In Davenport’s victory over highly-regarded Bowling Green last week, flanker Conor Schilling was a standout.

The 5-11, 205 West Ottawa, Mich. product, who also plays hooker, was a wrecking crew on defense, and covered the field shoring up the Panther defense all day.

In addition, he was a force on offense - not something he usually gets involved in, but the ball fell his way more.

“It was weird to get the ball that much,” said Schilling. “I spend most of my time in the rucks, but it was good to get a few runs.”

Schilling said that was all part of an improved approach by Davenport. Head Coach James Wood had urged his players to be more patient - working the phases over trying to score a try on one movement or one play. The athletes started to pick up on it, and Schilling said the offloads started to come.

“We are just getting better at offloading the ball, and I was in support, so I started getting the passes,” he said. “We are starting to communicate. You can let your guy know you’re there, on his left or his right, or whether he should go down and we can ruck over or pick and go. I think it took us communicating better and listening better.”

All of that has put Davenport in a better position, said Schilling.

“We are keeping possession better, and that puts us in a powerful situation, and you could see how it worked on Saturday,” he said.

Schilling players three years of high school rugby at West Ottawa before enrolling at Davenport. The IT Project Management student hasn’t nailed down his rugby plans after college, but he has another year to go in any case. Right now, it’s good enough for him to be our Aircraft Charter Solutions Player of the Week.