Southern Conference Latest: All Tightening Up

With Furman, Citadel, and North Carolina off this week, it was time for other teams in the Southern Rugby Conference to try to make a move.

Those moves were made by Appalachian State and UNC Wilmington. Appalachian State held off East Carolina 23-17 and with that improved to 1-2. UNCW went one better with a 52-15 win over UNC Charlotte that dropped Charlotte to 0-2 and improved Wilmington to 1-2.

In the Challenge League, Lander is now 3-0 after a forfeit win over UNC Greensboro. But after that it's very tight as Coastal Carolina upset Wake Forest 17-7 to put both teams at 2-1. Elon and College of Charleston also won, and those two teams are also 2-1.

The split of the Southern Conference into a Premier and Challenge League has already produced benefits. More games are being players and there are fewer blowouts. The closeness off the Challenge Division, with five teams essentially within a game of each other, is evidence that it's working.

In the Premier League, the chase for the top is now well and truly on. Furman, sitting 2nd in the league, hosts #1 North Carolina. Meanwhile Wilmington visits Appalachian State in a game where the winner has the inside track on 4th.

In the Challenge Division lander can get some cushion with a win over 3rd-place Wake Forest. But a loss for Lander could throw the whole league into a ball of rubber bands.