In an early-season non-conference match in the South, the Citadel shut out the University of North Carolina-Charlotte 53-0 to put the rest of the Southern Rugby Conference on notice.

Citadel's new offensive approach netted 53 points. Jack Strobel photo.

While this wasn’t a league match, it showed all in the region that the Citadel may well be chasing the likes of UNC-Wilmington and Furman for top spot.

“We have 43 returning players,” said Coach Tommy Duffy. “We are starting to get some notice on campus and we feel we have a good team this year.”

Flanker Alex MacDonald and scrumhalf Mike McGaffic led the Citadel attack, and Duffy said he was pleased to see the team’s new-look offense.

“In the past we’ve been known for a forward-oriented, kind of smashmouth approach,” said Duffy. “This year we worked with the players who stayed in the area over the summer and worked on our back play and our passing. They showed well. We used to have players who, when they were in space, would look for contact and often owe possession. Now we’re learning to attack the space.”

Next up for Citadel will be UNC-Wilmington, and that will certainly be a test of where they are as a program.

Here are the Southern Conference league games: