Lindenwood and Life University both kept rolling in Mid-South Conference action, although in slightly different winning margins.

Lindenwood moved to 4-1 and remains 1st in the conference after beating Davenport 30-0. It was Senior Recognition Night and some seniors who don't always start got the start on Saturday. Lock Emmanuel Albert, prop Gabriel Kettering, center Cody Erhardt, and flyhalf Evan Conlon all scored tries in the victory.

"It was a good game," said Lindenwood Head Coach Josh Macy. "It wasn't freezing but the conditions made it tough to move the ball around the way we want to. But we’re pretty well built for a physical game in the rain; kicking battle, we can do all that stuff. But Davenport was up for it that's for sure."

Kettering got the start and was impressive on the evening. With Richard Felton injured, Conlon, a Woodlands Rugby Club product, got the start at flyhalf and performed very well. Isaac Fuentes (Legion Rugby, Va.) started at scrumhalf and ran the tempo nicely.

"It was an emotional night for the guys," said Macy. "Lots of thank-yous. It was good to see the guys out there."

Smiles abound at Senior BBQ today! Thanks to these gents for building a program to be proud of. pic.twitter.com/va1Pmf0sHr

— Lindenwood Rugby (@LURugby) April 11, 2021

Life defeated Arkansas State but ASU put them under all sorts of pressure. Scrumhalf Ishma-ell Safodien staked Life to a 7-0 lead with Bradley Crane's conversion. ASU answered with a penalty goal from Aidan Ridgway, but soon thereafter Life flanker David Rimes charged down an attempted clearance kick, and the Running Eagles recycled nicely and prop Chulu Mngxaso powered over for the try. Crane converted. Down 14-3, Arkansas State inched back. They got another penalty goal from Ridgway and then Keelan Watkins was in for a try that, with Ridgway's conversions, made it a 14-13 ballgame at halftime.

Life broke through moments after halftime with a run from center Tyler Goosen, who made a few Red Wolves miss and was in under the posts. Crane converted, but ASU came right back with Mazvitaishe Nuamarebvu powering over. Ridgway converted and it was 21-20 and all to play for. 

Life extended that slim lead with a nice scrumhalf-No. 8 move that put Chase Schor Haskin in for the try. Ridgway was once again good with the kick to make the score 28-20. Back came the Red Wolves. ASU came back with one more and was within a score at 28-25, 

ASU needed one more score, while Life was looking for insurance. Life got what they wanted. Julian Roberts charged down and picked up the ball before Safodien popped a box kick that Crane chased down to gather and touch down. The fyhalf popped over the conversion to make him a perfect 5-for-5 on conversions and 15 points on the day. Life held on 35-25.

It was a very good performance from Arkansas State, and they were just edged out, but one wonders what would happen if they had one more shot at it.

“I’m really proud of these guys, especially our seniors,” said ASU Head Coach Jake Mizell. “They played lights out. I’m really proud of the heart they had, the aggression, the body were all there; I think our youth showed up at the end. There’s just some gamesmanship and tactical stuff we need to fix, fine tune some of those things.”

Talk continues to circulate about a potential D1A postseason. Lindenwood and Life look in good position for some sort of end-of-season tournament, and the question only remains whether some of the teams perhaps in the West will be able to participate. How that would look remains to be seen, but there does remain interest from the Mid-South teams.