Thomas More and Iowa Central CC are through to the Big Rivers semifinals as both teams won this weekend.

The Tritons of Iowa Central were down 29-28 with no time left when they scored and converted to win 35-29. Marian scored a try early on and that 7-0 lead last until midway through the first half. Iowa Central finally answered with a long-range penalty goal, and a few minutes later scored on an eightman pick to take the lead. Takudzwa Musingwini was then able to burn Marian on the outside for another try. Just before halftime Marian finally capitalized on some time in the Triton 22 and scored right under the posts.

That made it 15-14 and early in the second half Marian's forwards through they had taken it over, but instead the Knights were penalized. Moments later some off-the-ball stuff saw a red card to Marian and a yellow to Iowa Central. Two more yellows, one for each side, showed up later in the game.

Marian took the lead on a penalty Iowa Central answered and then scored a long-range try right after the restart. That was a tough one for Marian and it made the score, with the conversions, 25-17. Another penalty goal and it was 28-17 with less than 10 minutes to go.

"We kept fighting," said Marian head Coach John Harley. And so they did. Good pressure off the restart forced a scrum and that eventually led to a Knights score under the posts. 28-24. And then as time wound down and Iowa Central attacked at midfield, an interception saw the Knights turn the tables and score in the corner. Marian 29, Iowa Central 28.

Time for one more chance from the Tritons. Marian was penalized for not releasing. Iowa Central opted for a scrum. And from there Musingwini beat four defenders with a show-and-go and raced 60 meters to score under the sticks to win the game.

Player Spotlight: Takudzwa Musingwini, Iowa Central

"Takudzwa Musingwini was a difference-maker for us," said Iowa Central Head Coach Brent Nelson. "This was truly a full team effort. It takes everything we've got to play Maran every time we play each other. They're a tough out, but so are we."

The result of Tyler Gast helped spark the Tritons. 

Thomas More, meanwhile, did a good job of converting pressure into points early, playing knockout rugby and just making sure they at least got three points from sorties into the Aquinas 22.

Both teams were depleted by injuries, and Aquinas has been especially slammed, losing nine players. TMU was without five starters.