Binghamton University hasn't clinched a top-two spot in the Empire Conference, but they are as close as possible.

Binghamton defeated rivals Brockport 41-17 Saturday to move to 4-1 in the conference, possibly the most competitive or closest conference in Men's DI rugby. The Devils opened up the scoring with a try from Jason MacKenna and flyhalf Brandon Healy added another try soon thereafter. A weakside run off a scrum put wing Hunter Reiter in from 50 meters, and then No. 8 Brian Burke capped off a torrid first half for Binghamton.

Brockport got a try just before the break to make it 26-7. Tries from Aaron Digirolamo and Conor Horan, plus a penalty from Healy, who kicked 11 points on the day, finished it off. The win put Brockport in 1st place with one game to go. They can be caught, but only if two teams win bonus-point victories next week, and Binghamton loses, and the results are such that Binghamton is third-best in points difference, can the Devils be denied a place in the championship game.

Meanwhile, on Friday Fordham edged Stony Brook 22-17 (score unconfirmed) to move to 3-2 and stay in the championship hunt. Fordham got a huge game from loosehead prop Phil Sweeney, who broke the Stony Brook line several times, and was a force in the scrums and on defense. His work allowed Fordham to get the ball wide, and that was the difference.

The losses for Brockport and Stony Brook drop both teams to three losses, and eliminate them from championship contention.

Colgate took care of business against Kings Point 46-12 to get to 3-2, joining Fordham and idle Syracuse.

So this is how the Empire shakes out. Here are the standings first of all:

Syracuse is at Binghamton on October 22, while Stony Brook is at Colgate. Fordham visits Kings Point on Friday.

The first tiebreaker if teams are tied on points is head-to-head. That certainly could come into play. But if the head-to-head results cancel each other out in a three-way tie, then points difference is the next tiebreaker.

Fordham has to be favored to take a bonus-point win over USMMA. Colgate, then, also needs to log a bonus-point win over Stony Brook, and hope Syracuse beats Binghamton and gets a bonus point. Colgate needs a three-way or four-way tie because a tie with Fordham will see them lose the head-to-head. Syracuse can make the championship game by beating Binghamton with a bonus point, because the Hammerheads would hold the tiebreaker over both Binghamton and Fordham. 

All Binghamton needs to make the top two is a single bonus point for a close loss or four tries. If Binghamton ties or wins, and Fordham wins with a bonus point, then Binghamton and Fordham are #1 and #2.