The #1-ranked Tennessee Volunteers defeated the #5-ranked Bowling Green Falcons in the CRAA DIAA championship game Saturday.

That’s the lede; that’s the headline. But it was much, much more than that. This was rightly billed as the championship of all-club rugby programs and it didn’t disappoint. Tennessee took control early, charging into the Bowling Green defense and using their big men Greg Janowick and Will Ring to backpedal the Falcons line, and using the kicking of Jake Rath to open up the attack.

The result was three tries from Janowick, who scored on a quick tap and from short range twice, and one from his second row partner Ring, who won a lineout ball and just twisted and fought his way over. With Rath converting two and Tennessee led 24-0 after only 18 minutes and a rout seemed on.

But Bowling Green rebounded. They took better care of the ball and found they could match Tennessee’s physicality.

This was a hugely physical game and the teams just embraced it. Slowly Bowling Green found chances. Jake Kubicki fended off a couple of tacklers and sped in to score. Five minutes later, Tennessee penalties led to a lineout near the Volunteers’ line. Nico LaBianca saw the Tennessee maul defense split and he just charged through for a try and, with Ryan Niemiller’s touchline conversion a 24-14 scoreline.

Tennessee replied with a big charge from center Josh Shetler and hooker Greg Giangiulio capped off a series of pick-and-goes to score under the posts. 

Bowling Green put one over in the corner with a superb dive from Travis Riba and the teams entered halftime with Tennessee up 31-21.

In a huge battle in the second half Tennessee saw wing Austin White break through down the left sideline. White produced a couple of nifty sidesteps and was going for a try and a 36-21 Tennessee lead.

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After that, Tennessee hardly saw the ball. Instead, they spent much of the rest of the game holding off Bowling Green attacks.

Several times the Falcons made it into the Tennessee 22, but somehow they forced knock-ons, held BGSU up in-goal, or forced a penalty. At least five changes went by the wayside for the Falcons.

They did get a try from LaBianca and late in the game Gale Luther charged over from a quick tap. With time winding down Bowling Green opted not to take the conversion to give them more time to try to get that final try.

It didn’t happen. Tennessee held on. But it was a sterling effort from Bowling Green, who didn’t give up after getting steamrolled early. Tennessee’s attack was startling in the first half, but their defense in the second half, when they were under intense pressure.

“All respect to those boys, they are a physical team and they are well coached,” said prop Braxton Heard. “Our boys like to say day-in day-out ‘intensity, intensity, intensity.’”

Playing in a tough conference like the SCRC prepared the Vols for this final. Flyhalf Marcus McLain said “I am actually really grateful that it was such a close game against Clemson [in the SCRC final]. I think it prepared us for this game here.”