Note last time we did this we were horribly wrong on a few games, so check back to see how we did this week.
Navy Men Visit Air Force for Shea Cup
The US Naval Academy Men’s Team is in Colorado Springs this Friday to take on Air Force in a Military Academy rivalry game. This is an important event in part because this year something is happened that should happen every season, as all three academies are playing each other. Navy plays Army every season, and while a date hasn’t been set, it’s expected to happen. And Air Force already has a game penned in at West Point. So this is the opening salvo in a three-team rivalry. Air Force has looked very strong in convincing defeats of New Mexico and Colorado State. Calvin Johnson has caused defenses all sorts of problems in midfield, while their forward pack is good one through eight. Navy has not had a lot of games, as Head Coach Mike Flanagan has them on basically a one-game-a-month schedule in the fall.
Oregon State Hosts 7s Tournament
Oregon State University hosts the second in a series of 7s tournaments for college teams in the Pacific Northwest.
Last week at Western Washington University the teams were somewhat humbled by a strong Canadian contingent that finished 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th. In the defense of the American teams, those programs have been on the field more this fall, are varsity programs, and are, for the most part, essentially magnet schools for athletes.
But still the message was there - there’s a higher level to be achieved.
This week, with two tournaments on the dockets - one in Corvallis, Ore., and one in Boise, Idaho, the Northwest teams are split.
At Oregon State, the hosts field two teams, as do the Oregon Ducks. Washington, Western Washington, Willamette, and Pacific also send teams.
Men DI College Rankings Week 4
In this the latest Goff Rugby Report Men's DI Rankings, which covers DIA, DIAA,and Varsity Cup, we see almost no change. This is due to two things: 1) a lot of the top-ranked teams aren't playing, and 2) the ranked teams that did play had relatively easy games.
The games that involved ranked teams were few and far between, and went as expected. Only two teams made major moves, as Air Force vaulted to #21 from #35 after an impressive win over Colorado State, and Notre Dame moved from #32 to #26 after a second-straight strong performance.
We wondered about moving Arkansas State up for beating Glendale, and in the end just couldn't quite do it. Perhaps that's weakness. But we will see ASU play Davenport later and Life play Lindenwood later, so that could prompt some shifting up top.
DIA Rankings Week 4
The USA Rugby DIA Rankings show very little change, although the voters gave a boost toe Wheeling Jesuit despite a loss, and moved Wyoming into the Top 20.
Canterbury D1A Top 20 - Week 4
1) Saint Mary's (1)
2) Life (2)
3) Kutztown (3)
4) Lindenwood (4)
5) Army (5)
6) Cal Poly (6)
7) Penn State (7)
8) Davenport (8)
9) Air Force (9)
10) Michigan (10)
11) Wheeling Jesuit (15)
12) Colorado State (11)
13) Oklahoma (15)
14) Santa Clara (12)
15) San Diego State (13)
16) Indiana (16)
17) Arizona (17)
18) Wisconsin (20)
19) Colorado (18)
20) Wyoming (NR)
Contrast of Styles in ACRL Matchup
A clash of styles highlights the Atlantic Coast Rugby League this weekend when Maryland takes on Virginia Tech Saturday.
While Clemson is looking to push to a 3-0 record against NC State on Friday, the game of perhaps greater interest is the Terps v Hokies clash on Saturday. Maryland is 2-0, having scored 164 points to zero in their two league games. Their approach seems to be mostly about an overpowering offense. Meanwhile Va Tech is 1-0 having beaten North Carolina 14-0. Their approach is about defense.
NSCRO Latest - Who Has Started Strong?
Small Colleges are entering the meat of their fall season as some of the top programs poke their heads over the parapet.
Defending national champions St. John's started their season with a non-conference win over DIA team Minnesota, and they have backed up that result with victories over Gustavus and, most recently, 61-12 over Minnesota-Morris. That puts SJU squarely atop the Golden Prairie Pool of the Minnesota league. Meanwhile, in early days yet, St. Thomas and Wisconsin-River Falls share the lead in the River Bluffs pool.
Stony Brook Revving UpAfter an impressive 70-12 defeat of Binghamton Saturday, Stony Brook University stands at 3-0 in the Empire Conference, just behind Kings Point thanks to bonus points. The two teams will face off October 11, but first Stony Brook will have to get through Brockport, and Kings Point faces Syracuse. Head Coach Jerry Mirro said his squad started slowly this year, hence the tight 24-16 defeat of Colgate in Week 1. But they have been improving. They handles a big, physical Binghamton team that was probably hit hard in its depth thanks to the Jewish holiday. Out wide, Stony Brook is beginning to get dangerous. “In our backline play I am extremely happy,” said Mirro.
Rhode Island Defeats Norwich
There was no rest for the weary Saturday as the Norwich University Cadets, after consecutive matches against conference rivals Coast Guard and Vermont, visited the University of Rhode Island for what was expected to be a hard fought contest, and the match lived up to its billing.
