Arkansas State is quite happy to have spoiled the party, and is looking to do it again, as the resurgent Red Wolves take on the defending D1A champion Life Running Eagles Saturday in Marietta, GA.

See Arkansas State vs Life University LIVE on FloRugby Feb 16. KO is 1pm ET, 11AM CT

ASU defeated favored Lindenwood 29-23 this past Saturday to kick off the Red Wolves' Spring 2019 season, and while you'd be forgiven for thinking Arkansas State would have been rusty (no games since last fall) and still on the way back to prominence, it turns out that's not the case.

"I wouldn't say we're back," said Arkansas State head coach Blake White, "but we're headed in the right direction."

As for rusty? Well, the Red Wolves scored in the 2nd minute, never trailed, and with 13 minutes to go led 29-11. It wasn't rust, but it might have been fitness.

"Half of our missed tackles were in the last 15 minutes," said White, who watched his team hold on 29-23 after giving up two late tries. "So that tells me they weren't fit enough. The other thing we are working on is discipline. All 23 of their points came directly from penalties or infractions by us."

So this weekend's game now carries even more massive weight than expected. Life is ranked #1 by FloRugby and D1A Rugby (the D1A ranking includes FloRugby editor Alex Goff's votes). Arkansas State moved up to #8 according to FloRugby (and #5 in D1A Rugby), bumping Lindenwood down a few spots. 

Either way, it's a Top 10 clash with the #1 team's ranking at stake.

"I am not surprised that Arkansas State played well and is playing well," said Life head coach Colton Cariaga, whose Running Eagles beat Clemson 95-3 on Saturday. "They have a bunch of the guys who were good a year ago, and the players they've added have plugged the gaps they needed to plug. We better be ready."

Both teams have been working hard on defense, and that showed over the weekend. While ASU fell off tackles late in the game, holding Lindenwood to one try in the first 65 minutes is an accomplishment. Life held Clemson tryless. 

Still, Cariaga said "we have to be able to win some ball, as well."

Offensively, Arkansas State has enough playmaking substance now at flyhalf and inside center that Zach Young is able to slide out to his more natural position of outside center.

That gives the All American some room to roam. 

For Life, Cariaga gives his players more credit than any weakness in Clemson for the 95 points.

"When you're working on your systems, even when you're unopposed in training, you can start to see a tempo and a rhythm develop—or not. There were five or six times when we really got that tempo going with guys giving and taking passes at pace. For a moment or two it was all right there."