Weather undercut the last big game for VMI, when Hurricane Joaquin flooded out VMI’s clash with Old Dominion; this time, it looks like the Cardinals Conference game of the week will happen.

Mary Washington, 2-0-1 in Cardinals Conference Group 2, will play at 4-0 Virginia Military Institute. It is a clear chance for UMW to show they belong in the DII playoff conversation. Meanwhile, VMI can clinch top seed in the Cardinals playoffs with a victory.

Last week, the Keydets beat Radford 88-0 behind a very solid forward effort.

For UMW, this is the last game before they unveil their new rugby facility in the center of Fredericksburg, Va. It’s a nice return after the UMW team was suspended because a couple of members sang an off-color song last spring.

Mary Washington, which could play in the National Small College playoffs (that’s why they’re in Group 2 of the Cardinals Conference), wants to compete in DII, and compete at a high level. They are getting solid young talent and getting better.

“This is an exciting year for us as we are now part of the varsity athletic department and have just added trainers, varsity weight staff, and our new rugby facility,” said UMW Program Director Tim Brown. UMW will start eight freshman under Head Coach Min Sae Chae. Senior Charbel Medlej is a crucial steady presence at flyhalf, and has a talented sophomore in Terence McPhilips to put into space. Seniors Sean Amico and Danny Wehr lead in the forward pack. VMI is more experienced, and that could well be the difference.

This is clearly one of the marquee games of the Cardinals season. UMW tied Old Dominion 10-10, and it would have been nice to see VMI play ODU (the rained out game won't be rescheduled), so this weekend's clash may be the top matchup of any until the playoffs begin.

This weekend's Cardinals Conference DII games:

UMW (2-0-1) at VMI (4-0)

ODU (1-0-1) at William & Mary (1-2)

Heat Elite (1-2) at Duke (2-1)

JMU II (0-2) at Lord Fairfax Community College (0-2)

Virginia Commonwealth (2-1) at Richmond (0-0)