University of Minnesota-Duluth has been the #1-ranked team in the Goff Rugby Report DII rankings for the entire fall, and they’ve been there because no one has come close to defeating them.

But, there’s a dark cloud of worry over the Fighting Penguins, as they also aren’t played anyone particularly strong. Isolated in a league where they have been unstoppable, and then idle for three weeks, Duluth is rested, but perhaps not tested.

“We’ve tried to play some additional teams and St. John’s was a good opponent,” said UM-Duluth Head Coach Jeramy Katchuba of the NSCRO semifinalists. “But, no, we haven’t really been tested, and we’ve not been able to get anyone to play us in our down time.”

Duluth returned five All Americans from last year - Derrek Van Klein, Blake Martin, Jake Luetgers, Logan Hanson, and Lars Anderson - so you knew they would pick up where they left off. In addition, flanker Luc Desroches and flyhalf Trace Bolstad have emerged as top players this season.

“The younger players are starting to establish that this is more their club,” said Katchuba. “And when you see that we’ve been able to field a full 2nd side that’s done well, you see that we’re not just riding the current players, but working toward the future.”

For the record, the UM-D’s 2nd side played in Minnesota’s D4, and won all five of their league games. Two of those games were forfeits, but in the other three they averaged scores of 52-5. Their 1st team averaged non-forfeit scores of 68-6.

“The guys have been working really hard, and they’re are eager to play,” said Katchuba. And maybe, with that depth and that experience, that’s all they need.

Minnesota-Duluth faces Colorado College in the USA Rugby Round of 16 in St. Louis this weekend. They will face either St. Louis or UW-Stout on Sunday.