Sac State Builds Numbers, Finds Victories
At 2-0 and atop the California DIAA Conference, the Sacramento State Hornets know they haven’t really accomplished anything yet.
Sac State’s comfortable wins over Nevada and Stanford are just a precursor to dealing with Chico State and Fresno State in the future.
“The work we’re been putting in is starting to show,” said Sacramento State Head Coach Steven Seifert. “We’ve starting to get better numbers and because of that we train full team-on-team. Players are getting more contact and getting good trainings in, and that translates onto the field.”
Leading the way for Sac State is captain and lock Miles Brown (who didn’t start vs Stanford), a 6-5, 255-pound powerhouse who has solid high school experience at CK McClatchy.
Wheeling Sweeps Pitt Dome 7s
Wheeling University ran the table at the Pitt Dome 7s over the weekend.
Played at the University of Pittsburgh's inflatable-covered turf field, the tournament is a chance for teams in cold-weather climes to get some rugby in.
Wheeling 31-0 over Pitt
Tries from Lawula Bata, Mohammad Haddar, and Rua Karimazondo, with conversions from Chief Chipfumbu and Bata set Wheeling up for a 19-0 lead at halftime.
Bata scored his second and so would Haddar, with Aschcraf Boutzanfout converting one.
Wheeling 33-7 over Michigan
Jacob Deglow went over before Michigan answered. Just before halftime Josh Blankenship bashed over. Boutzanfout converted both and Wheeling led 14-7 at the break.
A&M Wins Again: Red River Roundup
Texas A&M shut out Texas to clamp a firm hold on the top spot in the Red River Conference.
After posting convincing wins over their first two opponents, the Aggies had to work for it a bit more against UT, but came away 34-0 winners in front of an enthusiastic crowd
A&M Head Coach James Lowrey was less than impressed with the game, however, calling it a "complacent performance."
UT vs A&M is a huge rivalry game and there's plenty of emotion involved, and Lowrey said his players had an opportunity to channel that emotion into a clinical performance. But they played too individually.
"Our forwards were terrific," said Lowrey. "But the backs on the other hand were out of sorts."
Spring 15s A Key Component as Mount St. Mary's Downs UMW
Mount St. Mary's defeated Mary Washington in a non--league spring game that is part of a small trend toward playing more 15s after the New Year for fall-centric programs.
Both college teams have voiced a desire to keep 15s front and center event after the fall, citing the desire to keep more players involved, and also to help more of the players develop their 15s skills.
So Saturday was part of that plan, and a good showing by a Mount St. Mary's team that is working to build on its recruiting of US-based talent. UMW is also building up its younger players.
Close Games All Through Florida College Conference
Florida State edged Central Florida to inch a little closer to the top of Florida's DIAA College Conference.
Two games this weekend in Florida ended up 29-27, which is a little strange. One of those was FSU's victory over UCF, bumping the Seminoles to 2-2 and seeing UCF drop to 2-3.
"FSU played well," said UCF Head Coach Evan Haigh. "But ultimately it is our own continued mistakes that continue to cost us this season. Our discipline was also awful; we we were penalized 13 to 3 in this game so we must get a lot better before we take on the undefeated usf next week, which is our final game."
Anthony Drabek led the defensive effort from Central Florida and captain Mark Carvajal ran a potent attack, but those penalties hurt.
For Florida State, this was an improvement.
California Conference Chase is On
Cal Poly took another step to challenge for 2nd in the California DIA Conference after beating San Diego State 100-0 over the weekend.
Mustangs Head Coach Chris O'Brien wasn't overly celebratory about the result but he did point out that this was an indication of what his side can do in more favorable conditions.
"It was the first game we’ve had on dry soil," said O'Brien, whose team has been hampered by the wet winter on the West Coast (as had everyone). "So it was the first time we’ve been able to put our shape together and we did have a really good attacking shape."
O'Brien added that the Mustangs are at their best when they worry about what they do rather than worrying about the opposition.
Huge Comeback As Life Overhauls Lindenwood
Life University defeated Lindenwood 34-22 in Marietta, Ga. in the latest example of how you can never take anything in the Mid-South for granted.
Lindenwood started the game on fire. Within a few minutes the Lions put Life on the back foot and from a lineout attacked wide. Center Stephin Alberts produced a powerful fend, sucked in some defenders, and hooker Runako Brynard picked up and powered through.
Brynard had a hand in the next try just a few minuted later, diving into a loose ball to create a turnover for Lindenwood and popping an offload to wing Tyren Al-Jiboori, who thundered down the sideline.
Scrumhalf Matteo Peignon converted both on tough angles and then added a penalty to put Lindenwood in a commanding position 17-0.
What to Look at in Upcoming Men's College Games
We talked about Central Washington's huge step forward in beating Saint Mary's, but now there's the follow-up story.
