D1A rugby heats up a bit this week with conferences now playing in earnest, and some key statement opportunities around the division.
Rugby East
Leading the way in matchups may well be Navy at Life. The Naval Academy has hardly put a foot wrong this fall but they do know there are more and more challenges coming. Co-captain Ed Soeder has, unfortunately, picked up an injury and won't be in this game, but a very senior-heavy Navy side has experience throughout the squad.
It's hard to hit on one unity within the Midshipmen that is stronger than any other, but the slew of tackles and work in the breakdown done by their back row is pretty astonishing.
DOR Gavin Hickie moved Drew Baublitz from center, where he played last year, to fullback, and the breakaway speed from the former Vienna HS means they punish anyone who kicks aimlessly.
Life comes in a little humbled after a 35-33 loss to Millenia Atlantic and a 47-22 win over Mary Washington. They are starting to find their way, but Life is on the quarter system and starts a bit late compared to other teams, so this isn't the end product. But playing at home, and feeling like maybe we haven't seen their best, they are a bit of a wounded animal.
Friday sees a developing and improving Mount St. Mary's visit a very good Army team that has been pretty impressive. They have varied up their approach, and the result has been, for the most part, some explosive second halves, including last week's 43-8 win over Penn State (10-3 55 minutes in, and 38-5 in the last 25).
How many teams from the Rugby East will make the D1A playoffs? At least three ... maybe four. So these types of games matter ... a lot.
Midwest Conference
McKendree is at Davenport, and the Panthers are in a pretty good place, but they have been tested by Aquinas and, last week, St. Thomas. There's still a feeling that Davenport hasn't put all the pieces together yet.
Meanwhile, Lindenwood gets into the meat of their fall. Two weeks ago the Lions played 7s against the Mexico 7s national team program. Head Coach Josh Macy worked hard to get as many players of his on the field so they could get that experience of playing a national team.
"It was really cool," said Macy. "The combined practices were a bunch of fun. We sent them away with a bunch of data and film. Overall it was a super-cool experience."
Macy does like to mix up his lineup during the fall and he says that while the young players make young-player mistakes, the danger is often what the veterans do.
