Goff Rugby Report has named Mike Scarcella as the DIA MVP Back of the Fall.

The Iona College center punches above his weight possibly more than any player in college rugby. He’s not small, but he hits massive.

“Mike brings an electricity to the game in attack and defense that was crucial for us,” said Iona Head Coach Bruce McLane, who also coached the NYAC men’s club to three Super League titles. “He definitely could have started on any NYAC team I coached and have an impact. He’s that good.”

A hard-runner, rather than a guy with out-and-out pace, Scarcella was the team’s go-to attacker all season. It’s notable that in Iona’s Bowl Series game against AIC, the halftime score was 7-5 Iona's favor. At halftime, Scarcella left with a shoulder injury, and AIC scored 21 unanswered points.

The Bishop Hendricken product should bounce back from that shoulder injury, and be an outstanding fixture in American rugby for as long as he wants.

Mike Scarcella is our DIA MVP Back for the Fall of 2016.

Where’s Bryce Campbell?

Fans of DIA rugby would surely be wondering why we didn’t pick Bryce Campbell. The Indiana center and captain is one of the best players in college rugby, without a doubt. The main issue in picking Campbell as an MVP for the fall is that he was absent from his team at various national team assemblies and games. Campbell earned his first USA 15s cap this fall, and it is well-deserved. But this award is a college MVP award.

Honorable Mentions

Indiana’s Campbell heads up the list that also includes Mike Dabulas of Penn State, Joel Conzelmann of Colorado State (both at flyhalf), Manny Soto (scrumhalf) at Oklahoma, and Indiana center Tyler Sousley.