The Wildcats have to show well this weekend in a double-dip with British Columbia's Trinity Western, and Whatcom County's Western Washington University. These are expected wins, but ... you never know. Saint Mary's, meanwhile, will want to rebound against UCLA in Los Angeles.
For their part, UCLA a 50-13 loss to Cal. That was a game in which the Bruins showed some grit, said Head Coach Harry Bennett.
"We competed heavily in the first half and ran out of steam in the last 20 minutes," said Bennett, who needed his tight five to run the full 80, which is something many teams don't have to do. Cal scored 26 points in the final 25 minutes, so Bennett has a point.
Is Sevens-Only College Spring Losing its Luster?
Is there a trend away from 7s in college rugby?
In one sense, the answer to that question is: "obviously not." A huge number of D2 and Small College teams are playing 7s this spring, looking to compete in the CRC in the DC area (Germantown, Md.) at the end of April.
That isn't really changing much.
But elsewhere? Well, let's have a look:
1. Rugby East publishes the teams that have registered for their 7s tournaments. Two things about this. The first is that half of the Rugby East is formerly the Chesapeake Conference, and their commissioner is also from the Chesapeake. The Chesapeake annually held a series of tournaments, as many as five or six. So you'd think they would follow the same model. Instead, Rugby East has three tournaments.
Central Washington Makes Another Statement
Did Central Washington just make a claim to be ranked #1 in DIA?
Probably up there in the mountains of Ellensburg, Wash. it doesn't really matter. What matters is they are putting in performances.
The latest of those was a 29-26 victory over Saint Mary's ... at Saint Mary's. That doesn't happen too often. Central had actually never beaten the Gaels before. This was following on from a victory over UCLA ... at UCLA and a victory over UBC ... that's right, in Vancouver.
CWU Head Coach Todd Thornley is quick to point out that this is just a step in the journey, not the completion.
Wild Games Once Again in Florida Collegiate Conference
With Florida DIAA College Conference leaders South Florida getting a bye this weekend, USF could sit back and watch the rest of the league go at each other.
Which is exactly what they did.
Two of the games were one-pointers, with Florida edging past Florida Atlantic 18-17 and Florida International coming back to defeat Florida State 34-33.
Florida State struck early, cutting up the middle after a lineout-and-maul. But the Seminoles committed a holding-on penalty right off the restart, FIU took the lineout, were stopped, but the play was called back for an earlier penalty. The Panthers then scored off a quick tap. FSU went right back to get into scoring position and as they seemed ready to score were awarded a penalty try now led 14-5.
DIA Latest: CWU Headlines
Central Washington's 29-26 defeat of Saint Mary's headlines the DIA results of the weekend.
The Wildcats ut Saint Mary's under pressure throughout the game and even when they saw their lead disappear, responded with intensity to regain the lead. This was CWU's first-ever win over Saint Mary's.
Oscar Treacy got the Wildcats on the board in the 17th minute with a try, but perhaps the biggest part of that was a goalline stand a few minutes earlier to keep the Gaels out.
The try itself came off a bit of a freak play. Flyhalf Ollie Cline popped a kick from just inside his half that bounced into touch. Before a 50-22 could be called, the Gaels opted for a quick lineout, the throw rolled into touch, and Treacy, on the chase dove on it. Try given and a 5-0 lead.
BYU Over Arizona in Intense Encounter
BYU won a very competitive clash with Arizona 38-18 in the second match of their tour into the desert.
Arizona led early from a snipey try through scrumhalf George O'Brien and then a penalty goal from fullback Matteo Berenger. An offsides penalty against Arizona led to BYU's chance to answer. They took the lineout and prop Billy Tenney popped off the back of the maul to score.
BYU Downs GCU in First Game of Arizona Trip
BYU won the first game of their two-match tour of Arizona, beating Grand Canyon University 64-12 Thursday night in Phoenix.
Tayson Hammer scored four tries in the game and logged a total of 34 points in the Cougars' victory.
For GCU, this was a quick turnaround after dropping a similar score—69-7— to Cal on Saturday.
"Tough five days for our squad," said GCU Head Coach Sean O'Leary. "And Saint Mary's is next! We wouldn't want it any other way for these young players. We need to play these teams to know how to beat these teams."
Hard lessons, added O'Leary, but important ones for a gameday 23 that included 15 freshmen and sophomores.
Major Matchups in Men's College Action
So much is going on in this weekend in college rugby.
BYU is touring Arizona and plays Grand Canyon on Thursday night and the UA Wildcats on Saturday.
Both GCU and Arizona are coming off good wins. Arizona's over Utah in Las Vegas was quite comprehensive.
(Photo Linda Brothers Broadgauge Media)
The chase for placements in the California Conference continues with a very solid Cal Poly playing a very solid UC Santa Cruz.
