In a D1A college environment where there hasn't seemed to be much shifting, one result bubbled up to spring a small surprise.
Navy defeated Arkansas State 19-14 in dramatic fashion to improve to 3-1 and make the Mid-South very tight at the top. Navy and Lindenwood are now 3-1, with ASU 2-2 and Life 3-0. Life still has the inside track on the conference title, but the chase for 2nd is most definitely on.
Arkansas Sate led 14-7 thanks to two Calvin Gentry tries (Navy got a penalty try). But in the final ten minutes, Navy turned things around. Clayton Kendrick-Holmes charged over and scrumhalf Cole Euverard's conversion tied the game. Then, on full-time, No. 8 Craig Thomas scored to give Navy the win.
“We let them play their game,” said Arkansas State head coach Blake White. “They imposed their will on us and played the game on their terms.”
Gaels Control Cali
In a clash of two undefeated teams in the California Conference, Saint Mary's took control with a decisive 88-15 defeat of Grand Canyon.
Flyhalf Aaron Matthews scored four tries for Saint Mary's, while center Tevite Lopeti continued his impressive run of form. When he's healthy, he's as difficult a center to contain as anyone, and he scored two tries. No. 8 Vili Helu also scored two in a performance that should make many sit up and take notice.
Saint Mary's has clinched the conference. But elsewhere in the California, San Diego State improved to 2-2 with a 35-18 win over Santa Clara. UC Davis improved to 4-1 with a 50-10 defeat of UC Santa Barbara. Center Guilherme Maia Silva scored two tries in a pretty complete effort from the Aggies.
Bruins Roll
UCLA won the only PAC Rugby Conference game of the weekend, 77-3 over Arizona State. No. 8 Jax Carter scored four tries. The Bruns are now 2-1 in the conference.
Non-Conference
In Las Vegas, four teams played in two key non-conference games. Lindenwood defeated Rugby East champs Army 26-7. No. 8 Wes White scored three tries and got a yellow card, as well, so he was busy.
And BYU defeated Arizona 22-17. Tries from scrumhalf Matt Rogers, lock Bronson Teles, and center Lucas Bartzis staked Arizona to a 17-5 lead. But the Cougars rebounded with two tries from scrumhalf Matua Kingston Prop Steven Nonu crashed over for the lead with 30 minutes to go, and the teams played to a standstill after that.
Meanwhile, Cal lot 28-24 to UBC in Vancouver. Three tries from Owain Ruttan set the Thunderbirds up for the win.
"Not the final result we wanted but a lot of boys played their hearts out today," said Cal prop Owen Duvall.
"Cal made us work for every single point. They were outstanding," said UBC coach Curry Hitchborn. "In the second half they dictated the pace of play."
How Did We Do?
Of the eight games, FloERugby picked the winner correctly six times, with the Navy-ASU and Army-Lindenwood being the games we got wrong. We were relatively good on winning margin, but big wins by UCLA and Saint Mary's were a bit of a surprise.