Fans of Saint Mary’s will happily point out that on Saturday, the Gaels won pretty much every stat, except the score; and they might point out that Life didn’t really break the Saint Mary’s line; and Life University might just say “yep, that’s right.”

“What epitomized it for me was how we went through 17 phases going three meters, and three meters and three meters,” said Life Athletic Director Dan Payne. “We talk about it - sometimes you just take three meters at a time and keep the ball.”

Life’s rucking and ball retention helped counter the Saint Mary’s wide game in a wide field. 

Life came into the game without their starting flyhalf, Blaine McIlroy, out with an ACL injury. They came in very young, and into hostile territory. They came through this season with their third head coach in three years. And won.

So maybe this articles isn’t about why Life won … but it’s just asking the question - no, seriously, how did they win?

Part of it has to do with former Head Coach Dan Payne, who is now the AD and who got this program started. Part of it is last year’s Head Coach Tui Osborne, who left to move to the Buffalo area. 

“Tui was such a great calming voice,” said Payne. “He bridged the gap, and helped this young, young team get here. Because of him, and the other coaches we’ve had, we were able to stay the course.”

 And then in came Scott Lawrence. Thought of as a defensive specialist (maybe more that) and a stern taskmaster (hmm … we’ll see), Lawrence embraced the role of Head Coach.

“He’s like a father figure to 40 guys,” said Payne. “the guys would run through walls for him. They see how much he cares for them. He’s got their back and that means a lot. We were down 15-3 and I’m thinking ‘OK, just get to halftime and get to Scott and they’ll be OK,” and they were.”

Photos Austin Brewin

And finally, on the field, there were many special players, but Harley Davidson is who we’ll focus on. The 5-8 speedster/dynamo was, a few years ago, a teenager playing scrumhalf for the Snake River club in Boise, Idaho. Head Coach Mike Saunders, a former USA captain who knows a thing or two about rugby talent, called to several people (including this writer) for help getting Davidson’s name out there. He shouldn’t be here, said Saunders. He needs to be somewhere where he can develop his talent.

And he went to Life.

Poised to break out last year, Davidson did in his ACL. It was a devastating injury, but, said Payne, one that helped him, too.

“I felt he deserved the spotlight,” said Payne. “We had right there. But when he got to injury you saw in his demeanor, and the good habits that he’s developed, that he was going to come out of it, not just OK, but more of a man, and a better player. You get that kind of setback - and we all get it in some way - and you see how he responded. He’s a testament to all the good habits we’re trying to instill in the players.”

Three meters and keep the ball.

Photos Michael Geib