Lindenwood Survives Tenacious Mount St. Mary's

02.08.2025College Men

Lindenwood defeated Mount St. Mary's in an entertaining and competitive D1A matchup in Knoxville, Tenn.

The Mount was very tenacious and tactically smart in keeping close to Lindenwood, and well into the second half it was deadlocked 24-24.

Lindenwood spent much of the first half pressuring the Mount St. Mary's 22, while MSM rarely got inside the Lindenwood red zone. Despite this, and thanks in large part to the boot of Evan Corbett, the Mount was within shouting distance.

Big Start

The Lions pressured the Mount early and after a lineout and maul hooker Mark Barbour popped off the back and burrowed over. MSM answered by getting the ball inside the Lindenwood half and earning a penalty about 40 meters out and off to the side. Corbett smacked it over with room to spare. But the Mount needed to be careful with the ball in their own end, and they weren't. Trying to run out of their own 22 a wild skip pass bounced around near the sideline. MSM tried to keep the ball in play but all that did was allow Lindenwood wing David Catchart to swoop in and dive on the ball to score. That made it 10-3 Lindenwood.

Corbett added another long-range kick, but a nifty chip by flyhalf Byron Forword was grabbed on the fly by fullback Brandan Mason and he quickly passed off to center Jaryd de Jager who was over for a really picturesque score. Forword converted and it was 17-6. The Lions built on that lead after earning a turnover in MSM's end. They worked the phases this time as the Mount's defense was able to organize well. Mason then took a pass and fed an inside ball to flanker Duncan Krige, who charged on through. Forword converted that one, too, and Lindenwood was in control 24-6.

When You've Got a Good Kicker ...

MSM was smart to take points opportunities when they were on offer. Corbett hit two more penalties, both from long range, and it was 24-12. They then held firm on defense and, with time winding down in the first half, got their first try. The forwards bashed the line before the ball was sent wide to Kiahi Horan in the corner and he finished brilliantly. Corbett was good on the difficult kick—he really was exceptional today— and it was 24-19 at halftime.

Lindenwood had pressure in the Mount 22 at other times, too, but were unable to put the game away. The Mount's defense was improved in the second half.

Turnabout is Fair Play

The second half started the same way, but then a penalty and a yellow card put MSM on the front foot. But it was a Lindenwood error that led to a Mount try. The Lions were looking to unleash their wings, but a Mason pass was intercepted by MSM fullback Bastian Brunello, and he took it 80 meters to the house to tie the game 24-24.

As the game progressed, Lindenwood Head Coach Josh Macy made some substitutions and certainly the bench brought some energy and a little better execution. They probably also brought a message of being more patient and more organized in close. Certainly they looked it as reserve front-rower Asher Webb thundered over from short range to put Lindenwood back in front. Forword converted. Almost from the restart Lindenwood then burst out of their own 22. Catchart was unleashed by Sanele Mdingi and the winger raced on for about 60 meters before passing to reserve Riley Richardson-Mould, who finished it off under the posts.

Cooler Heads, Fresher Legs

After a little pushing and shoving post-try that was dealt with smartly by referee Ben Dickinson, Lindenwood finished off the game with a try of such magnificence it will be talked about around the campfire for generations. OK, maybe not, but it was nice Lock David Scanlon won the lineout and three passes later Richardson-Mould offloaded off the deck and then two more nicely-executed passes got flanker Krige close to the line. he was short, but popped the pass from the ground to ... Scanlon, who had kept working to get in support, and it was the big lock who scored it.

Mason converted to finish it off.

For Mount St. Mary's, it was a game in which they showed those who quake at the found of the name "Lindenwood" that you can hang with such a team and, in fact, worry them. Tactically they were at times silly, which gave away a couple of tries, but their decision to chip away at the scoreboard combined with some dogged defense in the middle portion of the game meant that it was a tie ballgame with 14 minutes to go.

For Lindenwood, their depth showed well and they played, at times, some impressive rugby. But they also got a bit too cute with it at times and put themselves under pressure. Cooler heads and fresh legs put this game away for them.

Lindenwood Survives Tenacious Mount St. Mary's

Big Start

When You've Got a Good Kicker ...

Turnabout is Fair Play

Cooler Heads, Fresher Legs

Tags

Photo Galleries