Wayne State, Holy Cross Book Spots in NCR D3 Final
Wayne State, Holy Cross Book Spots in NCR D3 Final
Wayne State returns to the NCR D3 (previously Small College) final after a close loss to Babson in 2023.
The Wildcats unleashed their pace and intent early to score eight tries, running out to a 22-0 lead over Colorado School of Mines and cruised to a 46-15 win.
Mines hung touch early and it was only 10-0 midway through the first half. Wayne State got the one early try thanks to a full eightman shove off the scrum with No. 8 Francisco Rolon picking up and putting it down. Logan Stevens converted that try and added a penalty goal, but Mines hung tough and in fact were close to scoring themselves in the opening quarter.
Slowly, though, Wayne State's overall speed and their ascendancy in the scrum began to tell. Defensive pressure and a good counter by center Asante Rikhotso got them close. Mines got a scrum but were forced into a penalty and from the ensuing lineout lock Bredna Kruska powered over from five meters out. The Wildcats followed that on with a huge break up the middle by tighthead prop Trent Draper. Some excellent support from several players, including Rolon, flanker Tshidiso Letsoalo, and Kruska. Quick work from that trio set up a charge by flanker Diego Stefani and suddenly it was 22-0.
Mines finally did get some points from a penalty goal, but a quick pickup and try from scrumhalf Ben Donnelly extended the lead to 27-3. A brilliant kick and chase and recover by fullback Zane Sokolowski finally got Mines a try, but again the Wildcats kept the scoreboard pressure going, with a brilliant run from wing Ayabo Mlobeli.On the other wing, Max Burke capped off a period of broken play and now it was 41-10 with about 16 minutes to go. Latitha Marah added to that after center Vuyo Mdlalose ghosted through a gap.
Mines finished off with a try from Nils Jerger on a quick tap. But Wayne State had a fairly convincing 46-15 win thanks to their superb set piece and excellent support running for their speedsters.
Holy Cross pulled off an impressive 27-22 win over Duke. Holy Cross was coming off beating defending D3 champs in the quarterfinals and backed that up nicely.
Holy Cross worked their way to a 12-0 lead thanks in part to discipline issues for Duke which resulted in a yellow card. A nice, rather straightforward movement off a scrum put center Will Shuck over. Another attacking scrum led to the second try; Duke covered the backline move to the one side but a nicely-weighted crossfield kick from Jackson Evarts was tapped down by fullback Niall McKenna to wing Lew Manning. He was tackled but McKenna cleared out and, coming from across the field, scrumhalf Christian Rosowicz picked up and was over.
Duke got back to 15 players and Aidan Gallagher's penalty made it 12-3. Evarts answered, but a Holy Cross yellow card opened a bit of space for the Blue Devils.
With halftime beckoning Duke got a scrum around the middle of the field and sent the ball into the backs. River Hanson did nicely to hang onto the ball and keep the movement going. Holy Cross was penalized and scrumhalf Harvey Bracken-Smith tapped and caught the Crusaders napping as he scampered 20 meters to score under the posts. Gallagher converted and it was 15-10. But there was still time in the first half. And off a scrum near midfield a nice, flat pass to Shuck in the centers put him through. He sent a wide pass to McKenna, who offloaded nicely out of contact for Evarts to step down the sideline to touch down.
It was a crucial score for Holy Cross as they now entered the break 20-10 ahead.
Duke scored when the ball rolled out of the Holy Cross scrum unattended. Flanker Karl Robertson grabbed the ball, and after Holy Cross was penalized, Duke tapped and and Roenigk Staub took the pass and thundered over.
Holy Cross answered with a try from Matthew Schwab to give his side a two-score lead. Duke got one more(No. 8 Max Fausnaugh) but that wasn't enough.
For Holy Cross, they were connected in the backline but they were under some pressure in the scrum. When they face Wayne State on Sunday they will need their defense to put in another solid performance, if not better, and will have to ensure their set piece is strong.
