Navy held off a determined Kutztown University team 26-22 Saturday in a DIA inter-conference meeting.

Given that both teams were ranked in the top 10 by both Goff Rugby Report and D1A Rugby overall, both with Navy slightly ahead, this was expected to be a close one. Despite losing, Kutztown did much to justify its high ranking.

The game began with Navy putting Kutztown under pressure, but it was KU with the first points, working the ball nicely through several sets of hands to set up scrumhalf Kekoa Kauwe. The score game from a movement that began deep in their own end.

Navy battled on and about seven minutes before halftime looked set to score. Kutztown hallted the attack, but did it illegally, with an intentional knock-on. Penalty try, and the first haf ended with the teams deadlocked 7-7.

The second half started with Navy striking first with Joey Hobbs taking it over the line in the 42nd minute after a period of excellent forward play by the Midshipment. Kevin Strehle converted, making it 14-7.

Kutztown retaliated and camped out in the Navy end of the field. Eventually the Navy defensive stand gave way and  prop Tenton Rogers powered over to make it 14-12. The Bears came right back and earned a penalty, which flyhalf Thorne O'Connell put over to nudge his side ahead 15-14.

That lead lasted only a few minutes, as from the restart Navy attacked and put center Erick Bleakley through for a try. The conversion was missed, and Navy led 19-15.

With four minutes left to play, Kutztown’s D'Montae Noble quick tapped a penalty and zipped over for the try, putting Kutztown in the lead. O'Connell converted and that made it 22-19 Kutztown.

One more shot for Navy. The Midshipmen exerted some pressure in the scrums and earned several penalties there. But the scrums were in the middle of the field, and Navy needed to break through. With no time left and a penalty advantage, Strehle decided to risk a kick over the top. With the penalty advantage it was basically a free play, and it paid off. The kick sailed into in-goal, and Kutztown wing Aaron Gray and Navy reserve wing Denver Fuller chased. The ball took a wonky bounce, as rugby balls often do, wrong-footing Gray.

But Fuller was there to dive, catch the ball, and touch it down before he or the ball rolled across the dead ball line.

See video of the try here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1209116169282069

Try Navy, and with Strehler's touchline conversion, a dramatic 26-22 victory.

“We did our homework on Kutztown, but they proved that they are a very dangerous team," said Navy Director of Rugby Gavin Hickie. "We still have plenty of areas to work on, but the team is evolving and growing and today was a gutsy performance in a very tough place to win. I’m happy for our boys and that their hard work in training is starting to show.” 

It was a thrilling end to an excellent game that indicates both that Kutztown is for real, and that Navy is very strong.