In a wild and dramatic game that delivered all you'd expect of an in-conference game between the #10 and #11 teams, Lindenwood-Belleville held off Northern Iowa 35-33 to win a crucial WIIL South game.

The game came down to the final second, with UNI getting a penalty kick attempts that, had it gone over, would have won the game. The kick sailed wide, and Lindenwood-Belleville held on.

The Lynx led early after a long run from Nick O'Brien. But UNI replied to make it 7-5. Anthony Ferrera powered through to give Belleville a 12-5 lead, but UNI would't go away, and tied it. The game started to become tighter and points were obviously at a premium. UNI missed a shot at goal, and then Lindenwood-Belleville added two tries and a penalty to lead 25-12 at the break. The teams traded tries in the second half, and after another L-B penalty, it was 35-19 to the Lynx.

But Northern Iowa mounted a stirring comeback, scoring two late tries to come within two. At that point, Lindenwood-Belleville was flagging and continued to commit penalties. UNI had multiple opportunities to kick a penalty to win it, but instead opted to work the ball closer and wait until time was up to take the penalty attempt. It was sound strategy, but th kick missed.

With his starting flyhalf on on drill with the Marine Corps reserves, and his starting prop and starting center injured, LIndenwood-Belleville Coach Pat Clifton needed his remaining players to hold on. They were very thin up front, and were forced to basically run the starting 15 as long as possible.

As a result, the fresher and deeper Northern Iowa team also took the game.

"We realized that our forwards were on a different level and we were somehow better conditioned than them," said UNI Club president Chris Aguero. "Our forwards kept hammering the ball and they got kind of desperate and committed penalties. It didn't go our way, but it was the best game of rugby we've played in all year, for sure."

In the end the difference-maker might have been Ben Martin, who kicked well for points, and on a penalty, while UNI was setting up for a kick to touch, popped a high ball over the defense, caught it, and raced in for the try that made it 32-19.

With the victory, Lindenwood-Belleville improves to 6-0 and wraps up 1st in the WIIL South. because Illinois State has three games left, UNI has not, yet, clinched the other playoff spot from the WIIL South. But an ISU loss or UNI win will do just that.