Bowling Green hooker Phil Bryant is our Player Spotlight this week after he helped spark a 47-14 win over Western Michigan.

For Bryant, it was a meaningful victory, as WMU had beaten BGSU during the regular season last year. The sophomore Sales & Marketing major may remember that loss, but he was a big part of the win this time around, running through traffic, providing useful support and clearing out sucks, and making sure the set piece worked nicely. Head Coach Tony Mazzarella had all sorts of praise for the #2. 

“We knew we had to have the lineout and scrum under control,” Bryant told Goff Rugby Report. “But we also had a few guys in different positions. So we worked hard on our lineouts all week. Last year Western beat us and we knew we needed to conquer them and meet them up front. We had to remember what we learned about that game, and put the emotions on the back burner.”

Looking ahead, BGSU now plays DIA Davenport in a game that has developed into a very nice rivalry. Bryant said that while the game isn’t a conference fixture, it’s important.

“We have a good rivalry with them,” said Bryant. “It means a lot to us, and they always give us a really hard game. We have been playing well, but we know we have more to give.” 

The former Cardinal Moeller HS standout Bryant has seen what happens when you let standards slide. He is one of Bowling Green’s group of experienced players who know what it takes to be a champion.

“We’re playing well, but we’re making small errors that against good teams can kill a drive or even cost you a game,” wanted Bryant. “But we continue to grow as a team, and I like that. We’re clicking better each week, and we’ll see how it goes against Davenport.”

With the likes of Bryant on the field, don’t bet against the Falcons.

Phil Bryant is our Eagle Impact Rugby Academy Player Spotlight.