Here's a rundown of some of the DIA and DIAA games around the nation.
Big 10
Two of the top teams in the Big 10 faced off with Indiana vs Ohio State.
This was a rematch of last fall’s conference final, which was won in a tight game by Ohio State. This time around Indiana took the matchup 30-17.
Indiana took an early lead with a Sam Storey penalty goal and added another before backing that up with a try from scrumhalf Jack Reis.
Ohio State went down a man with a yellow card but still was able to put Indiana under pressure—so much so that they got a penalty try on a collapsed maul and made it 13-7.
IU received a yellow card for that penalty try but Ohio State got one soon thereafter. Even so the Buckeyes added a penalty goal from Taylor Gleeson to make it 13-10 at halftime.
Indiana scored early in the second half with an intercept try from wing Peyton Wall and Storey's conversion to extend the lead to 20-10. Ohio State answered with a break from Hunter Simons and a pickup and drive from Jerry Ratcliffe. Gleeson converted and it was 20-17. But IU kept them at arm’s length with a Storey penalty goal and No. 8 Zach Marsh charging over with a try to cap off the scoring at 30-17.
Indiana improved to 3-0 in Big 10 Conference games, but since this was a game between a West and an East team, their Division record remains unchanged.
“I am very happy with the boys and their effort, especially on defense,” said Head Coach Luke Gross. “They had us in the red zone for a long while and the boys held them our. That was big. Our scrum was good and the players have come in with a really good mindset at set piece that we’re not going to just let them have the ball; they’re going to have to earn it.”
Some turnovers on attack scuttled IU efforts, but overall this was a tenacious Indiana performance.
Big 10 team Michigan won 45-17 in a non-conference game with Maryland. Luke Zana scored two tries while George Janke, Tommy Hendricks, Colin Sampic, and brothers Shea and Braden Loughnane all toughed down. Nathan Feldman hit five conversions in a good result for Michigan.
Big Rivers
Thomas More improved to 3-0 in the Big Rivers with a 47-12 victory over Aquinas. Rafael OGorman was the player of the game for the Saints, scoring two tries and converting six for 22 points on his own. Big Rivers team Marian ran out a 2nd side against non-conference opponent McKendree, and won 17-14.
Adrian also moved to 3-0 with a 39-17 victory over Iowa Central CC in the Adrian College Breast Cancer Awareness game.
Rugby East
Navy improved to 4-0 with a convincing 39-22 victory over Penn State. Navy scored in methodical fashion early on, just working the forwards in from close range, Dalton Musselman slotted a penalty goal in answer, but Navy came right back and a thunderous shot charge from No. 8 Ben Haugh. Navy’s pressure and quick ball caused Penn State some problems, and they got into some penalty trouble.
Navy of course took the lineout and mauled it over.It was 19-3 after 20 minutes.
Penn State inched back when Campbell Halloran finished off a movement kicked off by a Navy mistake. Navy responded almost instantly when freshman fullback Roanin Krieger sold a dummy, cut through the gap he’d created, and then powered through a tackle to score from about 25 meters out. Lewis Gray hit the difficult conversion and Navy led 26-10.
Penn State then ran a maul of their own and Ian Roudybush was over. Musselman’s conversion put PSU within nine at 26-17 with halftime approaching.
The Nittany Lions inched closer with another try off a maul. But they couldn’t get closer.
Gray added a penalty at 53 minutes and another a few minutes later. The Midshipmen then iced with another storming run from Haugh. Gray converted and later added another penalty for the 39-22 win.
Notre Dame College has shown significant improvement this season and reeled off a 15-8 victory over Wheeling, which was a non-conference game but meaningful nonetheless. NDC did well to contain the speedy Wheeling inside backs and powerful midfield.
“Our scrums are very solid,” said NDC Head Coach Hanno Van Vuuren, noting that even when they were down to seven in the scrum due to a yellow card they had the edge.
“All credit to [scrum coach] Tim Brofman. Our tactical kicking has also been a strength with 9 through 13 being able to nudge the ball.”
