Two 3-0 teams face off tonight in the Rugby East, with Penn State hosting Army at University Park.

Both teams come in with new head coaches - although at least Matt Sherman has been on the job for some weeks at West Point; Penn State’s new guy, Blake Burdette, has been in town only since Monday.

“I think Blake coming in is really good for the energy of the program, and guys are really receptive to what he’s brought in already,” said Penn State's Jonathan Swart. “It’s exciting what we’ve done so far, but also to think about what’s to come.”

Both Burdette and Sherman were collegiate All Americans who went on to play for the USA - Burdette as a prop and hooker, and Sherman as a flyhalf and center. Both now are eyeing a Rugby East title.

For Sherman, he was just happy to see his team tested last week against Wheeling Jesuit after two big shutouts.

“It was a tough game for us,” Sherman told Goff Rugby Report. “Wheeling Jesuit were able to get behind us a couple of times early in the second half and were strong at keeping the ball alive and finishing some opportunities. Our response on the day was not what we would have liked, we got flustered and lost our way for much of the second half, and this is something we've been working on this week.”

Of course, Army still bounced back and found a way to win, which is what tough games are all about. And sometimes you find out about some players - Andy Sullivan’s spark off the bench at fullback was one of those.

Meanwhile, Penn State has had its share of tough games, including Wheeling Jesuit, and AIC (where they lost in a preseason effort), but flashed past West Virginia 75-5 last weekend.

“We just need to keep working on the things we’ve been working on,” said Swart. “We need to play as a team and we know it’s going to be tough against Army. We’ve all excited about the game.”

Sherman said he expects a difficult encounter at Penn State.

“They look to have a lot of experience, size, and athleticism, are well organized and coached, and have a

strong halfback pairing directing the team,” said Sherman. 

So that’s it, a pick ‘em game on Friday night between two very solid rugby teams. But it’s not for all the marbles. Neither team has faced off with Kutztown yet. KU hosts St. Bonaventure this weekend, with West Virginia at Iona. Kutztown faces Army on October 24 and Penn State on November 7, and it could be those games that finally figure it all out for us.