Already we have a shakeup in the Big Rivers NCR D1 conference and we've only had one game.
OK, two games, but one doesn't count for the conference standings. We can talk about that one first:
Marian looked impressive in a 41-30 victory over Rio Grande in what is a good test before the actual conference games start. Marian built a good lead thanks in part to Tommaso Lorenzetti, who scored three tries. A young bench finished off the game and Rio certainly punished a less inexperienced group for some points late in the game. Eric Reed had a good day up front for Marian and he also scored a try.
As for standings-relevant games, Aquinas pulled off what many might consider a surprise, as they defeated Iowa Central CC 37-28.
Iowa Central CC took a 6-0 lead but Aquinas didn't push it and started to exert pressure, taking points in the first half to tie it 6-6—Archie Fleming doing the honors. The Tritons nudged ahead 9-6, but as the first half came to a close Jackson Andrews capped off a nice movement to make it, with Fleming's conversion, 13-9.
There was still time in the half and Nathan Shaffer's try just as the first 40 ended, with Fleming getting the kick once more, had Iowa Central CC reeling a bit as Aquinas led 20-9. Conventional wisdom is that you don't want to give up a try right before halftime, so giving up two certainly indicated a momentum shift.
The next bit of conventional wisdom is that you then don't want to give up a try right after halftime. But Shaffer went over to make it 25-9. Aquinas extended that lead with some nifty footwork from Sam Whitmore, and then Michael Morales scored. Now it was 37-9.
Iowa Central battled back with three tries in the last quarter of the game. It was an impressive attempt at a comeback, but the hill to climb was too steep.
'We played well in patches but let ourselves down in certain areas, especially towards the end of the game," Head Coach Lance Hohaia told Tommy Gehl at Aquinas Saints Athletics. "We lost some momentum, but defended well overall to close out the game. There are still plenty of areas we can improve on for next week."
