Tough-Minded BG and Kentucky Stride Into NCR D1AA Final
Tough-Minded BG and Kentucky Stride Into NCR D1AA Final
Saturday's NCR Finals action gives us Kentucky looking for a repeat and Bowling Green trying to get back to the heights they hit in 2018.
Kentucky has been the #1 team in the SCRC all season and there didn't seem to be much doubt about that ... until the conference final.
The Two Teams Just Barely Out of the D1AA Money
Limping somewhat out of their 8-7 win over Clemson, Kentucky exploded for 106 points in their first two NCR playoff games. Scoring 39 against UMass was most impressive given how the Minutemen were allowing about eight points per game. And early-on it looked like UMass might do it again, as they scored 10 points early and held Kentucky to just a penalty goal. But two Wildcat tries, one an interception thanks to Johnny Dardis and one from Abelardo Reza, made it 15-10 at halftime. With a lead going into halftime the Wildcats regathered their confidence and raced in four tries in the second half.
Head Coach Sam Enari called it a "C to C-minus performance. We were never scared of losing but I was very annoyed in the first half."
The second-half surge was thanks in part to a strong lineout and just a rise in intensity. Blaine Donlon, Joe Keough, Mike Punzalan, and Luke Keough scored the tries. Jack Phillips kicked nine points.
It was enough, but Enari said there needs to be a better showing for the final.
Bowling Green held off Clemson and then edged Virginia Tech in two close games in the NCR playoffs. That follows on their one-point win in the MAC final, so Bowling Green has been comfortable in difficult circumstances for some time.
Virginia Tech took an early lead with a penalty goal, and it was tight, tense, and back-and-forth through the first half. No. 8 Phil Tracey scored a try (converted by Joey Apel) to give BG the lead, but Tech scored to lead 8-7 at halftime.
They kept trading tries. Owen Slummer's try in the corner made it 17-13 for the Falcons, but an interception by Tech put the Hokies back on tip.
Bowling Green then marched their way into Virginia Tech's half, worked the pressure patiently. Finally Virginia Tech was called for diving onto the ball right in front of the posts, and Joey Apel put it over to win the game 20-18.
That's what both teams will likely need in this final—patience. Somebody is going to fall behind first, and that team will have to calm down and get back to business.
Both teams have had to work very hard to get to Saturday's final. Now they have to work harder.
Kentucky vs Bowing Green NCR D1AA Final 3PM ET Live on TRN+Ticket (Paywalled)>>
